Blepharoplasty
Knutsford Cheshire
Look as young as you feel
Get the best blepharoplasty surgery in Knutsford and the wider Cheshire area with renowned Oculoplastic Surgeon Mr S Yadav
Blepharoplasty surgery involves removal of excess skin and muscle from the eyelids. It is the most effective surgical procedure for achieving a more youthful look.
Why settle for a general plastic surgeon when you can have an expert Oculoplastic Surgeon?
What is blepharoplasty? Blepharoplasty is surgery to remove excess skin (and occasionally muscle and fat) from the eyelids to restore a more youthful appearance. It can also be performed to improve your visual field in the case of upper eyelid surgery.
What are the causes of excess lid skin? Excess skin is often due to ageing and sun damage which causes a loss of elasticity. The connective tissue in the eyelids also weakens with age allowing fat to bulge forward. Occasionally genetics and family characteristics mean that the eyelids can have a baggy appearance even at a young age.
Should I have my blepharoplasty with an oculoplastic or plastic surgeon? An Oculoplastic surgeon is also a fully trained ophthalmologist (eye doctor) who is able to fully assess your eye and surrounding area. The eye examination with proper equipment including a slit lamp is essential for planning eyelid surgery. Surgery of the eyelids should only be carried out by an oculoplastic surgeon. In fact, all functional eyelid surgery in every hospital in the UK is only carried out by oculoplastic surgeons, not general plastic surgeons. Plastic surgeons have no training in ophthalmology and cannot examine the eye or identify eye problems. This could lead to an incorrect surgical plan and potentially devastating complications.
What does the blepharoplasty operation involve? Surgery is usually performed under local anaesthetic so you are awake during the procedure. Mr Yadav will carefully mark your eyelid skin with a surgical pen to identify the tissue that needs to be removed. Anaesthetic drops will be put in your eyes and local anaesthetic will be injected underneath the eyelid skin to numb it. Your face will be cleaned with antiseptic solution and sterile drapes will be placed around your face. The excess skin (and if required muscle and fat) is cut away. The skin wounds are then closed with sutures. If dissolvable sutures are used, they will fall out in 4-8 weeks. Otherwise they have to be removed 7 days later. At the end of the surgery, ointment is put on the wounds and eye pads applied to the lids. If you have both eyes done then one of the eye pads will be removed after about an hour.
What happens after the operation? If possible, it is better to leave the eye pads on overnight to help minimise bruising and swelling. Do not worry if there is some blood on the eye pad when you remove it. Clean the eyelids gently with cotton wool pads soaked in cooled, boiled water. If your eye feels sore when the anaesthetic wears off, take simple painkillers like Paracetamol. Normally, the discomfort will settle within a day or two. It is normal for the eyelids to appear swollen and bruised for some time after this operation and there may be a little bleeding from the eyelids for the first day. Most forms of light exercise and a normal work pattern may be resumed within a few days of surgery. Eyelid makeup can be worn from about two weeks after surgery. Eyelids have a very good blood supply and normally heal very well. The wound is hidden in the natural skin crease of the eyelid. The swelling will usually subside within 2 weeks but this can be variable. Mr Yadav will advise you on how to care for your eyelids so you achieve the best cosmetic result.