Blepharoplasty
At Omniya Clinic in London
Blepharoplasty is a highly effective and increasingly popular surgical procedure performed to address the signs of ageing around the eye area. This procedure is commonly referred to as eyelid surgery or eye lift, and can improve eyebags, hooded eyelids, and help to improve a patient’s vision where ageing has caused eyelids to droop, restricting the full extent of lateral vision.
Eyelid surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures, offering significant improvements within a generally safe and low risk profile. It is important to choose an appropriately trained surgeon and a CQC registered facility.
Consultant Plastic Surgeon and world renowned Mr Ayad Harb is the surgical lead at Omniya Clinic. In addition to eyelid surgery, he also performs a variety of other surgical and non surgical treatments, including the globally recognised 3 Point Rhino (non surgical nose job).
Why Undergo Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)?
The eyelids often show the earliest signs of ageing as elastic fibres are lost.
As we age, our skin loses elasticity (the ability for the skin to stretch, and then return to its original shape) and our muscles weaken. A loss of skin elasticity causes the skin to sag and wrinkle. The impact of weakened muscles and skin laxity in the eye area, can cause a sagging of the upper and lower eyelids. The effect of this can be multiple folds and deepening creases, whist the muscles can push forward, causing eyebags to appear. The ageing process can be accelerated by genetic and lifestyle choices, such as smoking and sun exposure.
Blepharoplasty is performed to reshape the region around the eyes, by removing excess skin and muscle from the upper and/or lower eyelids, restoring a more youthful appearance.
In some patients, eyelids may appear to be asymmetric, and blepharoplasty may be suitable to improve this symmetry.
An upper eyelid blepharoplasty focuses on the area between the upper eyelashes and eyebrow, with a lower blepharoplasty concentrating on the areas between the lower eyelashes and cheek.
How Is Eyelid Surgery Performed:
A typical eyelid surgery procedure includes the following steps:
1. Anaesthesia
At Omniya Clinic, we usually perform upper eyelid lift under local anaesthesia. The area is numbed with anaesthetic, but you are awake. You will feel no discomfort during your procedure.
2. Incision
The small incision for a blepharoplasty procedure is situated so that the resultant scars ought to be well concealed within the natural crease of the eyelid. In some situations, this may have to extend outwards into the crows feet. This allows the surgeon to remove excess skin on the outer portion of the yield. In this case, the scar will again normally sit concealed within a natural crease.
3. Closing the incisions
Eyelid incisions are typically closed with sutures or skin glue. Sutures are then removed within one week.
4. Results
You can expect some swelling and bruising, which ought to settle within the first 1-2 weeks post surgery. It will often take longer to fully disappear.
The results of your eyelid surgery will appear gradually, as the bruising and swelling subsides, revealing a better defined, more youthful eye area with a rejuvenated appearance.
What Are The Benefits Of A Blepharoplasty?
Your eyes are regarded as one of the most important, beautiful and telling features of your face. As we age, and with factors such as genetics and lifestyle at play, the eye area shows telling signs.
There are various benefits of this functional and/or cosmetic eyelid surgery
Youth Appearance
Perhaps the most common reasons to undergo eyelid surgery is to appear more youthful. The eyes are often the first place ageing is noticeable, with the decline of collagen and elastic fibres.
Reduce Appearance of Tiredness
Many patients appear tired, and in some cases look run down and exhausted. This is often caused by a heaviness in the eyelids, or the developing of eyebags. Sagging eyelids can also make the eyes appear partially closed, giving a sleepy appearance. Following their eyelid surgery, the eyes appear better rested and refreshed in comparison.
Reducing Lines and Wrinkles on Forehead
For those patients whose upper eyelids are heavier, there is an additional pressure placed on the forehead to raise the eyelids. This constant lifting of the forehead can cause deeper lines and wrinkles to develop, making us appear older. Following blepharoplasty, the additional weight on the eyelid is removed, which can help to reduce the development of wrinkles.
Correct Visual Impairments
Many patients opt for eyelid surgery as they are experiencing reduced vision, caused by obstructing skin. This can be a hinderance for the most simple day to day activities. The functional results of blepharoplasty can be the improvement of visual impairments.
Minimal Scarring
As with most surgical procedures where incisions are required, scarring is often inevitable. With eyelid surgery, for both upper and lower blepharoplasty, scarring is minimal, and the incisions are carefully hidden in the skin’s natural folds, or under the lash line.
Boost Confidence and Self Esteem
Many patients feel self conscious and unhappy about the appearance of their eyes. Following their blepharoplasty procedure, many patients say the results are life changing, making them happy and more confident.
Long Term Improvement
Blepharoplasty offers a long term solution, and many patients do not return for more than one procedure, although this does vary from patient to patient. Typical results can last in excess of 10 years in many cases.