Blepharoplasty or eyelid lift is a surgery performed to remove the excess skin and fat or sometimes reposition the fat from the eyelids. The term ‘eyelid lift’ is a misnomer as the lid is not lifted during surgery unless a ptosis surgery is also performed at the same sitting.
Upper lid blepharoplasty involves an incision on the skin along the eyelid crease to remove the excess skin and fat. The skin is then sutured and this not leads to any visible scar. This can be combined with a lid elevation surgery or ptosis surgery where the levator muscle of the lid is tightened or repositioned to ensure that the eyes look wide and expressive thus enhancing the beauty of the individual.
Lower lid blepharoplasty can be performed by a lower lid crease incision. However, the preferred technique is to make an incision on the inner aspect of the eyelid, which is the transconjunctival approach to remove the excess fat from the lower lid. This does not lead to any visible incisions and is the perfect technique for those who need to get the fat removed or added. If there is any lid laxity or looseness the lower lid can be tightened at the same sitting to create a more youthful appearance.
Why is eyelid surgery performed?
The presence of excess skin and fat can create a heavy looking, aged appearance and give rise to a tired appearance. Sometimes this may block the upper field of vision and makes the individual uncomfortable while reading. Apart from the cosmetic improvement, the surgery can improve the field of vision of the patient.
In people with Asian eyelids or those where the eyes do not have a prominent lid crease, double eyelid surgery, also called Asian eyelid surgery, is performed to create or enhance an upper eyelid crease. This created bigger eyes thus enhancing the looks of the individual.
Who is a good candidate for eyelid surgery?
Those individuals with realistic expectations are possibly the best to undergo this surgery. There are definite advantages and blepharoplasty creates a more fresh and youthful appearance.
Dr. Ramesh Murthy is an internationally renowned eye surgeon and is among the best oculoplasty surgeons of Pune and India.
