Eyelid surgery

Sooner or later, everyone experiences the ageing of their eyelids. How quickly eyelids age is often familial. Blepharochalasis or 'drooping eyelids' are often one of the first outward signs of ageing that people notice and are bothered by. Eyelid surgery and lower eyelid surgery are among the most frequently performed procedures for good reason.

Due to the ageing process of the skin or the supporting tissues in the eyelids, the upper eyelids may begin to show excess skin, the corners of the eyes may appear to droop or 'bags' may appear under the eyes. All of which can make a person look tired or even sad.

Eyelid correction or an 'eye lift' restores a fresher and more youthful appearance in a natural way with nearly invisible scars.

• You appear tired due to excess skin on the upper eyelids.
• You're having trouble putting eyeshadow on your eyes.
• You have a heavy feeling on the eyelids and regularly rub your eyes to get rid of this feeling.
• The excess skin at your eyes is beginning to obstruct your field of vision.
• You have 'puffiness' on the lower eyelids.

An upper eyelid correction is performed under local anaesthesia. The incision is positioned in a natural crease of the eyelid. The excess skin is measured and removed. In rare occasions, some excess fat may also have to be removed. The incision is then closed with fine skin sutures and covered with narrow plasters. The procedure takes 35 minutes for both eyelids. You may return home immediately after the procedure.

A lower eyelid correction is slightly more complex, so it takes a little longer than an upper eyelid correction. The procedure can be done under local or general anaesthesia. With lower eyelid surgery, the incision is positioned just below the eyelashes. To correct puffiness, the eyelid muscle and ligaments need to be tightened to push back the bulging fat. Fat redistribution (i.e. the Hamra technique) is sometimes necessary to correct the crease between the cheek and the eyelid. Occasionally, a limited amount of fat is also removed. Once the eyelid is tightened, a small strip of excess skin is often removed as well. The incision is then closed with fine skin sutures and covered with narrow plasters. Lower eyelid surgery takes between 60-75 minutes. You may go home immediately after the procedure.

For safety reasons, it is best not to drive yourself home. During the first few days, it is wise to avoid strenuous activities (e.g. bending or lifting), to rest a lot and to apply something cold (e.g. ice) to counteract any swelling. Your physician may prescribe eye drops and ointment to protect your eyes from drying out during the first few days. Count on having black eyes for a week. The sutures can be removed after 5-7 days. Afterwards, the scars should mature. They will remain pink for several months before turning completely white. Follow-up consults are scheduled for 1 week, 6 weeks and 3-6 months.

Eyelid corrections are frequently performed and very safe procedures in experienced hands. They pose no risk to the eye itself. Post-operative bleeding is a rare complication but by rigorous ice application and avoiding strenuous exercise and blood-thinning medications, the risk of this bleeding is very low.

In most cases, eyelid surgery, as an aesthetic surgery, is not reimbursed. A portion of the costs will only be reimbursed in the rare cases where excess skin on the upper eyelids obstructs the field of vision (as determined by a visual field test performed by an ophthalmologist).

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Latest publication date: 13/08/2024
Supervising author: Dr Vertriest Rudolf