Eyelid surgery is more common than you may think. More than 200,000 people have the procedure each year. And they’re used in response to a variety of situations. It’s true that many eyelid surgeries, otherwise known as blepharoplasty, are performed for cosmetic reasons. Patients might want to correct overly puffy eyes or erase the appearance of fine lines. However, eyelid surgery may also be performed to address a medical issue. Let’s look at the benefits of eyelid surgery.

The Benefits of Eyelid Surgery

Many people find that the sensitive skin around their eyes becomes rather loose with age. At first, it isn’t much of an issue, but as time goes on, the skin from the upper eyelid can actually obscure the person’s vision. Their heavy upper eyelids can make it difficult for these patients to fully open their eyes, severely impacting their quality of life. Regardless of the cosmetic or medical reason, eyelid surgery can do a lot to benefit the individual.

Types of Blepharoplasty

There are two primary types of blepharoplasty. The first removes excess fat from the area around the eyes. This excess fat could be a result of genetics or age. Either way, it’s removed via a hidden incision along the inside of the eyelid. As a result, recovery is fairly speedy, and there is no visible scarring. Once you’ve healed a bit, your eye plastic surgeon will typically use topical treatments to shrink the skin into the proper place.

Sadly, this option isn’t always viable. If you have a larger pocket of fat or significant wrinkling and sagging, you will have to have eyelid surgery that removes skin and excess fat. The upside is that this type of surgery can give more dramatic results, and it’s still fairly simple in terms of recovery. The only real disadvantage is that your surgeon will have to make an incision along the exterior of the eyelid. Fortunately, a talented oculoplastic surgeon will be able to hide the majority if not all of the scarring. The rest should fade as long as you follow all of your post-operative directions.

Revision Surgery

There is a third type of blepharoplasty. A revisional eyelid surgery is typically reserved for patients who have had one of the abovementioned procedures before. The patient may have had a bad experience with an underqualified medical professional. Or they may have simply had the procedure so long ago that it needs refreshing. As a result, it’s vital to find a board-certified surgeon with a specialization in oculoplastic surgeries. Given the existing changes and possible missing skin a revisional eyelid surgery is a delicate procedure that should only be trusted to the most qualified surgeons available.

Enjoying the Results

A well-executed eyelid surgery has incredible results. Without those tired under-eye bags you’ll look younger and more awake. If you had a severe case, you’ll notice that your life has dramatically improved once you’re able to see without discomfort or frustration. Either way, it doesn’t matter whether the reason for your eyelid surgery was cosmetic or medical. There’s no denying that eyelid surgery comes with a slew of benefits, from improved self-confidence to the pure enjoyment of unhindered vision.

If you would like to know more about what a blepharoplasty could do for your quality of life, then feel free to contact your local oculoplastic surgeon at Eye Plastic Surgery of Minnesota. Based on your initial consultation, Dr. Dewan will be able to make a suggestion based on his professional experience. From there, it’s up to you to choose the future you want for your eyes.