What is a Blepharoplasty?

A Blepharoplasty is a surgical cosmetic Procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the upper or lower eyelids. An upper eyelid Blepharoplasty is designed to correct a ‘hooded eyelid’, where the skin beneath the eyebrow hangs over the eyelid. A lower eyelid Blepharoplasty surgically corrects the ‘bags’ beneath the eyes by removing a small amount of fat and skin from the lower eyelid.

Who performs the Blepharoplasty procedure at Snowberry Lane Clinic?

This procedure is performed by Mr Richard Caeser, a specialist in oculoplastic surgery with over 16 years experience. You can find out more about him here. At Snowberry Lane Clinic he performs Upper Lid Blepharoplasties only, however Mr Caeser also carries out lower lid procedures at some of his other surgical residencies in the local area.

What does an upper lid Blepharoplasty procedure entail?

Mr Caeser performs the procedure under local anaesthetic, which means that the client stays awake throughout the operation. The area is numbed but you might feel some pulling on the skin and a little discomfort. The incision line follows the natural crease of the upper eyelid so when the excess tissue is removed and the incision is closed it will be virtually indistinguishable once fully healed. If you’re not too squeamish you can watch a video of Mr Caeser performing the procedure here.

How long does the procedure take?

The procedure itself takes one hour.

Does the procedure leave scars?

In most cases the client’s scars will appear pink for six months or more after surgery. After time, they will fade to look like a thin white line that follows the natural crease of the eyelid and is therefore difficult to see unless you know what you’re looking for. Mr Caeser says “ I aim for strangers to be unable to see the scars at 6 weeks, and your friends to be unable to see them by 6 months.”

What is the aftercare like for a Blepharoplasty?

Days after treatment:

For several days after treatment the client would need to keep their head elevated and use ice packs on the area to manage swelling. All activities should be kept to a minimum. Each individual is different when it comes to bruising, the first week is always the worst, and bruises can be visible around the area for 2-4 weeks.

One week after treatment:

Following surgery the stitches will be removed one week after treatment. At this point the swelling and bruising should start to subside. In the majority of cases clients feel able to get back to their normal routine including going back to work in 7-10 days, at this point is also possible to cover bruising with make-up if needed.

A few weeks after treatment:

For several weeks after surgery clients can experience a sensitivity to sunlight so suncream of Factor 30SPF or more should be worn as well as sunglasses to protect the eyes. Strenuous activities, especially those that raise your blood pressure should be avoided for about three weeks. Alcohol consumption should also be reduced dramatically or preferably avoided if possible as it causes fluid retention.

What are the risks and how can they be minimised?

1. Infection of incision – this risk is reduced following sterile protocol and by using antibiotic ointment and tablets.
2. The risk of haematoma or particularly bad bruising can be reduced by limiting activity for 2 weeks after surgery, not using aspirin and controlling swelling with ice packs and elevation.
3. Visible scaring – the scar from this treatment should fade to a thin white line. However people can heal and scar in different ways, good care of the wound can help to prevent infection and more sever scarring.
4. A Blepharoplasty can cause inflammation, which can effect the production of lubricating oil in the eyelids – causing dry eye. Eye drops can help to treat this and can be used up to a few months after the procedure.
5. Any eyelid surgery carries the risk that it could damage the optic nerve. This is incredibly rare, but should still be a consideration when considering this treatment.