COSMETIC LID SURGERY-BLEPHROPLASTY
Cosmetic surgery for the eyelids is the most complex operation among facial rejuvenation surgeries, but it also gives satisfactory results. Surgical results affect the external appearance, psychological state, and most importantly, eye functions and vision in patients. Our eyelids are a barrier that covers the eye surface and plays a role in the maintenance of eye functions by protecting our eyes from external factors. Age-related sagging of the eyelids creates a tired expression in people, but also causes a narrowing in the visual field with the feeling of heaviness in the eyelids. In addition to age-related changes, deformities may develop due to traumas, tumors, allergic valve diseases and infections. In these cases, improvement in the cosmetic appearance of the lid may be required following treatment for the main cause. The most common applications on this subject are brow lift, upper lid blepharoplasty, lower lid blepharoplasty and midface lift.
UPPER EYELID SURGERY (BLEPHROPLASTY)
Cosmetic upper eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is the most frequently applied surgical technique in aesthetic facial surgeries. Depending on age and environmental factors, the upper eyelid loses its tone and with the effect of gravity, it sags towards the edge of the eyelashes. This sagging sometimes becomes so evident that it weighs on the lids and causes a narrowing in the visual field, preventing visual functions. In upper eyelid blepharoplasty, the excess eyelid skin is removed by checking the eyebrow level and eyelid level. In cases with low eyebrow and lid level, these tables also positively affect the result of correction at the same time. The mechanism of action of the upper eyelid is absolutely necessary for the protection of the eye surface and visual functions. For this reason, a detailed evaluation of eye functions by an oculoplastic surgeon before surgery is required, and visual field and eye pressure measurements are required in cases where refractive error, astigmatism, eye muscle functions and double vision are required. Age-related dryness of the eye surface, tear failure, and excimer laser applications to get rid of glasses change the eye surface and therefore the eyelid surgery techniques. Therefore, a detailed eye examination is essential before eyelid surgery.
Surgery is performed under the supervision of an anesthesiologist, accompanied by sedatives administered intravenously under local anesthesia. The amount of skin and fat to be removed before the operation is calculated and the shape of the lid is adjusted to be the best. At this stage, appropriate surgical markings are made so that the lid does not remain open, especially at night. There is drooping eyebrows or droopy lids and surgical calculations related to this are applied. Since the interventions are made from the natural valve line, there is no scar after the operation. Since the use of blood thinners such as aspirin or the use of multi-vitamin pills increases the possibility of bleeding during the surgery, it should be discontinued at least 7 days before the surgery. In most cases after surgery, eye closure is not required and hospitalization is not required. Regional eye drops and ointments are used after surgery. Swelling is prevented with ice applications and the swelling disappears in an average of 10 days. Surgical sutures on the lid are removed in 7-10 days. The surgical result becomes clear in an average of 2 months.
FOR UPPER EYELID BLEPHROPLASTY DR. 3 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS TO ONUR KONUK
1. Can the eye remain open after upper eyelid surgery?
The upper eyelid opens and closes just like the windshield wiper of a car, cleaning the eye surface, providing the distribution of tears, wetting and protecting them. Lid closure problems may occur because the lid will shorten as a result of excessive removal of the skin of the upper eyelid. Especially at night, since our eyelids are closed in a light tone, keeping the eyes open at night can cause dryness on the surface of the eye, and soreness, stinging and watering when we wake up in the morning. The amount of openness may be low enough to improve over time with the changes in the amount of tears, or it may be serious enough to require urgent intervention to cause vision loss in the eye. In this period, it is very important for the ophthalmologist to follow the eye surface under the microscope with artificial tears and gels and draw the treatment scheme. In necessary cases, your ophthalmologist will offer you alternative surgical options instead of medication.
2. Can I have blepharoplasty operations under general anesthesia?
Upper eyelid blepharoplasty can be done under general anesthesia. However, no physician wants to overlook the risks associated with anesthesia. During this surgery, it is necessary to lie on your back for an average of 45 minutes. General anesthesia can be preferred for patients who cannot endure this process, for patients with lying position anomalies, for patients with hospital phobia, and for phobia of staying indoors. In addition to local anesthesia, intravenous sedatives administered by anesthesiologists often correct these tables. In addition, it preserves the advantages of local anesthesia. Since the patient is awake in local anesthesia, the amount of eyelid skin removed during the operation and the level of eyebrow and eyelid drooping that may be present can be easily adjusted.
3. What are the complications of upper eyelid blepharoplasty surgery, when will I return to work?
Upper eyelid blepharoplasty is a practical surgery that gives very satisfactory results when done properly. The most common problem is lid swelling and redness, which lasts an average of 5 days. This process is reduced by lying down with the head up, ice applications and medications. In addition, very rarely ongoing edema, open lids, and bruising can be observed. The most feared complication of valve surgeries is vision-threatening bleeding, which is very rare, especially in patients using blood thinners such as aspirin. In this process, your ophthalmologist should analyze your visual functions very well and evaluate the necessary medications and surgical interventions under emergency conditions. Patients can usually go out with their sunglasses on the 5th day and return to their social life, and they can return to their work as of the 10th day.
LOWER EYELID BLEPHROPLASTY
Our lower eyelid is the tissue that covers our face up to our eyes as a continuation of our cheek. It plays an important role in protecting the eye by covering the lower third of the eye on the surface of the eye and directing the tears to the tear duct. Age-related lid laxity, environmental factors, wrinkles, bagging and sagging of the lid tissue can be observed with the effect of gravity. In addition, trauma, tumors, eyelid infections, facial paralysis, congenital valve anomalies can also cause functional and cosmetic problems in the lower eyelid. In the treatment of existing problems, the surgical approach is performed under local anesthesia or general anesthesia. Surgical applications are often applied without using a suture that can leave any traces inside the eye and without making an incision on the skin. In this way, downward sagging of the lower lid after surgery can be prevented and cosmetic success can be increased. In cases with excess skin, valve surgery is performed through the skin. In lower eyelid blepharoplasty, in necessary cases, eyelid cosmetics are corrected with skin excision, eyelid tightening, fat excision or fat transfer techniques, and loss of function is tried to be prevented. In necessary cases, the cheek tissue is lifted upwards and facial rejuvenation procedures are added to the surgery. For this reason, a detailed evaluation of eye functions by an oculoplastic surgeon before surgery is required, and visual field and eye pressure measurements are required in cases where refractive error, astigmatism, eye muscle functions and double vision are required. Age-related dryness of the eye surface, tear failure, and excimer laser applications to get rid of glasses change the eye surface and therefore the eyelid surgery techniques. Therefore, a detailed eye examination is essential before eyelid surgery.
The amount of skin and fat to be removed before the operation is calculated and the shape of the lid is adjusted to be the best. At this stage, appropriate surgical markings are made so that the lid does not remain open, especially at night. Since the use of blood thinners such as aspirin or the use of multi-vitamin pills increases the possibility of bleeding during the surgery, it should be discontinued at least 7 days before the surgery. In most cases after surgery, eye closure is not required and hospitalization is not required. Regional eye drops and ointments are used after surgery. Swelling is prevented with ice applications and the swelling disappears in an average of 10 days. Surgical sutures on the lid are removed in 7-10 days. The surgical result becomes clear in an average of 2 months.
For lower eyelid blepharoplasty, Dr. The 3 most frequently asked questions to Onur Konuk
1. Can the eye remain open after lower eyelid surgery?
Lid closure problems may occur, as the skin of the lower eyelid is removed more than necessary and the lid will shorten as a result of laxity in the lid. Especially at night, since our eyelids are closed in a light tone, keeping the eyes open at night can cause dryness on the surface of the eye, and soreness, stinging and watering when we wake up in the morning. The amount of openness may be low enough to improve over time with the changes in the amount of tears, or it may be serious enough to require urgent intervention to cause vision loss in the eye. In this period, it is very important for the ophthalmologist to follow the eye surface under the microscope with artificial tears and gels and draw the treatment scheme. In necessary cases, your ophthalmologist will offer you alternative surgical options instead of medication.
2. Can I have blepharoplasty operations under general anesthesia?
Lower eyelid blepharoplasty can be done under general anesthesia. However, no physician wants to overlook the risks associated with anesthesia. During this surgery, it is necessary to lie on the back for an average of 45 minutes. General anesthesia can be preferred for patients who cannot endure this process, for patients with lying position anomalies, for patients with hospital phobia, and for phobia of staying indoors. In addition to local anesthesia, intravenous sedatives administered by anesthesiologists often correct these tables. In addition, it preserves the advantages of local anesthesia.
3. What are the complications of lower eyelid blepharoplasty, how soon can I return to work?
Lower eyelid blepharoplasty is a practical surgery that gives very satisfactory results when done properly. The most common problem is lid swelling and redness, which lasts an average of 5 days. This process is reduced by lying down with the head up, ice applications and medications. In addition, very rarely ongoing edema, open lids, and bruising can be observed. The most feared complication of valve surgeries is vision-threatening bleeding, which is very rare, especially in patients using blood thinners such as aspirin. In this process, your ophthalmologist should analyze your visual functions very well and evaluate the necessary medications and surgical interventions under emergency conditions. Patients can usually go out with their sunglasses on the 5th day and return to their social life, and they can return to their work as of the 10th day.