Question:
I had blepharoplasty nearly two months ago and I still have horrible bruises beneath my eyes. Is this normal? When should they be gone and what can I do in the meantime?
Answer:
Some bruising and swelling after eyelid surgery will be present because the eye area is extremely delicate. The more involved your blepharoplasty surgery was, the more bruising you may experience. The amount of time bruising lasts varies among individuals and it can last up to two to three months. It is important to be patient following your surgery, as the final result will not be evident for some time. Thank you and I hope this helps.
Question:
Why is local anesthesia injected before having a facelift? Why does vascularity need to be decreased prior to surgery?
Answer:
A facelift can be performed with local or general anesthesia. Using a local for a facelift is a great option and works well for many patients. Click here to view a video of a facelift performed under local anesthesia. (Promoting Group, please link to Joan’s local facelift video) Decreasing vascularity will prevent the patient from bleeding too much, which can interfere with the surgeon performing the facelift. It is important to disclose all herbal supplements, vitamins, and medications to your surgeon prior to having a procedure performed. Taking things like aspirin, vitamin E and ibuprofen can increase bleeding which will interfere with the surgery. Thank you for the question.
Question:
I had a brow lift and eyelid surgery and I think the doctor removed too much fat because the area under my eyes now looks hollow. Is there some type of procedure to fill in this area?
Answer:
Absolutely, you have the option to add fat back to the area or a filler to reduce the hollow appearance. Restylane is a great option to reduce under-eye hollowing. Fat is a more permanent option and has around a 30% take. Thank you for the question.
Question:
I had an eyelid lift on my lower eyelids two years ago and it didn’t take care of the loose sagging skin beneath my eyes. What can help fix this?
Answer:
A lower blepharoplasty can help fix the issue you describe. In the lower lid, the fatty deposits are typically repositioned which prevents the hollow look. Incisions are made inside of the lid so that no external scars are created. In some instances, when there is extra skin that needs to be removed, a skin pinch is performed with an incision placed under the lashes to avoid producing scars. As with the upper lid, fine stitches are used to close the incision. Thank you and I hope this helps.
Question:
I’m interested in getting eyelid surgery to address some sagging of my upper eyelids. I also have some fine lines around my eyes. Will these be addressed at all with surgery?
Answer:
Fine wrinkles will not be improved by eyelid surgery. An appropriate skincare regimen, resurfacing procedure such as peels and lasers and finally, Botox or Dysport injections will better address fine wrinkles. Botox and Dysport do a fantastic job of eliminating the wrinkles around your eyes commonly referred to as crow’s feet, as well as the wrinkles above and between the brows. Thank you very much for the question.
Question:
How much discoloration such as bruising and redness will there be after blepharoplasty? How long does this last?
Answer:
The recovery following blepharoplasty is typically two weeks. It is important to take it easy for the first week following blepharoplasty and gradually increase activity during the second week. Most people are able to go back to work after the first week, but it is better to take at least 10 days off following a blepharoplasty surgery. It is important not to participate in any strenuous activities for at least four weeks. Some bruising and swelling after an eyelid surgery will be present because the eye area is extremely delicate. The more involved your blepharoplasty surgery was, the more bruising you may experience. Your eyes will also be a little bit swollen and the swelling will fully dissipate in the days following your surgery. It can take up to two to three weeks for the swelling to fully resolve. It’s important to be patient following your surgery, as the final result will not be evident for some time. Thank you and I hope this helps.
Question:
Does eyelid surgery treat under-eye hollows? If so, does it incorporate fat injection?
Answer:
The appearance of the under-eye hollows, or “tear troughs” can be improved with repositioning of fat during lower lid blepharoplasty. Nonsurgical improvement of tear troughs can be attained with the use of fillers or fat. I like to use Restylane for the tear trough. Using fat is more permanent, and has around a 30% take. Thank you and I hope this helps.
Question:
I’m contemplating getting eyelid surgery, however I wear contacts and I was wondering if I would be able to put my contacts in immediately following surgery.
Answer:
You will want to refrain from wearing contact lenses for two weeks following surgery. Eyeglasses are okay after your procedure, provided that they’re cleaned and disinfected prior to use. Thank you for the question.
Question:
I’m a 54-year-old woman. My upper eyelids are droopy and I have deep wrinkles at the corner of my eyes. Would an upper blepharoplasty help both of these conditions?
Answer:
An upper blepharoplasty will help correct the appearance of droopy upper eyelids. Fine wrinkles will not be improved by eyelid surgery. An appropriate skin care regimen, resurfacing procedures such as peels, lasers, and Botox or Dysport injections will better address fine wrinkles. Botox and Dysport do a fantastic job around the eyes for wrinkles commonly referred to as “crow’s feet,” as well as the wrinkles above and between the brows. Thank you very much for the question.
Question:
I had an Asian double blepharoplasty 8 days ago. Yesterday I noticed a small bulge under my right eyelid and I’m nervous that this might be a hematoma. What are the signs of a hematoma?
Answer:
It could be a little hematoma, or small collection of blood. Alternating warm and cold packs can help. Eye pain or changes with vision are common symptoms of a hematoma. It would be best for your surgeon to examine you immediately, as he or she knows the extent of your surgery and exactly what was performed. Thank you for the question.
