Is Eyeshield Surgery a Good Idea?
Eyeshield surgery, also called blepharoplasty, is a process of removing excess skin from the eyelids. Aging causes eyelids to stretch and to weakening of the muscles supporting them. Therefore excessive skin and fat can accumulate above and below them. The accumulation results in sagging eyebrows, bags under the eyes, and droopy upper lids.
Besides aging, excessively sagging skin around your eyes can reduce peripheral vision in the upper and outer parts of the visual field. Blepharoplasty helps reduce or eliminate vision problems along with giving the eyes and younger and alert appearance. If you want to learn whether this procedure is good for you, kindly read this article to learn about its benefits and risks.
Why Is Blepharoplasty Performed?
Blepharoplasty is an option if you have baggy or droopy upper eyelids, excess skin of the upper eyelids blocking your peripheral vision partially, excess skin on the lower eyelids, and bags under your eyes. Blepharoplasty is performed in conjunction with other procedures like brow lifts, facelifts, and skin resurfacing.
You may receive insurance coverage if surgery is essential to fix a vision problem. However, surgery merely to improve your aesthetic appearance will not receive coverage from insurance providers.
What to Expect During Blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty is generally performed in an outpatient setting. You will likely receive anesthesia to numb the eyelids and sedation via IV to relax you.
During a procedure for upper eyelids, the eye doctor cuts along the eyelid fold to remove some excess skin, muscle, and fat. If you need the process on the lower eyelids, the surgeon cuts beneath the lashes in the eye’s natural crease inside the lower eyelid. The surgeon removes or redistributes extra fat, muscle, and sagging skin before closing the incision. If your upper eyelid droops to shut your pupil, the doctor performs blepharoplasty in conjunction with another procedure, ptosis, that helps lift the eyelid to remove excess eyelid skin.
Best age Eye shield surgery
Many patients consider blepharoplasty from the eye doctor near them because they feel it makes them more confident by giving them a younger appearance looking more rested than fatigued. As an aesthetic procedure to improve appearance by eliminating sagging skin above and below the eyelids, besides helping fix vision problems, the procedure is suitable for all ages except those taking certain drugs or supplements that might increase bleeding. Smoking patients must refrain from the practice several weeks before blepharoplasty.
How to Prepare for Eyelid Surgery?
You should meet the optometrist in Glendale, CA, and other specialists, including a plastic surgeon, an eye specialist, or an ophthalmologist specializing in plastic surgery around the eyes.
During the meeting, the specialists will discuss your earlier surgeries and ask about present or past conditions like dry eyes, glaucoma, circulatory problems, thyroid issues, diabetes, and allergies. They will also inquire about your use of drugs, vitamins, alcohol, tobacco, recreational drugs, and herbal supplements.
You can also discuss your goals with the specialists to help set the stage for good outcomes. The specialists will discuss your procedure and how well it is likely to work for you.
Before eye shield surgery, you will undergo a comprehensive eye exam, including testing tear production and measuring parts of your eyelids. Visual field testing to determine if you have blind spots or peripheral vision. The testing is essential to support insurance claims. Pictures of your eyelids from different angles help the specialists plan the surgery. They will also document whether the surgery is a medical necessity to support insurance claims if required.
Is Eye Shield Surgery Painful?
As you receive local anesthesia in the eyelids and IV sedation, you will likely experience no discomfort while the specialists work on your eyes to improve your appearance or fix vision problems. However, you might suffer from allergic reactions to anesthesia or blood clots.
Rarely some patients experience infection and bleeding, irritated dry eyes, eyelid problems or difficulty closing the eyes, visible scarring, injury to eye muscles, skin discoloration, temporary blurred vision, and loss of eyesight rarely. However, the need for follow-up surgery also exists.
Blepharoplasty, for cosmetic reasons, helps patients achieve a new look. The eyelid surgery also helps improve peripheral vision. Patients with a fatigued appearance find blepharoplasty an excellent option to overcome the problem. However, the procedure is best performed by a board-certified specialist and reconstructive surgeon to deliver optimal results.
If you are concerned about the abovementioned issues, Glendale Eye Medical Group provides eyelid surgery to help you overcome the challenges. Kindly arrange an appointment with them to discuss whether blepharoplasty suits your needs by explaining your goals to them.