How Eyelid Surgery Can Improve Appearance and Vision

Feeling like your eyes look tired, even when you are well-rested? Or perhaps your vision isn't as clear as it used to be?

Eyelid surgery offers a way to refresh your look and improve how you see the world. This procedure offers dual benefits: it enhances your appearance while also improving your vision. This can lead to greater confidence and clearer sight.

Not surprisingly, it was one of the facial procedures in high demand in 2023, with 121K people opting for it. Here, we'll explore how eyelid surgery can improve both how you look and how you see the world.

What is Eyelid Surgery?

Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, is a procedure that gently reshapes the area around the eyes. Typically, surgeons remove excess skin, fat, and sometimes muscle from the upper and/or lower eyelids. It can address issues like:

• Droopy upper eyelids
• Puffiness or bags under the eyes
• Wrinkles and crepey skin around the eyes
• Obstructed vision due to overhanging eyelid skin

It's often performed under local anesthesia with mild sedation, and recovery tends to be relatively quick.

How It Improves Appearance

One of the most common reasons individuals consider eyelid surgery is to rejuvenate their look.

Blepharoplasty specifically targets concerns that make eyes appear tired or aged, such as baggy or droopy upper eyelids and excess skin on the lower eyelids. The surgery removes or repositions these tissues, which can:

• Make your eyes look brighter and more open
• Reduce under-eye bags and puffiness
• Soften fine lines and wrinkles

Emma Stone is one celebrity known to have had an upper blepharoplasty. Popular TikTok creator Jonny Betteridge comments that her eyelids are more visible and they have a more almond-like shape post-surgery.

How It Helps With Vision

Eyelid surgery can significantly improve vision and eye comfort.

Drooping upper eyelids, a condition known as ptosis, can physically block vision. They narrow the field of view and make it challenging to see things to the sides. This obstruction can make daily activities, such as driving or reading, more challenging and even unsafe.

Blepharoplasty lifts and tightens the eyelids, which broadens peripheral vision. Besides convenience, this improvement in peripheral vision has tangible safety benefits.

According to PMC, the Salisbury Eye Evaluation study found that losing peripheral vision is a more significant risk factor for falls than losing central vision. Undergoing eyelid surgery can reduce serious risks and significantly enhance overall quality of life and independence.

Excess skin or fat can weigh down eyelids, forcing the muscles around the eyes to work harder to keep them open. Removing this extra tissue eases the burden on eye muscles, resulting in more comfortable and focused vision.

Is Eyelid Surgery Right for You?

There are several signs that might indicate you could benefit from this surgery.

If droopy eyelids make you look tired, even when well-rested, or sagging eyelids physically block vision, surgery could be a helpful solution. You might also benefit from blepharoplasty if you have puffy bags under the eyes.

Note, though, this surgery is suitable for healthy non-smokers without severe eye conditions or medical issues that could impair healing. Your facial tissue and muscles must also be healthy.

Just as important is choosing the right doctor. This isn't a procedure to bargain-hunt or rush into. Your eyes are delicate, and the wrong surgeon could leave you with uneven results, scars, or even eyelid deformities.

In fact, earlier this year, Kayla Cannon of Atlanta, Georgia, accused the doctor of removing too much eyelid tissue and overtightening the skin. She turned to a medical malpractice attorney in Atlanta to file a lawsuit against the physician.

This move may help her secure fair compensation for the injuries she suffered. According to Finch McCranie LLP, Georgia law allows medical malpractice victims to seek both economic and non-economic damages, including both past and future pain and suffering.

Her case serves as a reminder to thoroughly vet your surgeon because a procedure meant to help should not leave you worse off.

Recovery and What to Expect

Most people return to light activities within a few days to a week after the eyelid surgery. Full healing, where the final results become apparent, typically takes a few months.

In the initial phase, which lasts for the first few days, some swelling, bruising, and mild discomfort around the eyes are normal. Applying cold compresses can significantly help reduce swelling and bruising. Vision might be slightly blurry for the first day or two, but this usually improves quickly.

Stitches are typically removed within six to ten days at a follow-up appointment with the surgeon. Over the first couple of weeks, swelling and bruising fade noticeably, and you gradually feel more comfortable as the results begin to emerge.

During recovery, it is important to avoid strenuous activities like exercise and heavy lifting for at least two weeks. This helps prevent increased blood pressure that could strain the healing eyes. You must also wear sunglasses outdoors to protect the eye area from the sun and wind during the healing process.

Eyelid surgery may be a small procedure, but it can make a big difference. Whether you want to freshen up your appearance or fix droopy eyelids, this could be a great option to consider.

Just make sure you do your homework and choose an experienced surgeon. A skilled professional will safely guide you through the process, helping you achieve natural, refreshed-looking results that still look like you.