"Face and neck"
Eyelid surgery

Drooping eyelids, bags, wrinkles around the eyes and drooping eyebrows are often the first and most noticeable signs of ageing in the face.
 
An eyelid correction is a minor intervention with a long-lasting result. It is one of the most performed plastic surgery treatments. Drooping eyelids and heavy bags can make you appear older and tired. Correction of both lower and upper eyelid can be performed at the same time.

Who is a good candidate for an eyelid correction?

On the one hand, drooping eyelids or bags under the eyes may be hereditary, on the other it is one of the earliest signs of the ageing process. Hereditary burdened patients, men and women, decide to have an eyelid correction at an early age. People are normally over 30 years old when opting for an eyelid correction.

The first consultation

The plastic surgeon examines your eyelids and informs you about the possibilities. It is very important that you understand that mainly excess skin and excess fat are removed during an eyelid correction. This has only a very small effect on wrinkles and crow’s feet. However, these can be removed with a number of other treatments.

The preparation

To prevent swelling and discoloration of the eyelids as much as possible after surgery, you are advised to take Arnica D6 drops in the week prior to surgery. They can be bought without a prescription at the pharmacy. It is necessary to arrange for someone to pick you up and take you home safely. Do not wear contact lenses from the day of surgery until two weeks after surgery.

Anaesthesia

A correction of the eyelid is usually performed under local anesthesia, especially when only one of the eyelids (upper or lower) will be operated on. If both eyelids have to be corrected, most people opt for sedation.

Correction upper eyelids

 The plastic surgeon removes excess skin, fatty tissue and sometimes also muscular tissue via an incision in the natural eye-crease.

Correction lower eyelids

Bags are often the result of excess fatty tissue inside the eye socket, underneath the skin. Excess fatty tissue, muscle and skin are removed via an incision made immediately below the eyelashes. The incision is sutured subcutaneously. Sometimes fatty tissue is removed via an incision on the inside of the eyelid in order to prevent scars on the skin.

After the operation

Eyelids swell rapidly and turn blue very quickly. To prevent swelling and discoloration around your eyes as much as possible, it is recommended to cool your eyes within the first 48 hours after surgery with cold compresses. Your eyes may also feel like they are itchy or irritated. This is a normal reaction and it disappears spontaneously after a few days. After a week you must come back to have the stitches removed. The scars of an upper eyelid correction are not visible if you have your eyes open. Those of a lower eyelid correction lie just below the eyelashes and are therefore completely invisible. After about ten days you can get back to work. You can camouflage the discoloration with make-up. Keep in mind that you cannot wear contact lenses during the first two weeks after surgery.

A new look

After about two weeks, swelling and discoloration have disappeared and you can start using make-up again. You have a fresh, young look that will last for years. Remember that an eyelid correction is not a wrinkle treatment. If you still find wrinkles around your eyes annoying, you can have a wrinkle treatment almost simultaneously.

Complications

Complications with eyelid corrections are extremely rare. However, relatively considerable swelling and bruising may occur. Some people suffer from teary or dry eyes a few weeks after surgery. This is temporary. A complaint from some people is that not enough skin is removed. If too much skin is removed, it is possible that the eye no longer closes or that the lower eyelid separates from the eye with all its nasty consequences.