Blepharoplasty
The redundant skin is excised and, when appropriate, any bulging fat is redistributed.
As we age, the quality of the skin around our eyes deteriorates becoming thin and lax. This is often accompanied by the bulging of eyelid fatty tissue and the formation of eye bags.
A blepharoplasty or eyelid lift can address these issues. The redundant skin is excised and, when appropriate, any bulging fat is redistributed. The scars are carefully hidden in the creases around your eyes. The result is rejuvenation of the area surrounding the eyes to restores a vibrant, more youthful appearance.
The important contribution our eyes make to facial attractiveness is indisputable. They have been written about, sung about and been the theme of numerous movies. It is not surprising, therefore, that an eyelid lift is a highly sought after cosmetic surgical procedure.
FAQs – Upper Eyelid Lift
The surgery is performed under general anaesthetic and involves a one night stay in hospital. The redundant skin is excised and any bulging fat present is dealt with. The scars are located immediately under the lower eyelid lashes. The sutures are removed 5-7 days post-operatively.
It is beneficial to prime your skin prior to your surgery. Invest in good quality skin care products from a cosmeceutical range. Dr Collins stocks Aspect Dr products, which you can purchase at the clinic and also online (with LINK TO SKIN SHOP). In addition, it is absolutely imperative that you have stopped smoking for at least 3 months, if not 6 months prior to your surgery. Smoking has catastrophic effects on wound healing and greatly increases your risk of complications in general. It is also essential to stop blood thinning medications and garlic supplements for the appropriate period of time beforehand.
You will need to keep your wounds clean and dry for the first 48 hours. Bruising and swelling is common and can take 2 weeks to fully subside. Apply ice packs for 10 mins every hour for the first 24 hours and every 4 hours for the next 24 hours. Use cold compresses thereafter to help minimise swelling. Sleep with extra pillows to keep your head a little more elevated than usual. Sleeping with extra pillows is also beneficial. Dr Collins will ensure you have adequate pain relief to deal with any pain and discomfort you experience. You can typically resume normal activity in 24 hours but you need to avoid strenuous activity for 2 weeks.
This will depend on your occupation. Because of the bruising and swelling, you may wish to take 1-2 weeks off after your surgery. If you can work from home however, you may be able to return to work sooner than this. In general, the bruising and swelling can be effectively camouflaged with make-up after the first week, whereas men may prefer to take two weeks off work.
In some patients, it may be necessary to perform a lower eyelid tightening procedure (a canthopexy) at the same time as your lower eyelid lift. This can help reduce the risk of significant swelling after your surgery. A canthopexy causes the eyes to become more almond-shaped, but this effect is temporary and settles with time.
You may experience temporary blurred vision, which resolves within a few days. The prescription for your glasses will not change after the surgery.
The surgery is designed to produce long lasting results. It is important, however, to limit your exposure to all of the extrinsic factors that contribute to ageing of the skin including sun exposure, smoking, stress, an unhealthy diet and excessive alcohol. Invest in good quality skin care products from a cosmeceutical range (link to skin shop) and use sun protection, in order to maintain the results of your eyelid surgery for as long as possible.
Whilst the rejuvenating effects of a lower eyelid lift are long-lasting, there are alternatives to surgery. These include dermal fillers, which can temporarily improve hollows and dark circles under the eyes and anti-ageing injections, which can soften crow’s feet lines that become more obvious when we smile. Collagen induction therapy using SkinPen® can also improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in this region.
Yes, the procedures can be combined. This would involve a general anaesthetic and an overnight stay in hospital.
After your consultation, Dr Collins will provide you with an estimate which will include hospital and anaesthetic costs in addition to the surgical fee. A lower eyelid lift will cost between $10,500 and $12,500. If you wish to have a combined upper and lower eyelid lift under general anaesthetic, the cost will be in the range of $14,000 to $16,000.
FAQs – Lower Eyelid Lift
It is beneficial to prime your skin prior to your surgery. Invest in good quality skin care products from a cosmeceutical range. Dr Collins stocks Aspect Dr products, which you can purchase at the clinic and also online (with LINK TO SKIN SHOP). In addition, it is absolutely imperative that you have stopped smoking for at least 3 months, if not 6 months prior to your surgery. Smoking has catastrophic effects on wound healing and greatly increases your risk of complications in general. It is also essential to stop blood thinning medications and garlic supplements for the appropriate period of time beforehand.
Depending on your preference, the surgery can be performed under local or general anaesthetic. The redundant skin is excised and any bulging fat present is dealt with. The sutures are removed 5-7 days post-operatively.
You are more likely to experience discomfort rather than pain following your surgery. Dr Collins will ensure you have adequate pain relief to deal with this.
You will need to keep your wounds clean and dry for the first 48 hours. Bruising and swelling is common and can take up to 2 weeks to fully subside. Apply ice packs for 10 mins every hour for the first 24 hours and every 4 hours for the next 24 hours. Use cold compresses thereafter to help minimise swelling. Sleep with extra pillows to keep your head a little more elevated than usual. You can typically resume normal activity in 24 hours but you need to avoid strenuous activity for 2 weeks.
This will depend on your occupation. Because of the bruising and swelling, you may wish to take a week off after the surgery. If you can work from home however, you will be able to return to work sooner than this. It is important to avoid strenuous activity for two weeks.
The surgery is designed to produce long lasting results. It is important, however, to limit your exposure to all of the extrinsic factors that contribute to ageing of the skin including sun exposure, smoking, stress, an unhealthy diet and excessive alcohol. Invest in good quality skin care products from a cosmeceutical range (link to skin shop) and use sun protection, in order to maintain the results of your eyelid surgery for as long as possible.
After your consultation, Dr Collins will provide you with an estimate detailing the costs involved. For procedures performed under local anaesthetic, the cost will be between $3,000 and $3,500.