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Blepharoplasty | Eyelid Surgery Calgary

Blepharoplasty | double eyelid

Eyelid surgery
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Blepharoplasty | double eyelid

Eyelid surgery
An ideal way for patients to improve the appearance of their upper and/or lower eyelid(s). Eyelid surgery may be a good fit for you, whether you suffer from physical or emotional distress related to having heavy upper eyelids, or are simply wanting to appear less tired. You may benefit from only upper or only lower lid surgery, or both procedures.
Interested in this procedure?
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what to know
-
Down time
2-6 weeks
results
more rejuvenated and awake appearance of the eyes
anesthesia
local or general anesthetic
Starting cost
Upper $4,500+GST | Lower $6,800+GST | Upper and Lower $8,800+GST
alternative treatments
treatments in harmony
conditions treated
loose or sagging skin of the upper eyelid, bags under the eyes, excess skin and fine wrinkles of the lower eyelid, mono eyelids
- what to know
Down time
2-6 weeks
results
more rejuvenated and awake appearance of the eyes
anesthesia
local or general anesthetic
starting cost
Upper $4,500+GST | Lower $6,800+GST | Upper and Lower $8,800+GST
alternative treatments
treatments in harmony
conditions treated
loose or sagging skin of the upper eyelid, bags under the eyes, excess skin and fine wrinkles of the lower eyelid, mono eyelids
more details

An upper blepharoplasty is typically carried under local anesthetic. 

A lower blepharoplasty can be done under local or general anesthetic depending on the needs of the patient. If only a skin pinch procedure is required, then a lower blepharoplasty can be done under local anesthetic. If fat redraping or fat grafting to the cheeks is required, then general anesthetic is required.

Sometimes upper eyelid skin appears worse, as a result of a low brow position. Your surgeon will be able to inform you if a brow lift will need to be performed with your blepharoplasty at your consultation.

Double eyelid surgery is also a type of blepharoplasty in which a crease is made in the upper eyelid, to create a wider and larger-looking eye. Sometimes this surgery can also be combined with a canthoplasty to achieve the appearance of larger eyes.

The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal, and you’ll have to decide if the benefits of the surgery outweigh the risks and potential complications of surgery.

You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks. It is important that you address all your questions directly with your surgeon.

procedure

In the case of an upper blepharoplasty an incision is made within the natural crease of the eyelid allowing for removal of fat deposits, tightening of upper eyelid muscle and/or removal of the excess skin. Your surgeon will use non-dissolvable sutures to close the incisions.

For a lower blepharoplasty an incision is made just below the lash line allowing for the removal of fat deposits, tightening of muscles and/or removal of the excess skin. Your surgeon will use non-dissolvable sutures to close the incisions. If fat redraping is performed, there will be a small bolster dressing applied to the cheek. The cheek dressing will be removed in 5-7 days along with your non-dissolvable sutures.

recovery

Following local anesthesia, it may take 4-5 hours for the numbing effects to wear off – similar to something you would have done at the dentist. You can even eat and drink like normal before your procedure. We ask that you not consume alcohol 24 hours prior to surgery. You must be accompanied by a responsible adult on your way home, who may either drive you home or take a taxi with you. You may feel pain slowly increase as the numbing wears off. Please ensure you have some acetaminophen or ibuprofen at home to use, for any discomfort.

Following general anesthesia or intravenous sedation, it will take 24 to 36 hours for the full effects of the drugs to wear off.  You must be accompanied by a responsible adult, who may either drive you home or take a taxi with you. You may feel a little sleepy or nauseous when you get home, you should quietly rest at home for the remainder of the day.

A thin blue or black stitch will be present along your new upper and lower eyelid crease. You may also see the outer and inner ends of the blue stitch taped to your face. Please do not remove this tape if it is present. Leaving the suture ends free and exposed is to assist with suture removal in 5-7 days.

As your sutures will be exposed to air, please try your best to limit contact with the incisions to only icing and cleaning. If you are experiencing discharge around your eyes, you can use a clean Q-tip with warm water to gently clean this. You can shower normally, please clean the eyelid area by washing with just warm water during your shower and pat dry with a clean paper towel. Please apply a little bit of polysporin 3-4 times a day over the incision/sutures with a clean Q-tip until your suture removal appointment. Please ensure you wipe away the old polysporin with a warm wet Q-tip before reapplying new polysporin.

Please use regular saline eye drops to keep your eyes from being dry, irritated, and/or itchy. It is normal to notice dryness and irritation when keeping your eyes open for prolonged periods. Please check with your surgeon if the problem persists or worsens.

Please do not bathe or soak your incisions until all incisions have completely healed. Swelling and bruising is common following surgery and is to be expected. The swelling and bruising should subside within 2-4 weeks after surgery. You will be provided with a silicone ointment after your surgical incision has healed to improve the appearance of the scar.

Patients are able to get up and walk around right after surgery. Most patients are back to normal daily activities the next day. However, there should be no heavy lifting for 3 months following surgery to ensure there is no separation of the surgical incisions. Most patients who have sedentary jobs do not take time off work. If your job involves a lot of physical activity be sure to speak with your surgeon during your consultation with regards to how much time off you will need for your specific daily tasks. Most patients are comfortable driving the next day. 

It is not uncommon for a spot along your surgical incision to open up during the postoperative stages due to increased tension on the incisions with movement or poor healing. This is not a serious complication, and can be remedied with wound care , and can  mean a delay in your expected recovery time.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to give us a call at (403) 800-9157 and leave a message as necessary. If you are unable to reach us, and need medical advice please call 811 to speak to a nurse, the line is free of charge and available 24 hours a day. If it is a medical emergency please call 911 or go to your nearest hospital, or call the Peter Lougheed Centre Switchboard at (403) 943-4555 and ask to speak to the plastic surgeon on-call.

things to consider

Blepharoplasty surgery is not intended to correct vision impairments unrelated to excess eyelid skin. A consultation with an ophthalmologist would be recommended prior to surgery if there are concerns regarding vision impairment unrelated to excess skin.

Blepharoplasty surgery can temporarily worsen dry eyes. Sometimes it can take up to months before the symptoms are resolved.  

A good candidate for surgery is a patient who is relatively healthy and has realistic expectations for post-operative outcomes. It is also strongly advised that you be a non-smoker at the time of surgery. If you are a smoker we recommend you quit smoking at least 3 months prior to surgery as nicotine can interfere with blood supply and potentially cause complications with healing after surgery.

Quick considerations
01
sound body
health and weight play a large part in recovery so it's best if both are stable
A good candidate is someone who is relatively healthy and at a stable weight.
02
reality check
every body is one-of-a-kind and your results will be unique to you
The patient must have realistic expectations for post-procedure outcomes. Surgical candidacy will be determined at the consultation to better determine realistic outcomes.
03
no smoking here
we strongly advised that you are a non-smoker at the time of surgery
If you are a smoker we recommend you quit smoking at least three months prior to surgery to avoid post-operative complications.