Did you know eyelid surgery isn’t just about looking better? It is often necessary for very practical purposes.
For example, blepharoplasty falls under the umbrella of cosmetic surgery. And while many people get it for cosmetic purposes, it can also improve sight and eye health in certain circumstances.
Keep reading to learn about some warning signs that may indicate you could benefit from eyelid surgery.
What is Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty is an eyelid surgery that treats droopy eyelids and excess tissue around the eyes. Droopy eyelids occur as the muscles that support your eyelids sag and stretch out as you get older. Your body also stores fat and excess tissue around your eyes, which can cause puffiness.
Blepharoplasty can treat sagging eyelids and excess tissue around your eyes. It is an outpatient procedure, but you are under anesthesia and sedation during it.
First, your surgeon makes incisions along your upper eyelids. They remove excess skin, fat, and other tissue through these incisions.
The incisions are in the creases of the upper eyelid to hide any scarring that may develop afterward. Next, your surgeon closes the incision and moves on to your lower lids.
There is no crease in the lower lids, so they make the incisions along the seam just below your eyelashes or inside your eyelid. They remove the excess tissue from your lower lids, close the incision, and send you home to recover.
Afterward, sagging eyelids that could have been interfering with your vision or excess tissue around your eyes will be gone. Your eyes will look and feel younger and invigorated!
Droopy Eyelids
Eyelids can become weighted down with excess fat and skin, particularly as you age. The skin on your eyelids is the thinnest anywhere on your body, which makes it easy to stretch out.
Eventually, your eyelids and the skin above your eyelids can droop down so far that it impedes vision. Puffiness and bags under your eyes happen because your body stores fat in your eyelids as you get older.
Eyelid surgery can tighten the muscles around your eyes so they hold your eyelids and brow up more. It can also reduce the amount of tissue around your eyes to get rid of the puffiness that makes you look tired and older.
Ectropion and Entropion
Ectropion is a condition where you have saggy lower eyelids. The weight of gravity as you age not only pulls on your upper eyelids but your lower eyelids as well.
This sagging occurs because the muscles controlling your eyelids begin to weaken. As the lower lids sag downwards, they also turn outwards.
Your eyes can become exposed, even when you close your eyes. Besides not looking good, this gap in your eyelids can also cause dry eye, irritation, and other eye conditions.
Entropion is the opposite of ectropion. Instead of turning outward and exposing your eye, the lower lid turns inwards, which also causes problems.
When entropion occurs, your eyelid and eyelashes rub against your eye. This friction causes similar symptoms to dry eye, including redness, irritation, and sensitivity.
Left untreated, it can also create an ulcer on the eye’s surface and eventually lead to infection. Eyelid surgery can correct ectropion and entropion.
Do you think you may benefit from eyelid surgery? Schedule an appointment at Stahl Eyecare Experts in Garden City, NY, to discuss your options!
Eyelid issues don’t have to interfere with your life. Enjoy the benefits of eyelid surgery!