Blepharoplasty

What Is an Eyelid Lift?

Eyelid lift surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, is one of the most common procedures in cosmetic and eye surgery. It is carried out on the lower eyelid when the upper lids are drooping or sagging. As eyes are located in the center of our face, changes that occur with age become particularly visible. Drooping upper eyelids and the bags under the lower eyelids make the eyes appear smaller and the face tired. An eyelid lift can solve this problem permanently.

What Are the Causes of Drooping Upper Eyelids and Tear Sacs?

The first wrinkles and tear sacks under the eyes can already appear at a young age, as the aging process is primarily determined by genetic predisposition. But, factors such as facial expressions and the influence of UV radiation favor the aging process. The fragile and delicate skin of the eyelids is particularly susceptible to environmental impacts.

Lachrymal sacks, which are on the contrary to their name, not filled with tears but with fatty tissue, can be referred to various causes. If they appear suddenly and feel slightly firm, the reason can be both a lack of sleep and a severe condition such as kidney weakness. In this case, a doctor should be consulted immediately.

If the lachrymal sacs develop over a more extended period and tend to be flaccid, the cause is the weakness of the connective tissue caused by the natural aging process. In this case, it can be assumed that the bags under the eyes will not regress on their own.

When Is Eyelid Lift Advisable?

Eyelid correction is carried out for drooping eyelids, sagging upper lids, and developed bags under the eyes, and usually for aesthetic reasons. In very rare cases, a restriction of the visual field can result from the drooping upper lids. How far the patient feels affected by these changes is always very individual and should be clarified in consultation with a specialist.

Which Examinations Should Be Carried Out Before Eyelid Correction?

Since the changes in both upper and lower lids are visible to the naked eye, patients are not subjected to diagnostic measures in the conventional sense.

However, a preoperative examination is carried out by an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist checks the visual acuity and the visual field, examines the eye microscopically with a slit lamp, and checks the intraocular pressure.

If functional disorders of the lacrimal apparatus are detected, the eyelid correction will not be carried out. An existing blood coagulation disorder or the use of blood-thinning agents or painkillers should be clarified with the surgeon before the procedure.

In addition to the ophthalmological examination and the clarification of previous illnesses, a detailed review is essential, in which it should be clarified whether the patient's expectations correspond with a realistic result of the surgery, which complications can occur, and how the doctor will proceed in case of possible complications.

Eyelid Lift Fees: How Much Does an Eyelid Lift Cost and in Which Cases Is it Covered By the Health Insurance Company ?

Mainly, the eyelid lift is carried out for aesthetic reasons. The patient has to pay for this surgery. Only if the vision is severely limited by the drooping eyelids, a request for cost acceptance might be successful.

The approximate cost of an eyelid correction is between 1700 and 3400 Euros. The exact costs for such an aesthetic surgery can only be determined individually after consultation with the corresponding doctor; it depends on the extent of the procedure. A cost estimate will be provided to the patient, which includes the costs for the procedure, the anesthesia, and the aftercare. Whether or not the consultation itself is subject to a fee varies from clinic to clinic.

What is the Procedure for an Eyelid Lift?

The eyelid correction can be carried out by an aesthetic and plastic surgeon or an ophthalmic surgeon. It is usually carried out in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia. The surgery can be carried out simultaneously in the upper and lower lids. Excess skin, fat, and sometimes muscle parts are removed. To ensure that the scars are not visible after the surgery, the incisions are made in the anatomical folds of the eyelids. If only the bags under the eyes are removed, the surgery on the lower lid can be carried out through the inner side of the lid through the conjunctiva without incision. The entire operation takes one to one and a half hours.

Eyelid correction is one of the most frequent and low-risk procedures in aesthetic surgery. Immediately after the surgery, swelling and hematomas, which form around the eye area, disappear within a week. Besides, a slight dryness of the eyes may occur, which will subside after 2-3 weeks.

What Are the Results After Eyelid Lift?

The eyelid correction makes the eyes look more open, the face fresher. This small procedure can give the patient back his self-confidence. The earlier the surgery is carried out, the better the results. The sustainability of the eyelid lift is very individual. In some cases, the formation of new wrinkles could make a new procedure necessary after eight to ten years. In most cases, however, no further surgery will become inevitable.

Which Doctors Are Specialists for Eyelid Lift?

Anyone considering an eyelid correction wants the best medical care. Therefore, the patient in wondering where to find the best doctor for an eyelid lift.

As this question cannot be answered objectively, and a respectable doctor would never claim to be the best one, we can only rely on the doctor’s experience. The more eyelid lifts a doctor carried out, the more experienced he becomes in his particular field.

Therefore, specialists in eyelid correction are ophthalmology surgeons and specialists in plastic and aesthetic surgery. Thanks to their experience and many years of working, they are the right contact person for carrying out eyelid lift.

Eyelid Lift Carried Out By an Ophthalmologist or Plastic Surgeon?

Many patients who are seriously interested in eyelid lift ask themselves which doctor is more suitable - an ophthalmologist or a plastic surgeon? This question cannot be answered in general, as the surgeon’s experience is also essential. For this reason, comprehensive informing should take place before an aesthetic surgery and, if possible, a second opinion should be obtained. Questions about the number of surgeries carried out in the past, give a good picture of the experience of the specialist, as does an extensive informing review.

Sources:

• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ästhetisch-Plastische Chirurgie www.dgaepc.de
• Henne-Bruns, Doris ; Dürig, Michael ; Kremer, Bernd ; Bruns, Doris Henne-: Chirurgie. 2. Aufl.. Stuttgart: Thieme, 2003.