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Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, is one of our most popular procedures here at Centre for Surgery in London, and for good reason. The outcomes achieved after this procedure can significantly boost patients’ self-confidence. Many people choose to combine an eyelid lift with a mini facelift to achieve enhanced facial rejuvenation effects.
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The eyes help to define the face as a whole, and how they appear can say a great deal to others. Many people may be upset and frustrated when they get told they look tired when they feel full of energy. The eyes form a crucial part of how we communicate nonverbally, and the ageing process can dramatically change our facial expressions over time.
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The muscles that support the position of the eyelids tend to weaken with age, and this can cause the eyelids to develop a stretched appearance. Underlying fat may also bulge outwards, which may cause people to develop puffy eyes and the formation of dark circles under the eyes. Many people are more likely to develop heavy eyelids or dark circles under the eyes due to genetics, which can make people look significantly older than they actually are. In other cases, droopy eyelids may, in severe cases, affect vision.
If you have noticed saggy or puffy eyelids, blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, could be an appropriate treatment. Patients should be aware of several important aspects of the procedure to ensure they get the best results.
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Eyelid Surgery procedure
Eyelid surgery is a highly delicate procedure which requires high levels of precision to achieve the best results. Your surgeon uses very fine instruments and techniques. The blepharoplasty procedure takes between one and three hours to carry out depending on the extent of surgical correction required and whether upper eyelids, lower eyelids or both are combined in the same procedure. Eyelid surgery is designed to surgically remove excess skin and fat by tightening the eyelid muscles. This helps lift the area around the eyes, which helps them appear more open and youthful.
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As with any surgery, blepharoplasty involves a period of recovery after the procedure, which may involve a small degree of bruising, swelling and mild discomfort. Any side effects experienced will settle down quickly, and the results seen after surgery will make the procedure worth it. Your surgeon and our post-operative nurses will closely monitor you at all stages after your procedure. It is common to experience dryness of the eyes with associated tightness or a burning sensation. These symptoms will rapidly settle down over two weeks. You should be able to carry out most daily activities after 14 days. Any sensitivity to light can be improved by wearing dark sunglasses when going out in public to minimise the impact of strong sunlight, which could affect healing.
Patience is key during recovery after eyelid surgery. Although most people can return to desk-based work after ten days, the final results of surgery will start to become visible approximately 6 to 8 weeks later. This is why it is important to take adequate time out for rest and relaxation. Having successful eyelid surgery should be viewed as a positive experience, and the vast majority of patients who have a blepharoplasty tell us they wish they had the procedure many years earlier.
How to choose the best Eye Lift Surgeon
Blepharoplasty is a highly delicate surgery as the procedure is carried out close to the eye itself. Choosing a surgeon who regularly carries out this type of surgery is important to give you the best chance of achieving great results with minimal risk of complications. When deciding how to find the best eyelid surgeon in London, we would always recommend carrying out detailed research and not making hasty decisions based on low blepharoplasty prices abroad, as you could end up with sub-optimal results, which may require a corrective procedure for botched eyelid surgery.
When considering whether to have eyelid surgery, we would always recommend having a procedure locally. In other words, the country you live in and preferably close to home as he will need a robust system of social support during the first week of recovery after a blepharoplasty. Living near where your surgeon practices offers peace of mind as you can easily be assessed if you are concerned about any side effects or complications after surgery. If you do decide to have surgery in the UK but far from where you live, you should look to stay somewhere locally for the first couple of days after surgery in the event of any complications of blepharoplasty.
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At your consultation, ask plenty of questions, including how many blepharoplasty procedures your surgeon has performed. Viewing before and after photos of eyelid surgery will help give you an idea of the potential results that can be achieved. An expert Surgeon will listen carefully to what you are trying to achieve and will want to ensure your expectations are realistic to give yourself the best possible chance of achieving an excellent outcome. Getting a feel for all aspects of the procedure, including where it will be carried out is very important. The clinic or plastic surgery hospital should be registered with the Care Quality Commission, or CQC for short.
Having several consultations to ensure you are comfortable with a particular surgeon can be useful. Once you have decided on your choice of surgeon and clinic, you may wish to go back and ask them further questions, and we would actively encourage this. Blepharoplasty is a highly delicate surgery performed near the eyes, and you must be sure you are in the best possible hands.
Is Eyelid Surgery Permanent?
Blepharoplasty surgery produces permanent results but cannot stop the natural ageing process. The skin and underlying fat around the eyes will continue to stretch with age, which can affect the results of eye lift surgery, although this can take many years to develop. Patients can undergo a second eyelid surgery 5 to 10 years later to achieve further eyelid tightening. In some cases, your surgeon may suggest having a brow lift, also known as a forehead lift, instead of having a second blepharoplasty procedure. Patients who have lower eyelid surgery, also known as eye bag removal, do not generally need to have the procedure repeated later in life.
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Will scars be noticeable after Eye Lift Surgery?
One of the most common questions is whether there will be visible scarring after eyelid surgery. Fortunately, a skilled surgeon will skilfully position incisions for blepharoplasty surgery in the natural skin folds of the eyes so they are barely visible once they have fully healed. This will help to keep potential scarring after eyelid surgery to a minimum.
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The ideal results of blepharoplasty surgery should make you appear youthful and refreshed without necessarily looking like you have had a surgical procedure. It is vital to have realistic expectations of what eyelid surgery can achieve. Patients with droopy eyelids that may have impaired their vision can achieve excellent symptomatic relief with surgery. This is an addition to attaining a youthful appearance without drastically altering your overall facial appearance.
Why choose Centre for Surgery for Blepharoplasty Surgery?
Centre for Surgery is the leading plastic surgery clinic in London and is home to some of the best plastic surgeons in the UK. We carry out hundreds of blepharoplasty and eyelid surgery procedures each year at our state-of-the-art Baker Street clinic in Marylebone.
We invite you to come in for an in-person consultation with an expert eyelid surgeon to discuss your expectations and goals for treatment. Getting the best results after eyelid surgery depends on your Surgeon having a comprehensive understanding of what you would like to achieve from the procedure. You will also be shown before and after photos of eyelid surgery to give you an idea of how you could look after surgery. Everyone has unique preferences, and although you won’t look the same as in a particular photo, you will have a clear idea of what blepharoplasty results can be achieved with eyelid lift surgery.
Call us today on 020 7993 4849 or complete the contact form below to book a consultation and start your journey towards achieving youthful and refreshed eyes.
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