Have you noticed changes in your eyelids that make you look tired? Do sagging upper lids get in the way of your vision or make putting on eye makeup a challenge?
Your eyelids play an important role in healthy vision and facial expression. As you age, your eyelids can start to sag or otherwise lose their natural shape.
Fortunately, eyelid reconstruction surgery can help lift and reconstruct drooping eyelids. This procedure restructures and strengthens the eyelids to give them a more youthful, open appearance.
Keep reading to learn more about eyelid reconstruction surgery, including what happens during this procedure!
What is Eyelid Reconstruction?
Eyelid reconstruction is a type of plastic surgery that repairs cosmetic or functional concerns in the eyelids. It can address problems like drooping eyelids, eyelids that turn outward or inward, and eyelids damaged by injury or skin cancer surgeries.
The goal of eyelid reconstruction is to restore normal appearance and function. There are many different types of eyelid reconstruction that can help improve a variety of concerns.
What Happens During Eyelid Reconstruction?
Two of the most common types of eyelid reconstruction procedures are blepharoplasty and ptosis repair. These procedures help to reposition drooping eyelids to regain a more youthful appearance and to improve vision in some cases.
Before each procedure, the eye surgeon makes sure the area around your eyes is fully numb using numbing eye drops and local anesthetics. This ensures you are comfortable during the procedure.
Then, they will make a tiny incision along the natural eyelid creases. Through this incision, the eye surgeon will remove or reposition extra skin, muscle, or fat, depending on the procedure.
This will tighten the eyelids. Finally, the incisions are closed carefully with tape or stitches.
After the procedure, you will get to go home for recovery. Cold compresses will help to reduce swelling and bruises.
Final results may take a few months to appear when inflammation goes down fully. However, most people return to regular work or activity in a week or two.
Can Eyelid Reconstruction Fix Droopy Eyelids?
Eyelid reconstruction can lift droopy, sagging eyelids that obstruct vision or have an aged, tired appearance. The procedure removes excess upper eyelid skin and repositions muscles for a more open, youthful look.
In some cases, upper eyelid drooping is caused by excess skin or fat. In this case, your eye doctor may recommend an upper eyelid blepharoplasty.
However, in other cases, drooping or sagging of the upper eyelid may be due to a laxity in the eyelid muscle, called ptosis. If this is the source of the problem, your eye doctor may recommend a procedure called ptosis repair.
Ptosis repair will help raise the eyelid to its natural position and correct drooping. If your concern is under-eye bags or lower eyelid drooping, similar procedures can also correct the sagging of the lower eyelids.
How Do I Know if Eyelid Reconstruction is Right For Me?
If your eyelids have abnormal positioning or appearance that bothers you, eyelid reconstruction may help. Reasons to consider surgery include:
- Drooping upper eyelids that impact vision or look aged
- Lower eyelids that sag or pull down
- Eyelids turned outward (ectropion) or inward (entropion)
- Noticeable scar tissue or deformity from prior injury or surgery
- Excess upper eyelid skin that impairs vision or peripheral vision
The best way to know if eyelid reconstruction is right for you is to schedule a consultation with your eye doctor at Metro Eye Care in Paramus, NJ, today. They can assess your eyelids, take measurements, and discuss surgical and nonsurgical options to meet your goals.
Do you want to learn if eyelid reconstruction can help accomplish your cosmetic or vision goals? Schedule an appointment at Metro Eye Care in Paramus, NJ, today!
