Fortunately or unfortunately, time passes for everyone. As human beings age, bone problems, hormonal imbalances, wrinkles and various dysfunctionalities appear, both aesthetic and physiological.
This is completely normal. Aging is one more proof that we are still alive and, therefore, it is not healthy to try to fight against the concept of getting older. Even so, we find ourselves in an era in which surgical interventions for aesthetic purposes are the order of the day, as we move further and further away from our biological limitations imposed by age or environment.
Thus, it is estimated that the cosmetic surgery cosmetic surgery industry is estimated to be worth more than 9 billion euros a year worldwide.. From mammoplasty to liposuction, there is no visible area of our body covered by skin that cannot be retouched. This is the case of blepharoplasty or surgery for drooping eyelids, an extremely popular procedure among the population. In this opportunity, we tell you all about it.
What is palpebral ptosis or blepharoptosis?
Before describing the surgery itself, it is necessary to know the problem it tries to solve. Palpebral ptosis or blepharoptosis is defined as a permanent excessive drooping of the upper eyelid.. In adults, the most common cause of ptosis is the progressive stretching of the levator muscle of the eyelid, which occurs naturally with age.
There are also other reasons why blepharoptosis can arise: congenital ptosis, for example, is caused by an alteration in the development of the levator muscle in the embryonic stage, which is why the individual is born with drooping eyelids and shows them this way throughout his or her life. Although less common, eyelids can also droop due to events such as diabetes, myasthenia gravis, stroke and many other conditions. In general, we can describe the underlying reason for blepharoptosis in three points:
- Weakness of the muscle that lifts the eyelid.
- Damage to the nerves that control that muscle.
- Sagging of the skin of the upper eyelids.
As we have already said, these causes can find their answer in the aging process.blepharoptosis, in a congenital malformation or in certain pathologies.
It is necessary to understand that, in many cases, blepharoptosis is not only an aesthetic problem. Some patients may manifest reduced vision due to this drooping of the eyelid, which hinders the performance of daily functions and a correct performance of work and social tasks. On the other hand, it is also relatively common for simple congenital ptosis to present drooping in only one of the two eyes (75% of cases), which is evidence of facial asymmetry that goes beyond “I want to look younger”.
Be that as it may, the motive behind blepharoplasty is individual and unique and, therefore, the justification lies in individual motivation. There is no need to explain why a person wants to undergo surgery: from lack of vision to aesthetic dissatisfaction, any reason is valid.
What is blepharoplasty?
We have already explained the condition that we are trying to solve, so we are ready to take the scalpel and address the blepharoplasty or surgery for drooping eyelids. First of all, it should be noted that this surgery is performed in a surgeon’s office or in a medical center as outpatient surgery, that is, it is necessary to go to the operating room.
It should be noted, as a preface to the procedure, that blepharoplasty accounts for 10-15% of all general surgical procedures worldwide, and accounts for and it rises to 50% if only facial surgeries are considered. This is a very common problem in society and many choose to take action: if you are considering surgery for this condition, you are not alone.
The procedure
We have good news, because the procedure is very minimally invasive. The specialist injects a local anesthetic in the affected area, so that the patient does not feel any pain or discomfort during the process. After this, the surgeon proceeds to make a series of incisions in the folds or creases of the eyelids, through which the flaccid skin and excess fatty tissues are removed and the muscle that was sagging is tightened. Finally, the incisions are closed and the tissues that were opened during the operation are stitched. It is as simple as that.
The patient can go home the same day of the operation without further ado. Even so, the specialist may prescribe eye drops to reduce the local itching and swelling that will occur during the first 48-72 hours after surgery. It is also common for bruising to appear in the affected area as a result of the incisions, but this usually disappears within a few days.
It should be noted that, although the individual can lead a normal life immediately, he/she should avoid overexertion that strains the muscles in general, as the sutures could be skipped. Recovery is complete in about 10 days..
Other alternative ways
Although blepharoplasty is the most common choice, palpebral ptosis can be approached on three different fronts beyond blepharoplasty. These are named according to the approach:
- Anterior approachconsists of strengthening the levator principalis muscle through an incision in the natural crease of the eyelid. It is imperceptible.
- Transconjunctival approach: muscular reinforcement is performed through the ocular conjunctiva. No incision is made in the skin. It is the most common in young people.
- Frontal suspensionIt is performed in congenital ptosis in which the levator muscle of the eyelid presents some deformity.
Post-operative care is very similar to that of blepharoplasty, since the mode of action is very similar. Bruising and some pain may occur but, especially in the transconjunctival route, the effects are minimal (because in this case not even an incision is made).
Risks
In general, risks and side effects are very rare. Here is a list of possible adverse events to be taken into account:
- Amaurosis or transient blindness: occurs in 1 in 25,000 cases and is generally attributed to bruising.
- Diplopia: double visual perception.
- Corneal injury: a relatively frequent side effect that heals spontaneously within 24 hours, but causes discomfort to the patient.
- Dry eye and slow healing.
- The two eyelids are not exactly aligned.
In addition to this, other very uncommon complications may arise, such as difficulty in closing the eyes to sleep, which in very few cases is permanent. We are spinning very fine, because, as we have said before, the vast majority of patients overcome the operation without problems in a few days.
Prices
In general, people take advantage of their time in the operating room to retouch both the upper and lower eyelid in both eyes (the typical bags or permanent dark circles) and, in these cases, the price can be around 2,700-3,500 euros in total.. If the patient decides to have only the upper and lower eyelids treated, the cost is slightly lower, estimated at about 2,000 euros total.
Summary
As we have seen in these lines, blepharoplasty is a minimally invasive surgery, quick and easy recovery in the vast majority of cases. Discomfort, itching and eye bruising usually occur, but these disappear within a few days and can be treated with eye drops to alleviate symptoms.These disappear after a few days and can be treated with eye drops to alleviate the symptoms.
As in most interventions, it is the patient who has to weigh whether it is worth the surgery and the price of the operation. Blepharoplasty is indicated, above all, in those people whose eyelid drooping is a vision problem or in cases where only one of the two eyelids is exaggeratedly drooping, as the asymmetry becomes too evident. We have told you about the process. From here on, it is up to you to decide.