Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) can treat under eye bags, loose upper eyelid skin, and fine lines and wrinkles around the lids by eliminating excess skin and fat. In order to achieve safe and effective results, the patient should be thoroughly prepared for the eyelid lift surgery.

During the pre-operative consultation, the surgeon will provide the patient with instructions on preparing for the eyelid lift cosmetic surgery.

Patients who are adequately prepared for the procedure often feel more confident and enjoy higher rates of satisfaction. Such patients are also more resilient and experience a more comfortable and relaxed recovery.

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai provides eyelid surgery to patients in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and other towns and cities in The Golden State.

Informing the Patient

The surgeon will inform the patient of the various possible eyelid lift plastic surgery techniques and treatment options available. The patient should freely ask the surgeon questions or express their concerns about the blepharoplasty and the surgeon’s background. The surgeon will strive to answer the patient’s questions accurately and transparently.

Medical Assessment

The surgeon will review the patient’s health records, eye anatomy, level of skin laxity in the lower and upper eyelids, brows and forehead region, and skin tone and type during the initial consultation.

They will also check for signs of any infections in the eye region. The patient should also honestly reveal to the surgeon if they have any underlying medical conditions.

Full Disclosure

The patient should disclose to the surgeon if they have undergone any eye surgery previously, including LASIK, or have experienced any significant eye conditions. They should inform the surgeon of all prescription and non-prescription medications that they presently use as well as lifestyle behaviors such as smoking.

Pre- and Post-Operative Care Guidelines

The surgeon or their team will offer the patient detailed preparation guidelines for the blepharoplasty. Working professions should apply for at least one week of leave from the scheduled surgery date while non-working patients should also schedule any social engagements accordingly.

The patient should enlist a responsible person to drive them back after the surgery and arrange for aftercare for a few days if required.

Avoid Smoking and Specific Medications

In case the patient smokes, the surgeon will ask them to quit smoking for a specified period pre and post-surgery. They may also ask the patient to discontinue the use of blood thinners such as aspirin and NSAIDs or specific herbal supplements or vitamin E. Furthermore, they may alter the schedule of prescription drugs in discussion with the physician.

Practical Arrangements before Surgery

The patient should arrange for aftercare for the initial few days of the recovery period after the eyelid surgery, if necessary. They should complete any necessary home or work-related tasks beforehand to enjoy a relaxed and stress-free recovery period.

Some patients may also like to prepare a recovery kit at home. This kit contains important items that the patient needs during the initial recovery period. The recovery kit may contain the following things:

• Prescription medications and antibiotics
• Gauze bandages
• Loose fitting, front-open clothing
• OTC medications
• Extra pillows

Focused cosmetic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai receives patients from West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and nearby areas for eyelid surgery.

For more information on cosmetic plastic surgery procedures and treatments by Beverly Hills board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Roger Tsai, MD please click here or call us at 310.276.1190. Taking patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and other surrounding cities.

In the hands of an experienced surgeon, eyelid plastic surgery is a relatively minor procedure which can be performed under local anesthesia as outpatient surgery.

On their part, the patient should dedicatedly follow the preparation and recovery period instructions given by the surgeon to minimize the risks of complications.  

Eyes are a very delicate area of the body, and undergoing any surgical procedure in this region should be a well-considered decision. The surgeon will explain the various potential risks associated with blepharoplasty to the patient during the pre-op consultation process. Following pre and post-op care instructions can ensure a safe and quick recovery for the patient.

Focused board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai provides eyelid surgery to patients in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and other cities and neighborhoods in this part of the nation.

Major Complications

During or after blepharoplasty, the patient may potentially experience three types of serious complications. These are ectropian, hematoma, and retinal detachment. Only in rare cases do these complications occur.

However, the patient should have complete clarity about them. Ectropian refers to a drooping effect that causes inversion in the lower eyelids. This condition can be addressed with a revision procedure.

A hematoma is the accumulation of excess fluid in the incision site beneath the skin. In case the eyelid lift cosmetic surgery is undertaken with another procedure such as facelift, brow lift, or another facial surgery, the hematoma risk involved may be higher.

The surgeon may place small drain tubes beneath the skin in the incision areas to eliminate excess fluid and reduce hematoma risks. In rare circumstances, a retinal detachment may occur if the retina detaches from the outer eye layers.

Tears or holes in the retina can lead to this condition. The treatment of retinal detachment may require additional surgery.

Minor Complications

Some patients may experience one or more of the below-mentioned complications:

• Infection
• Adverse response to anesthesia
• Excessive tearing
• Appearance of whiteheads following suture removal
• Unfavorable scarring
• Difficulty shutting the eyes while sleeping
• Dry eyes
• Burning sensation in the eyes
• Blurred or double vision

Most of the time, these complications resolve on their own. However, the patient may have to undergo treatment if the issue persists or leads to major discomfort.

Side Effects

Pain, Discomfort, and Irritation

The patient may experience soreness and slight irritation in the incision areas during the initial postoperative phase. The patient may feel pain or tightness in the lids as the anesthesia effect wears off. The surgeon may prescribe pain drugs for the initial week following the blepharoplasty.

Swelling

Some level of swelling is expected in the initial week after the blepharoplasty. The patient can use ice therapy or cold compresses in the initial two or three days to manage the inflammation. In addition, the patient should keep their head in an elevated position for the first few days.

Scarring

Scarring is minimal in most eyelid lift surgery cases. If the surgeon makes an incision within the lower lid, the scars will not be noticeable from outside.

Compassionate cosmetic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai receives patients from West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and nearby areas in The Golden State for eyelid surgery.

For more information on cosmetic plastic surgery procedures and treatments by Beverly Hills board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Roger Tsai, MD please click here or call us at 310.276.1190. Taking patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and other surrounding cities.

Eyelid surgery is considered a safe and relatively minor cosmetic surgery procedure. In the hands of an experienced and well-trained plastic surgeon, it involves minimal risk of post-op complications.

But the patient will need to follow specific precautions during the recovery phase. They should be committed to follow the surgeon’s guidelines for a safe and predictable recovery.

During the pre-op consultation, the surgeon will inform the patient on various facets of the recovery phase. The patient should openly ask questions on the approximate downtime and precautions associated with eyelid surgery.

Working professionals should ideally apply for leave from the workplace beforehand in consultation with the surgeon. Astute board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai provides eyelid surgery to patients in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and surrounding locations in The Golden State.

Recovery Phase

The surgeon will usually perform eyelid lift plastic surgery on an outpatient basis. However, in rare cases, the patient may require an overnight stay at the hospital.

The appropriate environment for the immediate post-op period will depend on the surgeon’s evaluation and the patient’s requirements. A majority of patients will need to remain at home for around one week following eyelid surgery.

In a week, most patients can return to work or resume their routine activities. But complete recovery after this procedure can take many weeks. In case the surgeon has placed traditional sutures, they will remove them at the end of week one.

In the initial recovery period, the patient should allow adequate rest to the eyes. The inflammation and redness in the initial week will be more prominent but will resolve gradually.

The eyes may experience exertion due to watching television, using a computer, or reading during the initial recovery phase. Patients should avoid exerting the eyes as it can increase the blood flow to the eyes delaying the recovery process. The patient will notice a more youthful and rested upper face appearance as the bruising and inflammation resolve.

The eyes will look more alert and youthful as the complete outcomes of the blepharoplasty establish. If the patient was experiencing partial vision obstruction due to sagging upper lids, this condition will resolve.

Temporary Side Effects

A common early side effect of blepharoplasty is redness and inflammation around the incision sites. The patient may experience itching, soreness, and dryness in these areas.

Moreover, the eyes may tear excessively. The surgeon may prescribe mild pain medications and a topical cream to ensure that the patient remains at ease while these temporary side effects resolve.

Some patients may experience temporary blurred vision as well as sensitivity to light. These side effects will subside fast as long as the patient sticks to the surgeon’s post-op guidelines.

Aftercare

In the initial two days following blepharoplasty, the patient should use cold compresses over the incision areas to help the inflammation and soreness resolve. In addition, the surgeon may prescribe eye drops if the patient has dry eyes.

The patient should avoid sun and wind exposure according to the surgeon’s advice. The patient can slowly increase activities that cause eye strain. It will take many weeks or months for the complete outcomes of the eyelid surgery to establish as the inflammation resolves fully.

Committed cosmetic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai receives patients from West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and other cities and suburbs in this part of SoCal for eyelid surgery.

For more information on cosmetic plastic surgery procedures and treatments by Beverly Hills board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Roger Tsai, MD please click here or call us at 310.276.1190. Taking patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and other surrounding cities.

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid lift cosmetic surgery is a procedure designed to reduce the signs of aging around the eyelids and restore a more alert and youthful eye appearance. The procedure involves various steps, which may differ slightly depending on the surgical technique used for lower or upper eyelid surgery.

At the time of the pre-operative consultation, the surgeon will inform the patient of the steps involved in the procedure. The patient will feel more reassured about the blepharoplasty after understanding what the procedure involves.

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai provides eyelid surgery to patients in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and surrounding locations.

Anesthesia

The surgeon may undertake the blepharoplasty with the patient under local anesthesia with mild sedation. In case the patient is anxious, or the surgery is more complicated, the plastic surgeon may recommend general anesthesia. An anesthesiologist or a registered nurse anesthetist will administer the general anesthesia.

Lower Blepharoplasty

After the anesthesia, the surgeon will commence the lower eyelid lift plastic surgery procedure by placing tiny incisions in pre-determined areas. These incisions are typically discreetly hidden in the natural skin creases beneath the lower eyelashes. The surgeon will excise extra fat or skin and may tighten sagging underlying muscles through these incisions.

In case the patient has visible depressions beneath the lower lids, the surgeon may perform an additional facial fat transfer procedure or use dermal filler injectables to address these hollows. They will seal the incisions cautiously after the blepharoplasty is complete.

Upper Blepharoplasty

The surgeon will place the incisions in the natural creases of the upper eyelids. Subsequently, they will remove loose skin through these incisions to address droopiness in the upper eyelids and any concerns regarding partial vision obstructions. Furthermore, the surgeon may reposition the underlying muscles through the incisions if they are weak or drooping.

After removing the excess skin, the surgeon will lift and reattach the remaining skin to develop smoother and more youthful looking upper lids. They will then close the incisions with fine stitches.

Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty

In case a patient does not need skin tightening but only the removal of fat deposits around the eyelids, the surgeon may recommend a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. This procedure is relatively less invasive and suitable for patients who do not have significant puffiness under the eyes.

After the anesthesia, the surgeon will place a few small incisions within the lower lids. They will remove the excess fat deposits through the incisions to improve the appearance of the lower lids. Muscle tightening and skin excision are not involved in this surgical procedure.

Recovery

After the blepharoplasty is complete, the patient can typically return home on the day of the procedure itself. The procedure involves a downtime of around one week following, after which they can resume their routine activities or return to their workplace. To address the swelling in the initial two or three days, ice therapy can be used.  

The surgeon may prescribe mild pain drugs and a topical cream for relief from the initial discomfort. The patient should avoid sun exposure in the treated areas for the initial several weeks.

Experienced cosmetic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai receives patients from West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA, and nearby areas for eyelid surgery.

For more information on cosmetic plastic surgery procedures and treatments by Beverly Hills board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Roger Tsai, MD please click here or call us at 310.276.1190. Taking patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and other surrounding cities.