EYE LID SURGERY

Will the operation also remove crow's feet?
It will remove bags and excess skin, but won't eradicate creases, though the lines will be softened, especially if the surgeon tightens the muscle that creates them at the same time. It is normal for the face to crease when you smile or laugh. The best treatment for crow's feet is laser treatment or Botox.

How can the surgeon tighten up my top lids?
The surgeon cuts an ellipse of skin from along the line of the upper eyelid crease. Where there is hooding on the outer side of the eye the cut may extend further out into the crow's feet. Along with the skin, the surgeon also removes fat which accumulates beneath the muscle responsible for screwing up the eye.

What causes eye bags?
Eye bags are caused by a weakness in the wall supporting the fat that pads out the eye, which leads to the development of fatty bags under the eyes. This weakness tends to develop with age, but sometimes it runs in families so that much younger people can have them.

How does the surgeon get rid of them?
The simplest and scar-free method is teasing out the fat by making an incision on the inside of the lower lid. However, older people also need excess skin removed, as well as the fat, which must therfore be done from the outside. The surgeon makes a cut immediately below the lashline and out into the crow's feet before deciding how much fat needs to be removed. The latest technique is not to take all of the fat out, but to redrape it in the groove beneath the eye, leaving a more natural look between the check and eye lid.

What are the after effects of eye lid surgery?
Stitches are removed after four days. Swelling and bruising around the eyes usually subsides within about ten days. There will be some discomfort and eyes will water. There will also be a loss of sensation in the upper ids until the nerves grow back into the skin. This takes around four to twelve weeks.

What are the risks?
Little lumps may develop in the scars but they soon clear up. There is a small risk of temporarily interfering with the tearfilm causing dry eyes. Skin tightness is also a possible side effect, as is watering of the eyes. Numbness of the lid may be experienced for up to twelve weeks, but this numbness doesn't interfere with lid movement. A subtle alteration in the shape of your eyes may occur, but this is rarely noticeable to anyone other than yourself. If too much skin is removed or the lid is poorly supported, a drooping of the lower eyelid can occur.