When you are considering undergoing an eyelift, like any type of cosmetic surgery procedure, it is important that you are well informed, so that you understand the preparation, procedure, recovery time and to understand the possible risks.
Much of the information you require can be obtained by arranging consultation with a plastic surgeon in Marbella, like Dr Pietro di Mauro. These consultations are an important first step, that allow both parties to glean essential information about the patients physical and mental health and on the other hand the surgeon’s capabilities, bedside manner, medical team and clinic. We’ll cover more about this later in our medical check list.
But first let’s clarify what we mean by an eyelift…an eyelift (or to use the medical term blepharoplasty) is a medical procedure designed to refresh the area around the eyes by removing and repositioning excess skin, fat and muscles, and tightening tendons to create a more youthful look. There are two different methods; partial and total. Undergoing a partial eyelift involves only the eyelids, and a total eyelift pertains to both the eyelids and the under-eye area. Surgery usually takes between one and three hours and is often carried out under local anaesthetic. To avoid scars, incisions are made in the folder of the skin.
As mentioned above, cosmetic surgery is a medical procedure which means it is possible for complications to occur. However, risks can be mitigated by selecting the right surgeon with the best team and medical facilities. This is particularly pertinent with complex and intricate operations like eyelifts.
Pay peanuts, you’ll get monkeys
In many cases, when a problem occurs after undergoing a cosmetic surgery procedure, it is because the patient has tried to cut costs, by choosing bargain priced clinics abroad, where you are not guaranteed the requisite level of care that you should expect, and have no access to after care treatment.
Even in the UK, only this week (27th Sept 2024), there was an article in the Daily Mail reporting of the perils of undergoing surgery by an unregulated, untrained beautician. Although the information was mainly about Brazilian Butt Lifts, it also highlighted an extremely disturbing trend, that surgical eyelifts are being advertised and carried out by beauty therapists, who can easily buy surgical instruments and advertise cosmetic surgery procedures.
They don’t know, what they don’t know
This type of surgical procedure should only be carried out by a fully qualified and experienced plastic surgeon who can ensure the best functional and aesthetic result. This is only possible when the procedure is carried out by a surgeon who has specialist skills within this area of medicine. Equally important, any surgical procedure should be carried out in a medical facility that has the right medical equipment and expertise on-hand to cope with an emergency.
Cosmetic surgeon v plastic surgeon
Similarly, unlike Dr di Mauro, a plastic surgeon in Marbella, who has many years of experience, specialist skills and qualifications in blepharoplasty, a cosmetic surgeon can claim to be qualified in eye lift surgery, based upon a general medical degree and a weekend course. This is not always the case, but it is essential to check a surgeon’s credentials before agreeing to any type of medical procedure.
Check list for safe eyelift surgery
As already mentioned, no medical procedure is risk free but here are the steps that both surgeons and patients can take to minimise the risks of complications occurring.
Step 1: Research your surgeon
Before you agree to any invasion surgery, the most important step is to find a plastic surgeon who has experience and expertise in the type of surgery you require. Check out reviews from past patients and confirm the surgeon’s qualifications are up to scratch. In Andalucía, you can do this by contacting the Colegio Oficial Médicos de Málaga https://commalaga.com/.
It is also important that the surgeon can answer all of your questions and provide an honest assessment of your suitability to undergo surgery, the possible outcome and potential risks involved. If you like what you hear, then lastly but also important, you should feel comfortable with your surgeon’s bedside manner, his medical team and also be happy with the standard of the clinic.
Step 2: Pre-operative assessment
This step is the responsibility of your surgeon, Dr di Mauro insists that every potential client attends an initial consultation, to discuss your requirements and desired outcome. For example, is it realistic for an eyelift to rejuvenate the entire face or would this require a facelift?
The appointment also allows him to assess your general standard of health to ensure you are fit for surgery. In some cases, you may need to wait until you have recovered from an illness or need to lose weight. It is also important that your surgeon discusses your reasons for wanting the surgery, as it could be that you are depressed or are suffering from body dysmorphia, in which case, psychological help could be the answer, rather than surgery.
Step 3: Pre-operative preparation
Prior to your surgery, your doctor will provide you with pre-operative advice to ensure you are in good shape and ready for surgery, as the healthier and the more robust your immune system, the quicker you will heal.
- The most obvious advice is to drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and avoid drinking diuretics, as insufficient hydration hamper the blood circulation and healing.
- Eat healthily to maintain a stable body weight and to stave off illness.
- Try to relax, as stress can weaken your immune system and you’ve guessed… it can also hamper the healing process.
- Avoid sunburn, as this can damage your skin, increase the risk of scarring and slow down the healing process.
Step 4: Surgical planning
This one is also down to your surgeon. Every patient is different therefore an experienced and skilled plastic surgeon, like Dr di Mauro, will scrupulously plan out the procedure. For example, based on each patient’s individual anatomy, skin texture and requirements, he will determine the amount of skin and fat that need to be removed, the position of the glands, hooding and bulging etc. Nothing will be left to chance, to ensure the possible outcome.
Step 5: Post operative plan
Eyelift surgery can last between one and three hours depending on whether you undergo a partial or total eyelift. After the surgery, patients are given a post-surgery care plan. This will include the following advice:
- Keep your head up and sleep with your face up
- Rest as much as possible
- Avoid any physical activities that could rupture the stitches or cause bleeding
- To reduce swelling and bruising, apply a cold compress gently to the area
- Only take drugs prescribed by your surgeon for swelling and pain relief
- Do not use makeup during the first week after the operation
- Only apply ointments and eyedrops prescribed by your surgeon
After around one week, stitches can be removed and then another following appointment will be made to assess the healing. Bruising should be expected to last for up to two weeks.
In conclusion, although the eyelift is an extremely complex and delicate procedure due the structure and functionality of the eyelids, an eyelift operation is a widely practiced cosmetic procedure. In the hands of an accomplished plastic surgeon, with the necessary knowledge of anatomy and the correct surgical techniques, complications can mostly be avoided. It is also important for patients to understand, that thorough due diligence and following medical advice, both pre-and post-operative, are also essential to ensure the desired outcome.
Yes, it is possible to carry out blepharoplasty on Asian eyelids. Due to anatomical differences, cosmetic surgery on Asian eyes present different possible complications, such as asymmetry and the possibility of placing the new crease too high, which can result in an over westernized appearance. This can be overcome by careful pre-operative planning and the operation must be carried out by a plastic surgeon with expertise within this field.
Plastic surgeons use many cosmetic surgery techniques but they undergo a much longer, more specialized and intensive training. A cosmetic surgeon has basic medical training and they learn any addition cosmetic surgical skills later. Whereas a certified plastic surgeon is required to study and gain experience of all aspects of surgery during their surgical residency, focusing specifically on reconstructive and plastic surgery training. In simple terms, a plastic surgeon has much more experience and training than a cosmetic surgeon.
The recovery time after a blepharoplasty procedure is different for each patient, it will also depend upon the scope of the operation, whether a partial or total eyelift was carried out. Initially, the swelling may prevent you from seeing, but in general the bruising and swelling usually subsides fairly quickly and you can usually return to work after two weeks.
