Blepharoplasty

It varies from country to country.

Here in Turkey, people start having it done at around 35. Sometimes, others have it done while they’re still in their 20s due to their genetic and anatomic problems.

People of Asian or Caucasian background start at age 20s due to the nature of their racial structure.

Children with some congenital disorders should undergo this surgery before they reach age 7.

There is a common perception that only women undergo plastic surgery. Well, men frequently undergo them too based on their needs! Blepharoplasty is one of these surgeries. In short, both genders thus can consult a doctor for this procedure

During your pre-operative examination, Dr. Ozsular will decide your surgery and make your drawing and planning. He will listen to your wishes, expectations, and complaints and consider following important factors in planning: your face, eye and eyebrow structure, skin structure/thickness, subcutaneous bags, and how much your eyelids are sagging. Then, he’ll decide on the right procedure for you.

Upper eyelid surgeries are generally performed under local anesthesia, whereas lower eyelid surgeries are performed under general anesthesia. You won’t feel any pain during either both. First, surgeon will remove excess skin and muscles on your eyelids, along with some of your herniated fat (if any). Once the desired result is achieved, he’ll suture the area closed with dissolvable sutures.

Some patients need either one surgery or the other; others need both.

Please inform Dr. Ozsular if you suffer from any thyroid or xerophthalmia (dry eye) problems. Also tell him if you’re using a form of anticoagulant and stop taking them a week before the surgery based on his orders.

Try and reduce how much salt you consume as well a few days before the surgery. This will reduce your risk of developing edema.

If your surgery will be conducted under local anesthesia, you won’t need to fast or do any prep work. Make sure you wash your face thoroughly and don’t wear any make-up.

If your surgery will be conducted under general anesthesia;

 You are allowed to eat as well as drink water until 00:00 (12 AM) the night before your surgery. You will need to fast for at least six hours prior to the procedure. (If you forget to do so, your surgery may be postponed or canceled.)

Wash your face thoroughly before going to bed the night before the surgery; also, don’t wear any make-up.

Don’t wear any nail polish or enamel.

Don’t wear wigs. Don’t wear any jewelry (including piercings) – your body should be free of metal.

On the morning of the surgery, you will be taken to your room to rest. Your final preparations for the surgery will be conducted. Dr. Ozsular and his assistant will come and visit you.

The doctor will begin working on you as soon as you’re placed under anesthesia.

At the end of surgery, the doctor will do your dressings; if you’re under general anesthesia, you’ll be woken up.

The surgery will either be conducted under local or general anesthesia. You won’t be in any pain. When the effects of the anesthesia wear off after the surgery, you can take analgesics, so that you’ll be more comfortable.

You will develop swelling and ecchymosis a few hours after the surgery. You can minimize this ecchymosis by applying a cold compress as prescribed by the doctor. Both will subside three days later. (For ecchymosis, the recovery depends on your skin responses to the trauma and may last longer in some skins).

You should rest for the first few hours after the surgery.  Your sutures will be covered with a thin tape – they won’t block your vision.

Your doctor will give you a list of medications to take after the surgery. Use them as prescribed. Follow the instructions for cold applications. When outside, wear high factor sunscreens, a hat, and dark sunglasses.

For the first 36 hours, don’t touch, rub, or scratch your eyes. 

You will be comfortable after the surgery enough to take walks and sunbathe (provided you cover your face.)

In the days following, you can gently wash your face with warm water as well as take showers.

Hygiene is very important after the eyelid surgery. Your dressings will be removed 5 to 6 days after the surgery.

You will have fully recovered 10 to 14 days after the surgery (on average).

If you will have more than one surgery done at the same time and one of them will be conducted under general anesthesia, then general anesthesia will be planned for the whole process.

Sometimes we may use general anesthesia if you’re not comfortable with the idea of local anesthesia.

Upper eyelid surgeries are generally performed under local anesthesia, whereas lower eyelid surgeries are performed under general anesthesia. Dr. Ozsular will plan your surgery and anesthesia after the examination.

Unfortunately, no one can prevent aging or stop time. If your surgery is a success, your results will last for 10 and 15 years – it all depends on your  genetics, quality of life, and whether you smoke or not.

Any procedure that involves incisions will leave behind some sort of scarring.

The above said, since your goal is to look younger and more beautiful, surgeons will try to make your incisions as small as possible, not to mention use thin sutures and hide them within your eyelids. No one will notice them afterwards, even if they looked hard. However, scar healing will vary from person to person.

Lower eyelid surgery aims to remove excess sagging skin and rid you of your under-eye bags. Only lower eyelid surgery will not have any help for this situation. But it is not unsolvable. You can solve that with other procedures – including stem cell-rich fat transfer, under-eye light filler, PRP, or mesotherapy.

Blepharoplasty will provide the look that you want and last for long time. However, it is useful to know that medical applications such as stem cell transfer, light fillers, PRP, and mesotherapy are not permanent for many years.

Sometimes having more than one surgery done at once can save you time and money.

Regarding the combination of surgeries, your doctor will observe the process, examine you and make a decision according to your blood values, age, health status, and the need for the procedure to be performed in the same surgery.

If he gives you the green light… then yes, it’s possible.