Women and men considering eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, at my Fairfield, CT, practice often arrive at their consultations having already done their homework regarding the procedure. For those just starting their research, this blog post provides tips designed to help you get the best results possible.
Eyelid surgery is one of the most popular procedures performed each year by U.S. plastic surgeons. As I wrote in an earlier blog post, its popularity is due in part to the procedure’s versatility. It can both improve a patient’s appearance and provide a solution for vision impaired by sagging eyelids.
Here are 5 eyelid surgery tips to help you understand the procedure better:
- Find the right doctor: Even if you’ve only spent a few minutes researching eyelid surgery, you’ve probably read about the importance of choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon. But what does that mean? Only one board — the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) — is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Plastic surgeons certified by the ABPS have the highest level of training and experience in plastic surgery.
- Being nervous is normal: The decision to undergo eyelid surgery is usually accompanied by a bit of anxiety. Being informed is the best way to calm your nerves, so I encourage patients to ask any questions they might have.
- You’ll still look like you: Some patients worry about looking unnatural after blepharoplasty. But eyelid surgery results in a refreshed, more alert, and youthful appearance without changing the basic structure of your eyes. People likely will say you look great, without knowing exactly what’s different.
- Follow doctor’s orders: Swelling is normal following eyelid surgery, but it will resolve more quickly if you avoid using eye makeup or wearing contact lenses during the initial recovery process. Postpone wearing makeup for about a week after the surgery and wait at least 14 days before wearing contacts. You can learn more recovery tips in my earlier blog post.
- Be patient: This is sometimes the most difficult part of plastic surgery — waiting to see the final results. The swelling that follows surgery camouflages the outcome for several days. By following post-op instructions, you improve your chances of a fast recovery and will see your results sooner than later.
As you’re weighing your decision, keep in mind that among various cosmetic surgery procedures, blepharoplasty has one of the highest levels of patient satisfaction.