BlepharitisBlepharoplasty refers to a surgical procedure that repairs droopy eyelids involving the removal of excess skin, fat, and muscle. As you grow older, your eyelids inevitably start to stretch and the key muscles that support them begin to weaken over time as well. Eventually, excess fat may start to gather below and above the eyelids, which causes the eyebrows to sag as well as bags under the eyes and droopy upper eyelids. Besides appearing older than you really are, the seriously sagging skin surrounding the eyes can decrease your peripheral vision, especially the outer and upper parts of your vision field. The procedure works to eliminate or greatly reduce these particular vision issues, while making your eyes appear more alert and younger.  Dr. David O’Day, MD and his team of experts can examine your eyes and determine if Blepharoplasty is right for you!

Consider having the procedure if you have any of the following:

  • Droopy or baggy upper eyelids
  • Droopy lower eyelids that reveal the white area below the actual colored area of the eye, known as the iris
  • Bags beneath your eyes
  • Excess skin on your upper eyelids that impede your peripheral vision
  • Excess skin on your lower eyelids

Potential risks of surgical eyelid treatment include the following:

  • Dry and irritated eyes
  • Infection or bleeding
  • Noticeable scarring
  • Need for more surgery
  • Risks related to surgery overall, including cardiac and pulmonary complications, blood clots, anesthesia reactions
  • Temporary blurry vision
  • Complete loss of eyesight (very rare)
  • Difficulty closing your eyelids and other relative issues
  • Skin discoloration
  • Injury to muscles in the eye

About the Procedure

The procedure itself is typically performed on an outpatient basis. Dr. O’Day will inject your eyelids with a numbing medication and administer drugs intravenously in order to help you comfortably relax. This will likely make you groggy and tired. He will then cut along the edge of the lid and proceed to remove excess skin, fat, and muscle and then close the incision. Regarding the lower lid, a cut is placed just beneath the lashes or inside the lower eyelid to remove or sometimes redistribute extra fat, sagging skin, or muscle. The entire process generally takes about two hours or less, depending on the area and how much tissue needs to be removed.

Aftercare and Recovery

Once the procedure is finished, you can go home to comfortably recover. Following surgery you may experience any of the following:

  • Watery eyes
  • Blurred vision
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Numb, puffy eyelids
  • Double vision
  • Bruising and swelling (may look like ‘black eyes’)
  • Minimal pain and discomfort
  • Redness where the incisions were made

No matter what your vision-related issues are, it is crucial to have a skilled, caring, and trusted health care provider. If you live in Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, and Myrtle Beach SC or surrounding areas, consider visiting Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery for help with a variety of vision-related issues including Blepharoplasty. Call us at (843) 856-5275 for more information.