Do you feel like you look older and more tired than you are? Do you wish you could look five to 10 years younger? Do you have concerns about the appearance of your upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both? If so, you may be a good candidate for blepharoplasty at Nuance Cosmetic Surgery in Folsom, CA, located just 23 miles from Sacramento, CA. Today, our aesthetic experts are answering some of the most frequently asked questions about this procedure.
Blepharoplasty FAQs: How Long Do Results Last?
How Long Do the Results of Blepharoplasty Last?
The results of blepharoplasty may last anywhere from five years to the rest of your life. How long your results will last depends on numerous factors, including the scope of the procedure and the severity of your cosmetic concerns. If you have mild-to-moderate cosmetic concerns, the results of your upper eyelid correction may last 10 to 15 years. If you have more severe upper eyelid concerns, your results will only last approximately five to seven years.
If you are concerned about the appearance of your lower eyelids, you can expect the results of your eyelid correction to last for a lifetime. The results of lower eyelid correction, also known as lower blepharoplasty, are considered permanent because excess fat cells are removed from the undereye region during this procedure. Since adults can’t grow new fat cells, there will never be as many fat cells under your eyes post-op as there was pre-op.
How Can I Extend the Longevity of My Results?
To extend the longevity of your results, do your best to keep your eye area as healthy as possible. Excessive squinting can lead to the development of crow’s feet around the eyes. To reduce your frequency of squinting, tint your windshield and car windows if you drive long distances regularly. Sun visors are often inadequate to prevent squinting. If you are outside, you should wear a brimmed hat, sunglasses, or both.
It is also incredibly important to wear sunscreen that protects your skin from UVC rays. UVC rays damage collagen, the essential protein responsible for keeping your skin young and healthy thanks to cellular turnover. Some people can receive adequate protection from an SPF 30 or 35 sunscreen. However, the greater the sun protection factor, the more protection you will get. Be advised, windows do not offer adequate sun protection, so you should wear sunscreen even indoors.
How Long Does This Procedure Take?
This procedure can take up to three hours if you are receiving both upper and lower eyelid correction. However, this procedure is usually completed in one to two hours. If you are only treating one area of concern, your procedure may be completed in as little as 45 minutes. We can advise you on how long you should expect your procedure to take during your initial consultation once we have evaluated the extent of your concerns.
What Should I Expect During This Procedure?
You should expect to be completely comfortable throughout your procedure. We will anesthetize you before your procedure so you will not experience any pain or discomfort. The anesthesia will not wear off until your procedure is complete. The type of anesthesia used depends on your health, personal preferences, and the scope of your procedure. In most cases, we will administer local anesthesia in conjunction with intravenous sedation.
However, if you are correcting your upper and lower eyelids and are in excellent health, we may administer general anesthesia to keep you numb and asleep throughout your eyelid correction. Be advised, if you opt for general anesthesia, you must fast during the eight hours leading up to your procedure.
What Happens During Upper Eyelid Correction?
During upper eyelid correction, tiny incisions will be made inside the creases of the eyelid folds. This way, nobody will be able to see your incisions as they are healing. Through very small incisions, we will remove excess skin and muscle tissue to improve the appearance of your upper eyelids.
Then, we will tighten the remaining skin and muscle tissue. Depending on your cosmetic concerns, we may also lift the skin above your upper eyelids, improving the appearance of your eyebrows. Once your loose skin is tightened, the incisions will be closed.
What Happens During Lower Eyelid Correction?
Lower eyelid correction is similar to upper eyelid correction in that excess muscle and tissue are removed. However, it differs in that the scope of the procedure usually involves the removal of excess fat cells. Removing fat from beneath the lower eyelids, in conjunction with tightening loose skin, undereye bags are eliminated.
However, you should understand that lower eyelid correction only eliminates the permanent undereye bags caused by excess fat and loose skin. If you experience severe sleep deprivation in the future, it is possible to develop temporary undereye bags. Once excess fat, muscle, and skin tissues are removed, loose skin and muscle tissues will be tightened. Once that is complete, your discreetly placed incisions will be closed. With lower eyelid correction, the incisions are hidden inside the lower eyelids.
What Should I Expect Following This Procedure?
Following this procedure, you should expect to feel unusually groggy. While grogginess may be uncharacteristic for you, this is a completely natural response to receiving general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. You should expect to nap more than you usually do during the first one to three days following your procedure because your skin requires a lot of energy to heal.
Until you have healed from your procedure, you should get as much sleep as you can. At a minimum, you should sleep between 7.5 and nine hours nightly. Furthermore, you should nap whenever you are feeling too tired.
How Should I Sleep Following My Procedure?
After your procedure, you should sleep on your back for a week or two. If you sleep on your side or stomach, too much pressure may be applied to your incisions. This can slow the rate at which your incisions heal and affect the final results of your procedure.
Be advised, you may need to sleep with a pillow beneath your knees or hips to keep your spine aligned while sleeping on your back depending on the type of mattress you sleep on. If you’re concerned about rolling onto your side or stomach while you are sleeping, you may benefit from sleeping in a recliner. Alternatively, you can roll bath towels up and place them on either side of you to prevent you from rolling over.
What Should I Eat Following My Procedure?
After your procedure, you should eat well-balanced meals. Try to eat at least one fruit and vegetable with every meal to ensure you get your RDA (recommended daily allowance) of all essential micronutrients. Micronutrients will help your body heal as quickly as possible. Produce is also great to incorporate into your post-op diet because it tends to be extremely water-dense. Hydration is essential for rapid recovery. Another benefit of eating plenty of produce post-op is it is high in fiber.
Some people find their fiber needs increase post-op due to taking prescription analgesics. However, even if you don’t take prescription analgesics following your procedure, fiber is still good for your gut health. You should also make sure you are eating plenty of protein following your procedure to help your skin heal as quickly as possible. Collagen is an essential protein found primarily in your skin. It is crucial for skin healing.
How Much Should I Drink After My Procedure?
You should do your best to consume at least 96 ounces of hydrating fluids as you are healing after your procedure. Most of this will probably come from drinking water, coffee, and tea. However, broth-based soups are also a good source of hydration. Ideally, you should include lean protein in your broth-based soup, such as tofu, black beans, or chicken. Vegetables are also a great addition to broth-based soups due to their nutrition and water content.
If you get tired of drinking water and tea, you can flavor your beverages with citrus fruits, such as lemons and limes. Citrus fruits are great to include in your post-op diet because they are vitamin C. Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient that hydroxylates collagen molecules, and your skin can’t produce extra collagen without this essential healing micronutrient. However, it is not advisable to drink store-bought fruit juice or soda. Too much sugar will slow your recovery process.
Will I Be Able to See After My Procedure?
Yes, you will be able to see following your blepharoplasty. However, it is advisable to limit screen time during the first week or two following your procedure. We will give you a prescription for eye drops to keep you comfortable when your eyes itch. Nevertheless, spending too much time watching television or playing video games may make your eyes tired and irritated.
How Long Will My Recovery Period Take?
You should expect most of your recovery to be complete within a week or two. If you are only correcting your upper or lower eyelids, you may need to take five days off from work to recover fully. However, if you are correcting both your upper and lower eyelids, it may be necessary to take up to 10 days off from work.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Procedure?
This procedure may be right for you if you have medical or cosmetic concerns related to your eyelids. People seeking this procedure are usually 35 years of age or older, but medical and cosmetic concerns related to the eye region can occur at any age. It is possible to be 21 and considered a good candidate for this procedure, particularly if you have upper eyelid sagging that is so severe that your vision is impaired.
To find out for sure whether eyelid correction is right for you, it is crucial to come in for an initial assessment of your concerns and overall health. To qualify for this procedure, you must be in fairly good overall health. For example, you should be able to go several days without taking NSAIDs or other blood thinners.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
The results of eyelid correction can last anywhere from five years to a lifetime. If you receive lower eyelid correction, you can expect your results to be permanent. If you receive upper eyelid correction, you can expect your results to last between five and 15 years. To learn more about this life-changing procedure, contact our aesthetic experts at Nuance Cosmetic Surgery in Folsom, CA today to schedule your initial consultation.