LOWER BLEPHAROPLAST

Lower eyelid surgery, more commonly referred to as a lower blepharoplasty is the 2nd most common plastic surgery procedure performed and is recommended for those who are bothered about saggy skin and puffy under eye bags - making them look tired and older than their actual age. Lower eyelid surgery is not for the removal of 'crows feet' or other wrinkles and does not eliminate 'dark circles' under your eyes.

The ideal candidate for a lower blepharoplasty is at least 18 years old and is physically healthy, emotionally stabile and well-informed about the procedure, risks and expectations of a lower eyelid blepharoplasty or surgery in general. There are some contraindications for having an lower blepharoplasty that may include high blood pressure, glaucoma, dry eyes or any other syndrome that could be aggravated by having eyelid surgery.

With a scalpel, a small incision is made just below the lower eyelashes - or eyelids - and may extend all the way to the inner and outer corners of the eyes. Working through these incisions, the skin is separated from the underlying fatty tissue and muscle and the excess fat is removed with or without trimming and tightening of the muscle and skin. Once this has been completed, the skin will be closed with stitches creating a very fine scar line right under the lower lashes.
Transconjunctival blepharoplasty or the posterior approach is performed in those who have larger puffy bags under their eyes with relatively little loose skin. The incision is made inside the lower eyelid with consequent removal of fatty tissue from under the eyes. The advantage of this procedure is there is no visible scar.

A lower eyelid blepharoplasty takes between 1-3 hours to complete depending on the degree of correction needed and the surgeon.

Unless combined with a more extensive procedure like a face lift, endoscopic forehead or brow lift or upper blepharoplasty, a lower eyelid blepharoplasty is usually performed with local anesthetic and a oral relaxant. This means you will be awake for the duration of the procedure but will not experience any pain.

Although very rare, a lower blepharoplasty is surgery and all surgery comes with risks and complications. The following minor complications can occur with lower eyelid surgery: infection, bleeding, blurred vision for a few days, wound separation, asymmetry, visible scar line. Another rare complication, referred to as ectropion or a pulling downwards of the lower eyelids, can also occur and, in this case, further surgery may be required. We advise that you research as much as possible about risks and complications of lower eyelid surgery with your home doctor. At your consultation, you will be able to discuss this with our surgeon.

After surgery, your lower eyelids will be taped and sutured for 5-7 days. An ointment will also be given to keep your eyes moist. In most cases you will feel your eyes to be swollen, red and bruised for up to a week. For the first few days after the surgery, heavy reading and computer work may be uncomfortable due to swelling and therefore should be avoided. Vision bluriness may also be present. There are no other restrictions for light activities. Most patients look their worst on the second or third day after surgery, with a marked improvement over the next couple of days. Contact lenes can be resumed after 1 week.
Normal recovery time with return to work and full activity is about 10 days. Heavy strenuous activity, especially involving straining and bending over should be avoided for several weeks. Bruising above the eyes may remain for up to 2 weeks and can be easily camouflaged with a make-up concealer.

For lower eyelid surgery, we recommend a stay in Hungary of 7 days. In this case, all the stitches should be removed by the treating surgeon by the 6th day or right before you depart for home. If you are not able to stay for this full duration, the running sutures can easily be removed by a home doctor or nurse.
When can I return home to my country? The recommended stay time in Hungary is 1 week for a lower eyelid blepharoplasty.

Under normal healing circumstances and by following all post-treatment instructions from your doctor, there should be no need for any further follow-up care when you return home. In the case that some minor complication should arise after you return home, please contact us immediately for further advice.

Healing times vary from individual to individual and much depends on your current state of health. As a general rule you will see 70% all healing and results of the surgery within the first 4-6 weeks and the final 30%(scars) take place over the course of several months lasting even up to a year. Swelling and bruising will dissipate rather quickly in a matter of 1-2 weeks, scars gradually smoothen and fade over the course of many months.

No, if the healing process is free of any complications, there is no need to return to Hungary. We would appreciate a few pictures after 1 month, 3 months and 6 months for our records.

As a part of the face and facial global rejuvenation treatments, a lower eyelid blepharoplasty is most commonly combined with an upper blepharoplasty for removal of excess drooping skin in the upper eyelids. In additional, a lower eyelid surgery can also be done together with a face lift, forehead- or brow lift, Botox treatment around the eyes, fat volume filling to the face and a variety of laser skin rejuvenation treatments such as Thermage and Fraxel resurfacing. For more information about any of these treatments, ask your Meditours consultant.