Lower eyelid surgery
Excess skin on the upper eyelids can make you look tired. It becomes even more obvious if the skin hangs in small bags in the area under the eyes. The reason is that there are small so-called ligaments/firm lines that run from the skeleton under the eye socket and up to the skin and hold the skin in place in the area. When fat and skin collect above the lines, small bags are instead formed. Sometimes the skin and fat can collect in several bags called “festoons”. Many men and women eventually get tired of comments about how tired they look.
This is how the operation works
The operation is usually done under general anesthesia, meaning you are asleep during the operation. By opening the skin under the lower eyelid margin, we can cut off the lines that cause a bag to form and at the same time smooth out the fat that is here. Very little skin needs to be removed. The wound is sewn back with a suture/thread and after a week you will come back to remove them. The result usually gives a much younger and more vibrant impression, especially if it is combined with an upper eyelid plastic surgery. The procedure has very small risks, but sometimes the eyelid margin can be pulled downwards during healing. In most cases, it is temporary. If it becomes permanent, which is very rare, you will have to have another operation where the lower eyelid is stretched up. With festoons, a slightly different technique is used. In this case, more skin has to be removed. If there is no extra skin but only excess fat, the incision can instead be placed on the inside of the lower eyelid and the excess fat removed from there. With this technique, there is no scar on the outside, but any excess skin cannot be removed.
Risks and complications
You often experience slightly more discomfort after lower eyelid surgery compared to upper eyelid surgery, but in the vast majority of cases they are temporary.
Common complications/discomforts
- Bruising and swelling that disappear after 1–2 weeks
- As swelling and healing occur, the eyelid edge will pull down slightly. This usually goes away after a few weeks.
- Dry eyes that feel like they are rubbing. Treat with moisturizing drops until it goes away.
Unusual complications/discomforts
- Permanent drooping of the eyelid, known as ectropion. May be corrected with surgery.
Extremely rare complication
- Bleeding that affects vision.
Follow-up
After the operation, you will be in the recovery room with a cooling mask that will reduce the amount of bruising. When you wake up, you may have already been given a lubricating ointment in your eyes to prevent them from drying out. Sometimes you will be given the ointment before you go home. Because you are swollen after the operation, it can sometimes be difficult to completely close your eyes at night when you sleep. This will go away after a few days, but until the swelling goes down, you will need to use a lubricating ointment that also prevents bacteria from entering the wound. You will be given the ointment to take home. After a week, you will come back to check the healing and remove the stitches. By then, the skin will often have healed, but it will take some more time before the scars are fully mature and have faded.
Book a consultation and talk to a specialist to find out what is best for you.