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Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is one of the most common cosmetic procedures in Australia. An increasing number of clients from Sydney and other areas, are coming to Dr Shahidi’s clinic to enquire about this treatment. So, what is blepharoplasty exactly, and what can you expect from your procedure?
Lower blepharoplasty simply refers to an eye lift procedure carried out on the lower eyelid, beneath the eye. It is in this area that excess loose skin and fat forms, creating a tired, droopy look.
Under anaesthetic, either local or general, Dr Shahidi will make small incisions beneath your lower eyelids. He will then remove the excess loose skin and fat, making your eyes look brighter and more alert. The incisions will be made on the inside of your eyelids so there will be little to no visible scarring.
Lower blepharoplasty procedures can be carried out alone, or in conjunction with an upper blepharoplasty procedure. This provides great results for the entire area around the eyes. The lower blepharoplasty eye lift procedure will take around half an hour to complete, and the full eye lift will take approximately one hour.
Before the procedure begins, you will have a consultation with Dr Shahidi at his Sydney clinic. During your consultation, Dr Shahidi and his team will give you all the information that relates to your specific procedure, and will answer any questions that you may have. Eye lifts are generally carried out under a local anaesthetic, but you can request a general anaesthetic if you prefer.
Upper blepharoplasty procedures are carried out on the top eyelids. It is in this area where excess skin can build up over time and cause the hooded, heavy lidded look. This effect tends to happen more frequently as we age.
During upper blepharoplasty, an incision is made in the crease of the eyelid, and excess skin is removed and the eyelid tightened to achieve a younger look. Because of the positioning of the incision, in the crease of the eyelid, there should be little to no visible scars after healing is complete, unless the eyes are closed.
Dr Shahidi and his team will hold a consultation with you before the upper eyelid blepharoplasty takes place, giving you a chance to ask any questions you may have, and giving Dr Shahidi the opportunity to provide all the required information ahead of your procedure. This will include information on the expected results for your specific case.
As with a lower blepharoplasty eye lift procedure, the process will be carried out under local anaesthetic, as it is a relatively minor procedure, when compared with other types of cosmetic surgery. However, if you prefer, you may decide to have a general anaesthetic. Dr Shahidi will discuss this with you during your initial consultation, as immediately after the procedure, a general anaesthetic affects patients differently from the local option.
Upper blepharoplasty procedures generally last for around half an hour and can be conducted as a standalone process. However, it is more common that upper and lower eye lifts are carried out together. This process will take approximately an hour.
An eye lift procedure is one of the most commonly requested cosmetic surgery procedures in Australia. Part of this high demand is attributed to the outstanding results many celebrities have achieved with blepharoplasty.
Celebrities such as the actress Catherine Zeta Jones, singer Cher, and socialite and television personality Paris Hilton, have all experienced great results from eye lift cosmetic procedures. These celebrities have helped to raise the profile of blepharoplasty not only in Australia but across the globe. They are living proof of the effectiveness of this cosmetic procedure.
And it’s not just female celebrities who have enjoyed outstanding results from eye lift procedures. Legendary musicians such as former Beatle, Paul McCartney and U2’s Bono have had eye lifts, which allows them to look good into their senior years. Even actors, like Tom Cruise, have utilised eye lifts to maintain their screen idol good looks.
Blepharoplasty is clearly popular with celebrities and this trend gives kudos to the procedure. It’s relatively quick, straightforward, and inexpensive and is a great choice for women and men, who are looking to rejuvenate the area around their eyes, and to roll back the ageing process.
Due to the shape of the eyes in East Asian and South East Asian communities, blepharoplasty procedures are a little different. The upper eyelids tend to sit lower on the eye, however, this is not always the case. It is estimated that around 50% of people of East Asian and South East Asian heritage will experience this.
That said, specific blepharoplasty procedures for ‘Asian eyes’ are incredibly popular in areas such as China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand, and are growing in popularity in Australia. This is as a result of the country’s large East Asian and South East Asian populations.
Not all blepharoplasty treatments for Asian eyes are designed to achieve the same outcomes. Some clients want wider and more open-looking eyes, in which case the eye lid is lifted to create this effect. Other clients prefer to accentuate the East Asian or South East Asian shape of their eyes, to better reflect an ethnicity that they are proud of. In these cases, an additional crease can be added to the eye lid to achieve this.
Whatever your desired outcome for your procedure, it is important to discuss this with Dr Shahidi during your consultation. Dr Shahidi and his team will help you understand what to expect from your surgery, and will answer any questions that you may have. Asian eye blepharoplasty procedures take around one hour to complete, with a local or general anaesthetic, depending on your choice. Aftercare and other considerations, post procedure, will be the same as standard upper and lower eye lift procedures.
What to expect before and after blepharoplasty surgery is a common question and although answers vary from case to case, there are general rules and outcomes which you can expect in most situations. We have done our best to outline these below.
All clients have their own motivation for wanting an eye lift. However, the most common reasons are sagging and drooping skin around the eyes, wrinkling or other signs of ageing in the eye area, and a generally tired and worn-out look.
Before the procedure begins, you will have a one-on-one consultation with Dr Shahidi. This is where you will explain precisely what you want to achieve from the process, and ask any questions you may have. Dr Shahidi will answer these questions and give you a better understanding of what to expect.
If you would like to go ahead with the procedure, you can schedule your appointment. This stage will take approximately two hours.
Immediately after the blepharoplasty is complete, Dr Shahidi will hold an outpatient briefing. In this session, he will assess the success of the procedure and will give you information on all the necessary aftercare measures to be taken.
As you have had an anaesthetic, you will not be able to drive yourself home and it is necessary for you to have a friend or family member to stay with you, in the hours immediately following the procedure. This is particularly important if you have chosen to have a general anaesthetic, as you may feel more groggy and disorientated.
Some swelling and discomfort will be apparent for a few days following your procedure, but this should be negligible. Refrain from exercise and other strenuous activity for at least a week, following the procedure and try to get as much rest as possible. You should be able to return to work after seven days, or sooner if the healing process is faster than normal.
Dr Shahidi will schedule a follow-up appointment within three to five days following the eye lift. During this appointment, progress will be assessed and the sutures will be removed. Dr Shahidi may decide to schedule a further appointment if necessary.
You are encouraged to get in touch with Dr Shahidi and his team, if you experience any unusual discomfort or pain, or if symptoms persist for longer than expected. Your safety always comes first, and we will be more than happy to book you in for a check-up to make sure everything is going according to plan.
Find more images in the blepharoplasty before and after gallery.
In the days following your eye lift procedure, swelling will be evident around the eyes. This is a normal part of the healing process and should not be cause for alarm. As with any swelling, there will be mild discomfort, however, should the swelling become a source of significant pain, then you are encouraged to call Dr Shahidi and his team for an immediate check-up.
After the sutures have been removed, the swelling will begin to subside. After seven days, most clients have returned to normal, with no residual swelling. However, this is not the same for every patient, and many factors may cause swelling to remain for longer. If bruising continues beyond this stage, you may use light make up to mask its effects. However, if the bruising and swelling continues beyond two weeks, contact Dr Shahidi’s team immediately.
All blepharoplasty procedures involve incisions into the skin around the eyes. This means that a scar will be left where the incision has been made. However, visible scarring should be virtually non-existent.
This is because of where the incisions are made. In the case of lower blepharoplasty, the incision is made on the inside of the lower eyelid, which means the scarring will be completely invisible after the process has been completed.
With regard to upper blepharoplasty, an incision is made in the crease of the eyelid. This means that no scarring is visible at all when the eye is open, and only slight scarring is visible when the eye is closed. The same is true for procedures on clients from South East Asian or East Asian communities.
Provided that the team conducting your eye lift procedure has the necessary skills and expertise to achieve great results, you should experience little to no visible scarring from any blepharoplasty procedure. If you want to achieve the best outcome from your procedure, it’s essential to have a highly experienced and knowledgeable team, like the one you’ll have at Dr Shahidi’s clinic.
Healing time for a blepharoplasty procedure varies from patient to patient. However, there are some general rules which you can use to set your expectations. The effects of the anaesthesia – whichever option you choose – local or general, should have worn off within 24 hours, leaving you free to drive again.
Sutures will be removed three to five days following the procedure. Dr Shahidi will schedule a follow-up session to remove these for you.
Swelling and bruising should have subsided almost completely within seven days, leaving you free to return to work.
After seven days, healing should be almost complete, and you can return to your normal activities including exercising.
If you feel that your eye area is not healing as expected, or if you are experiencing any unusual pain or discomfort, please don’t hesitate to book a follow-up session with the clinic.
The cost of an eye lift or blepharoplasty procedure can vary from patient to patient. The best way to determine how much your procedure will cost, is to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. Dr Shahidi and his team will assess your needs and your desired outcomes and give you a more accurate quotation.
Get in touch with Dr Shahidi’s team today to find out more. Find more images in the blepharoplasty before and after gallery.
06/06/15
Dr Shahidi is an Australian trained and qualified Specialist Surgeon in Facial Plastic and Ear, Nose & Throat surgery.
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