How to choose your blepharoplasty surgeon?

How do I choose my blepharoplasty surgeon?

It bears repeating: many surgeons perform blepharoplasty. Far fewer have genuine expertise in the ophthalmic and palpebral regions. These are, however, particularly complex areas, and treating them carries real stakes in terms of possible complications and of the impact of the result obtained.

Choosing the right surgeon for a blepharoplasty means choosing one who specialises in:

• oculoplastic surgery;
• microsurgery.

An oculoplastic surgeon has extensive training in ophthalmology. They therefore have a thorough knowledge of the physiopathology of the periocular region, and a keen understanding of the risks of complication specific to this area. For the patient, this is the aim of a safe procedure, with techniques adapted to the various therapeutic situations that may arise.

Technically, microsurgery plays an essential role in blepharoplasty, a procedure that calls for meticulous precision and specific instruments. A doctor trained in the art of blepharoplasty knows which moves to make: those that preserve the contours of the eyelids and, with them, the patient’s identity.

The quality of the operation also depends on the surgeon’s ability to choose the right surgical techniques and, where necessary, to combine those available. The surgeon must therefore already have mastered all these possibilities, and in particular lipofilling (addition blepharoplasty), which is too often overlooked even though it frequently proves decisive in avoiding certain pitfalls.

Finally, the doctor’s experience is of course a criterion of choice. You can also ask the clinics where they operate how many procedures they perform each year.

What is a blepharoplasty?

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure designed to improve the appearance of the eyelids. There are 4 types of blepharoplasty:

• upper blepharoplasty;
• lower blepharoplasty;
• addition blepharoplasty;
• pinch blepharoplasty.

Upper eyelid blepharoplasty removes excess skin and/or fat from the upper eyelid, which makes it look heavy. This sign of ageing can give the eyes a dull, downcast expression. The procedure rejuvenates the eyes considerably, opening them up and restoring their natural expressiveness.

Every blepharoplasty is unique, and that is even truer of lower blepharoplasty, which can address a wide variety of conditions affecting the lower eyelid: loose or wrinkled skin, fatty bags, hollow or coloured dark circles, and so on. The result is smoother, plumper eyelids, for younger, brighter-looking eyes.

Addition blepharoplasty is a new technique that offers a very attractive alternative to conventional blepharoplasty, upper and lower alike, and avoids some of the associated risks of hollowing. Technically, it relies on lipofilling, that is, the injection of autologous fat. This fat fills in the volume lost through ageing.

Pinch blepharoplasty is an alternative to lower blepharoplasty for correcting wrinkled or creased skin. Because it involves no skin detachment (the surgeon simply pinches the excess skin and cuts it away), it is minimally invasive and straightforward. The risk of complications is virtually nil.

What questions should I ask at my first consultation?

Any surgical procedure is an important decision, and it is vital to be able to take it with peace of mind, without leaving any question unanswered. Here are some of the questions that often arise when considering a blepharoplasty:

• How do I know whether I need the operation?
• Is there an ideal age for blepharoplasty?
• How should I prepare for the operation?
• What type or types of anaesthesia can I have?
• Is it painful?
• Are blepharoplasty scars still visible?
• How long before I can see the final result?
• Is it possible to put right a botched operation?