Addition blepharoplasty: what is it?

Addition blepharoplasty: definition and differences from conventional blepharoplasty

Addition blepharoplasty, or lipofilling blepharoplasty, is a fast, safe operation. It differs from conventional blepharoplasty in that the latter removes excess skin to tighten it.

In contrast, addition blepharoplasty treats the origin of the problem, i.e. the loss of fat volume, by injecting fat where it has disappeared: excess skin is removed only in proportion to its contribution to eyelid sagging.

What are the indications for addition blepharoplasty?

I recommend addition blepharoplasty if you wish to rejuvenate your eyes, particularly by treating drooping upper eyelids, puffiness, sunken and colored dark circles, lower eyelid sagging… This technique is also ideal for people with constitutionally sunken eyes, or those with a hollow eye following initial eyelid surgery.

Turn to a specialized plastic surgeon

Addition blepharoplasty is a highly specific technique that requires the know-how and expertise of a specialized surgeon. Indeed, the surgical operation must deliver meticulous, fully satisfactory results, at the risk of having to make up for an unnatural and/or distorted look, which is more delicate.

Precautions to take before addition blepharoplasty

Before I perform an additional blepharoplasty, I systematically meet with my patients in consultation to carry out a precise morphological analysis of their face and the aging of their eyelids, to rule out any contraindications to the operation and to explain everything in detail. If we opt for this alternative, certain precautions must be taken to avoid risks during the operation:

• Consult the anaesthetist at least 48 hours before the operation
• Stop taking anticoagulants (including aspirin) a week or more before surgery to limit bleeding.
• Obtain prescribed medication before the procedure, so that it is available as soon as you leave the clinic.
• Fasting for at least 8 hours before going to the operating room.

Filling blepharoplasty: the procedure

On the day of your addition blepharoplasty, I will treat the origin of the problem by injecting fat, previously removed from your body (knees, abdomen, thighs) by liposuction, where it has disappeared from your eyelids. Excess skin is removed only in proportion to its contribution to eyelid sagging.

The fat removed is cleaned, defibrosed and broken down to make it fluid, before being reinjected deep into the bone using a microcannula. The procedure, which requires outpatient hospitalization only, lasts around 1h30 and is performed under neuroleptanalgesia or general anesthesia, depending on your preference.

Addition blepharoplasty: what results for the patient?

Addition blepharoplasty offers significant and definitively visible results around 2 months after surgery. The hollow of the eye socket is filled with fat, and the effects of time are less visible because volume has been recreated.

The post-operative period is painless, although lipofilling-related swelling is common for 8 to 10 days after the procedure. Don’t worry: this is a completely normal and transitory side effect, which will quickly disappear.

Side effects of addition blepharoplasty

I’ll be sure to give you all the post-processing recommendations:

• Application of ice compresses to limit post-operative oedema
• Use of eye drops to soothe dry eyes.

And we’ll be seeing each other again soon after the operation, and several times, to check that results, healing and satisfaction are satisfactory.