As you grow older, skin on your eyelids stretches and sags due to elastin and collagen production decline. When this happens in your eyelids, it alters your facial appearance and makes you look older. Besides the physical effects of drooping eyelids, they can also result in visual problems, and activities like driving may become challenging. Fortunately, Scarsdale eyelid surgery can help eliminate vision problems and give you a younger and more alert appearance.
What causes drooping eyelids?
Ptosis or drooping eyelids may be a result of different factors, including:
- Congenital disorders. The problem can present itself at birth and is usually a result of improper development of the levator muscles. Children with drooping eyelids may appear sleepy and can also have vision problems.
- Injury. Your eyelids can droop when the nerves controlling the muscles get damaged, resulting from injuries.
- Diseases. An illness such as diabetes may cause nerve damage, resulting in drooping eyelids. Other medical conditions that may result in ptosis include stroke and Horner syndrome.
What happens during surgery?
Sedation is usually the first step before surgery to make you calm and comfortable during the entire procedure. For eyelid surgery, your specialist may use local anesthesia as it desensitizes a specific area, and you remain conscious throughout the process. However, general anesthesia is sometimes used, and this form of sedation makes you unconscious, unaware of your environment, and you feel dizzy afterward.
The surgeon may start with your upper eyelids if you need surgery on the lower part. Surgery on the upper lid involves:
- Making an incision along the natural skin fold of the eyelid and eliminating excess muscle, fat, and skin. Using sutures, the surgeon closes the opening, and usually the scar is hardly noticeable since it occurs along the crease.
- The surgeon makes an incision on the crease below your lash of the lower lid and removes any sagging skin, extra fat, muscles, and stitches the opening.
What happens after surgery?
You may need to spend some time in a recovery room, where your doctor monitors you and ensures you are free from any complications. Most patients are usually discharged later during that day. Since it is generally unsafe to drive because of blurred vision, you may need someone to drop you off at home. It is normal to experience the following temporary side effects after surgery:
- Sensitivity to light
- Double vision
- Out of focus or misty vision due to the ointment in your eyes
- Pain
- Swollen and numb eyelids
Post-procedure instructions
Your doctor may send you home with several instructions to facilitate your recovery process. Examples include:
- Protect your eyelids against sunlight by wearing dark tinted glasses.
- Â Do not engage in strenuous activities such as jogging, weight lifting, and aerobics, as they cause sweating, which may irritate the incision area.
- Use the prescribed ointments or eye drops and ensure your eyelids are always clean to avoid infections.
- Keep your head elevated by using a pillow as you sleep.
- Apply an ice-cold pack to the eyelids to reduce swelling.
If you want to learn more about eyelid surgery, consult with your doctor today at Robert M. Schwarcz, MD.
