Eyelids are home to the thinnest, most delicate skin on our bodies. However, aging and other causes could lead to a problem with your eyelid that could potentially become both an aesthetic and a medical concern. Not only do droopy eyelids make your face look tired, sad, or even angry, problems with eyelids may affect your normal vision or even worse, could lead to dry eyes and infection. To effectively and permanently treat those abnormal eyelids, surgery became one of the best options available.

This article will describe to you everything you need to know about eyelid surgery, including what to expect from upper and lower eyelid surgery performed in Bangkok.

What is eyelid surgery?

Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin, fat, or muscle from the upper or lower eyelids. The eyelid surgery could be considered a medical surgery for the correction of ptosis, or upper eyelid droop over your eye that limits or completely blocks normal vision, and also an aesthetic surgery to restore a more youthful, refreshed appearance of the periorbital area, from eyebrow to cheek and nose.

Eyelid surgery has been performed since ancient Greece and Rome for the correction of “moulded eyelids”. Modern procedure of the eyelid surgery also covers smoothing the underlying eye muscles, tightening the supporting structures, and resecting and re-draping the excess fat of the retroseptal area of the eye. These procedures are being performed to produce a smooth anatomic transition from the lower eyelid to the cheek.

Why does eyelid surgery matter?

At one point, your skin began to lose its firmness and elasticity, which could result in sagging and drooping skin. If sagging and drooping skin occurs with the skin around your eyes, it could lead to some complications, including

• Drooping upper eyelids or ptosis: Ptosis is the condition of the upper eyelid droops over the eye, which could limit or completely block both central (straight) and peripheral (side) vision if the drooping eyelid covers the pupil. In addition, ptosis makes your face look uneven or tired. Ptosis is related to the malfunction of the levator muscle, which lifts the eyelid. For adults, the levator muscle may stretch or separate from their eyelid due to aging, eye injuries, or tumors.
• Sagging eyebrows or eyebrow ptosis: Sagging eyebrows are related to ptosis, as they could lead to excess skin accumulation in the upper eyelid. Sagging eyebrows are caused by the weakening of forehead muscles due to aging, leading to the loss of support for the eyebrow.
• Puffy bags under the eyes: Same as sagging eyebrows, loss of firmness in the skin and muscle following aging, could result in accumulation of excess muscle and fat in the lower eyelid, resulting in under-eye saggy bags that could also limit side vision.
• Ectropion and entropion: Ectropion is the case where the lower eyelid droops down and turns outward. Meanwhile, entropion is the opposite, where the lower eyelid turns inward toward the eyeball. Ectropion and entropion are caused by aging, skin disease, trauma, infection, or scarring inside the eyelid. While ectropion makes your eyes dry and more sensitive to the wind, entropion could further develop an infection of the clear dome-shaped window at the front of the eye, or cornea.

Here, the process of eyelid surgery could help address these issues by lifting the eyelids, smoothing under-eye bags, and enhancing the overall facial appearance. For many patients, the procedure significantly improves not only confidence but also eye conditions and quality of life.

Reading to this point, if you have a concern about the conditions of your upper or lower eyelid, consider contacting us for additional information and consultation.

How is eyelid surgery done?

Eyelid surgery is considered a minor surgery, which can be done at the same time as another aesthetic procedure, such as a brow lift or facelift, for a better visible effect of facial rejuvenation. Meanwhile, there is some degree of controllable risk as with other surgeries, including bleeding, infection, and scarring. In addition, rare complications from eyelid surgery include abnormal discoloration; abnormal folding; pulled-down, lower-lid lash line; and inability to fully close your eyes. However, these complications are preventable if the procedure is done under professional hands. 

The ideal candidate for eyelid surgery should be a non-smoker, healthy individual aged over 30 that do not have medical conditions that can impair healing or serious eye conditions. We recommend that you consult with an ophthalmologist for an appropriate treatment plan if you are currently with eye disease like glaucoma, dry eyes, or detached retina; diabetes; thyroid disorders; and cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure.

If you are a fit candidate after a proper eye and facial assessment by trained physicians, including a vision test and photography. You will be recommended to stop smoking; avoid taking drugs that increase bleeding and bruising, such as aspirin, NSAIDs, blood thinners, and some herbal supplements; and also the adjustment of your current medications if necessary. Following eyelid surgery is done as an outpatient procedure, we recommend that you find someone to drive you to and from surgery.

On the operation day, the process begins with the application of anaesthesia and numbing agent directly to the eyelid to ease the process. Then, the incision will be performed. For the upper eyelid surgery, the incision will be made in the natural crease of your upper eyelid. For the lower eyelid surgery, the incision will be made just below your lower eyelash line. The surgery will remove excessive tissue and fat that leads to the complication. Then, the surgeon will close the incision, which will be invisible to normal eyes, with sutures or glue. The whole process of surgery usually lasts for an hour for each (upper or lower) eyelid surgery.    

If your condition is stable after the operation, you can leave for home with a return for the removal of the surgical stitches after 10 days. You may have suffered from blurred vision, watering eyes, swelling and bruising, and some discomfort. This could be relieved by cool compresses to reduce swelling with ice packs, sleep with your head raised higher than your chest prescribed eye drops or ointments, and paracetamol for pain management.

Normally, your eyes get tired more quickly than usual for the first few weeks, and it’s important to let them rest as needed. While normal activities can be resumed at 10-14 days after the surgery, lifting, straining, and bending down to pick things up should be avoided for 4 weeks. In addition, dark sunglasses with frames that provide plenty of coverage are required for protection from the sun and wind. 

Eyelid surgery at Radiance Skin Clinic

Radiance Skin Clinic, a professional aesthetic clinic located in the heart of Bangkok, introduced the procedure of aesthetic eyelid surgery by a trained and highly skilled surgeon under our professional surgical facilities. Our team of professional aesthetic dermatologists, ophthalmologists, surgeons, and technicians is ready to provide you with personalized care from full eye and facial assessment, careful preparation, advanced surgical techniques, and continuous post-operative care to ensure safety and optimal results.

For foreign patients, Radiance Skin Clinic is considered the best option for expats who require aesthetic eyelid surgery. Not only do we perform the procedure with precision and a focus on natural-looking results, but we can also provide you with additional services that make you feel assured and convenient, with a translator, transportation arrangements, and accommodations for ones who plan for a surgery in Thailand from abroad.

If you are currently looking for eyelid surgery to enhance your appearance or correct functional issues, visit our team for a consultation at our clinic located at Maneeya Center between 10 am and 7 pm, or leave a message on our online channel here.

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