COSMETIC EYE SURGERY: POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS AND RISKS

Tue Jan 21 2020

Your eyes are often the first thing people notice in you, and they form an essential part of your personality. But, often you’d come across people who do not feel pleasant about the natural positioning of their eyes, nose, eyelids, lips or cheeks and look out for cosmetic treatment to alter them a bit. Sometimes, other reasons like having met some accident or aging are also some of the reasons why people opt for oculoplastic surgery. Oculoplasty is widely known as ophthalmic plastic surgery. It is a kind of operation with relation to the eye and its surrounding structures.

Types Of Oculoplastic Surgeries

  • Eyelid surgery
  • Tear duct surgery
  • Botox and dermal fillers
  • Orbital surgery
  • Lifting of the forehead and eyebrows
  • Enhance facial features
  • Pediatric oculoplastic surgery

If we talk about cosmetic eye surgery, in particular, then you must have seen people who have droopy eyelids. Excess fat above or below the eyelids results in sagging eyebrows and bags under your eyes. Severely sagging skin can make you look older and reduce your side vision, especially the outer and upper of your field of vision. People undergo cosmetic eye surgery for various reasons. People choose to go for blepharoplasty (the medical term for eyelid surgery) that involves removing excess muscle, fat, and skin from the eyelids. Blepharoplasty encompasses a handful of procedures that are performed on the lids or surrounding tissues, not the eyes themselves. It is performed by a cosmetic plastic surgeon or an oculoplastic surgeon. Healthy individuals who have no severe eye conditions and are non-smokers recuperate fast if they ever undergo eyelid surgery. The cosmetic eye surgery also corrects for folds in the upper eyelid that hamper vision. Some people opt for this cosmetic eye surgery while undergoing face-lift, brow lift or skin resurfacing.

When To Go For Blepharoplasty

  • If you have bags under your eyes
  • If you have excess skin on the lower or upper eyelids
  • Droopy upper eyelids

Possible Risks That Might Come With Cosmetic Eye Surgery

  • Noticeable scarring
  • Dry eyes
  • Irritation, bleeding, and infection
  • Skin discoloration
  • A possible follow-up surgery
  • Injury to eye muscles
  • Temporary blurred vision
  • General risks associated with surgery, like a blood clot or the likely reaction to anesthesia
  • Bleeding behind the eye
  • Chances of further surgery to correct complications
  • Unnatural looking eyes, if too much fat is removed

Medical Issues Associated With Cosmetic Eye Surgery

It is advisable to sit and talk with the doctor about surgical risks. Weighing the benefits and risks certainly helps in a better understanding of the procedure and after-effects. The doctor will check or speak to you about the following things

  • Medical History:

There could be some pre-existing medical conditions and surgeries you’ve had in the past might influence the decision about the eye surgery. So, you need to be upfront and discuss your past health.

  • Full body checkup and eye exam:

You need to go through a full-body checkup and eye checkup so that the doctor gets convinced about your present health.

  • Preparation of surgery and post-medication:

Before heading for the surgery day, you could be advised to take a particular medication. Stop taking any medicine that thin your blood. Post-surgery also, you would be given detailed instructions on what you should be doing at home for quick recovery. Self-care is advised. Also, arrange for a driver or help to get you back home.

How Is Eyelid Surgery Performed

If we talk about eyelid surgery, the doctor may put you under local anesthesia and sedation, or general anesthesia. Your surgeon will advise you on which option suits you the best. In order to treat sagging, the surgeon will make an incision (cut) in the upper eyelid. to treat sagging. The procedure of surgery differs according to the details of what has to be done. The surgeon will make an incision just below the lashes or inside the lower eyelid to treat it. Then, the excess skin is removed. The excess fat is repositioned or removed depending upon the necessity. After that, tightening of underlying tissue takes lace with stitches, if required. Finally, the surgeon tries to hide all incisions with natural skin folds and creases. All the remaining incisions are closed with stitches, tissue glue or surgical tape.

Side Effects of Cosmetic Eye Surgery

  • Mild pain, scarring, and swelling:

Immediately after the surgery, you will feel slight pain and discomfort in the eyes and surrounding areas. You can also feel numbness or swelling around the eyes.

  • Soreness:

As wounds heal, you can feel soreness in your eyes and surrounding areas for at least 10-15 days. It will help if you use cold compresses or dressings over the eyes as advised by the doctor. Over-the-counter painkillers can also be taken if pain persists.

  • Sensitivity to light:

You could feel extreme sensitivity to light for a few days post-surgery. So it would be best if you protect yourself from direct sunlight or bright light. Report bleeding to the surgeon if it occurs.

  • Complications:

Most of the difficulties associated with eyelid surgery can be avoided if you choose to go for an experienced and highly skilled surgeon. Although the complications (in rare cases) might include eyelashes loss, which is often temporary, hematoma, which requires surgical removal, infection is also possible but can be treated with proper hygiene and antibiotics during recovery.

Be it any surgery you are going for, cosmetic or medical, Center For Sight, the best eye care centre offers comprehensive, state-of-the-art services for your eyes. The centre provides full treatment for droopy & tired eyes, eyelid bags, wrinkles & deep expression lines, dark circles, the aging eye, and facial skin changes. Options are also available for ptosis surgery, cosmetic eye surgery, browlift, blepharoplasty (upper & lower), botox & dermal fillers.

Article: Cosmetic Eye Surgery – Possible Side Effects and Risks | Centre For Sight
Author: Dr Vikas   |   Jan 21 2020 | UPDATED 02:00 IST

*The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of Centre for Sight.

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