Blepharoplasty Patient Information
What is blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty is an operation, which removes excess skin (dermatochalasis) from the upper eyelids. This operation
can be carried out under Medical Aid benefit if the excess skin is affecting vision or making the eyelids heavy and
difficult to open. It cannot be done by Medical Aid if it is just a cosmetic problem.
What are the causes of excess upper lid skin?
Excess skin is often due to ageing changes. The eyelid appearance may be typical for your family. Sometimes
episodes of swelling of the eyelid due to infection or allergy can stretch the skin.
What does the blepharoplasty operation involve?
Removal of excess upper eyelid skin is carried out as day case surgery, under local or general anaesthesia.
Occasionally the surgery is performed under local anaesthetic with sedation.
The excess skin is cut away. The skin wounds are then closed with very small sutures, which will be removed
over the next few weeks. The wound ends up in the natural skin crease of the lid.
At the end of the operation the antiseptic is washed off, ointment is put on the wounds and cold eye pads
applied to the lids. One or both of the eye pads will be removed after about an hour.
What happens after the operation?
The cold eye pads are left on for an hour or so to help reduce bruising. Do not worry if there is some blood
on the eye pad when you remove it. Clean the eyelids gently with tissues soaked in cooled, boiled water.
If your eye feels sore when the anaesthetic wears off, take simple painkillers like Paracetamol or
Stilpane. Normally, the discomfort will settle within a day or two. It is normal for the eyelids to appear swollen and bruised for
some time after this operation and there may be a little bleeding from the eyelids for a short time.
Most forms of light exercise and a normal work pattern may be resumed within a few days of surgery. Eyelid
makeup can be worn from about three weeks after surgery.
If you have severe pain, not relieved by simple painkillers, Please call the Doctors rooms or
Casualty Department for advice. You should not drive yourself home after the operation. Before you leave you will be given
drops or ointment to use for a week or so after the surgery.
Eyelids normally heal very well and the wound is hidden in the natural skin crease of the lid.
What problems can occur after the operation?
Bruising and swelling of the eyelids is common. The surface of the eyeball may also swell (chemosis). These
changes will settle after a few weeks.
Dry, gritty eyes for a few weeks can be helped with lubricant eye drops and ointment. The vision may be slightly
blurred for a few days.
A minor post-operative infection may develop in the lids when they would become tender, red and swollen and
the wound may breakdown. If this happens then you should contact the hospital as antibiotic tablets may be needed to help correct
this and allow the lids to heal. It might be necessary to restitch the wound once the infection has settled.
Bleeding after the operation is usually slight and stops within a short time. If bleeding continues you should
contact the hospital in case further treatment is required.
What about consent for the operation?
Before your operation, usually on the day of surgery, you will be asked to sign a consent form, which is signed
by both you and the doctor. It is a permanent record to show that your operation and the type of anaesthetic have been discussed
with you.
When you sign the consent form you are indicating that you want to go ahead with the operation. If you are not
happy with anything on the form you should not sign it until you have had your worries discussed and resolved. You can refuse
any operation. Remember that you may need to bring your reading glasses into hospital with you to help you read the form.
If your sight is poor you can ask the doctor or a relative to read it to you and check it before you sign.
Rhinoplasty - Nasal surgery, nose reshaping, nose job
Surgery Overview
Rhinoplasty is surgery to reshape the nose. It can make the nose larger or smaller; change the angle of the nose in relation to the upper lip; alter the tip of the nose; or correct bumps, indentations, or other defects in the nose.
During rhinoplasty, the surgeon makes incisions to access the bones and cartilage that support the nose. The incisions are usually made inside the nose so that they are invisible after the surgery. Depending on the desired result, some bone and cartilage may be removed, or tissue may be added (either from another part of the body or using a synthetic prosthesis or strut). After the surgeon has rearranged and reshaped the bone and cartilage, the skin and tissue is redraped over the structure of the nose. A splint is placed outside the nose to support the new shape of the nose as it heals. Nasal packing may be used inside the nose to provide additional support.
Rhinoplasty is done using general anaesthetic. It is usually done in hospital which sometimes requires a 1-night stay in the hospital or surgery center.
What To Expect After Surgery
All surgical packing inside your nose will be removed within 2 days after surgery. The splint and bandaging around your nose will be removed after about a week.
Your face will feel puffy and the area around your eyes and nose will be bruised and swollen for several days. Cold compresses can help minimize the swelling and reduce pain. Your doctor may also recommend pain medicine. It takes about 10 to 14 days before most of the swelling and bruising improves.
You may need to keep your head elevated and relatively still for the first few days after surgery. It may be several weeks before you can return to strenuous activities.
Why Is it Done
Rhinoplasty can change the size, shape, and angle of your nose and bring it into better proportion with the rest of your face. Rhinoplasty may also correct structural problems with the nose that cause chronic congestion and breathing problems. This is done simultaneously with an ENT Surgeon.
How Well does It Work?
The results of rhinoplasty may be minor or significant, depending on what kind of correction you want. It is important that you and your plastic surgeon agree on the goals of the surgery. If your expectations are realistic and your plastic surgeon shares them, he or she will probably be able to provide you the result you want.
The results of rhinoplasty are permanent, although subsequent injury or other factors can alter the nose's appearance. Cosmetic surgery should only be done on a fully developed nose. Complete development has usually occurred by age 15 or 16 in females and by age 17 or 18 in males. If surgery is done before this time, continued development of the nose can alter the surgical results and possibly cause complications.
Risks
You can always expect temporary swelling and bruising around the eyes and nose after rhinoplasty. Other problems that may occur include:
- Bleeding.
- Injury or perforation to your septum (the wall that separates your nostrils).
- Skin problems, including breakdown of skin tissue and irritation from the tape and bandaging.
- Infection. Preventive antibiotics may be given after surgery to reduce the risk of infection.
- Serious nasal blockage caused by swelling inside the nose.
What To Think About
As one of the prominent features of the face, the nose can have a significant impact on your self-image and appearance. If you're unhappy with your nose and have been so for a long time, rhinoplasty is a reasonable option to consider. As with other cosmetic procedures, you are more likely to be happy with the results of rhinoplasty if you have clear, realistic expectations about what the surgery can achieve and you share these with your plastic surgeon.
Most insurance companies will not cover the costs of rhinoplasty unless it is being done to correct a functional problem (such as breathing) or a defect caused by disease or injury. Even in these cases, make sure you check with your insurance company to find out what portion of the cost it will cover. Costs of surgery include not only the surgeon's fee but fees for the operating facility, the anesthesiologist, medicines, splints, packing, and other services and materials.
Facelift – Rhytidectomy
What is facelift surgery?
If you are peturbed by the signs of aging in your face, facelift surgery may be indicated for you. Technically known as rhytidectomy, a facelift is a surgical procedure to reverse the visible signs of aging in the face and neck, such as:
- Sagging in the midface
- Deep creases below the lower eyelids
- Deep creases along the nose extending to the corner of the mouth
- Fat that has fallen or is displaced
- Loss of muscle tone in the lower face may create jowls
- Loose skin and excess fatty deposits under the chin and jaw can make even a person of normal weight appear to have a double chin
Rejuvenation procedures that are typically performed in conjunction with a facelift are brow lift, to correct a sagging or deeply furrowed brow, and eyelid surgery to rejuvenate aging eyes. Fillers are often added to improve the lips.
What facelifts won't do:
As a restorative surgery, a facelift does not change your fundamental appearance and cannot stop the aging process.
Is it right for me?
A facelift can only be performed surgically; non-surgical rejuvenation treatments cannot achieve the same results, but may help delay the time at which a facelift becomes appropriate and complement the results of facial surgery. Facelift surgery is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else’s desires/or to try to comply any sort of ideal image.
Facelift surgery is a good option for you if:
- You are physically healthy
- You do not smoke much or not at all.
- You have a positive outlook and specific, but realistic goals in mind for the improvement of your appearance
