„The eyes are the window to the soul“ is a popular proverb. An open and alert eye seems inviting and makes our counterpart appear friendly. It is not for nothing that women emphasise that part of their face with makeup. They cream and maintain the delicate skin around their eyes to preserve their juvenile appearance. With age, however, the connective tissue loses elasticity, so the eyelids droop and sag. Swollen eyelids, drooping eyelids and bags under the eyes let the persons affected look older. Depending on the individual predisposition, this may already occur at the age of 30. An eyelid surgery will put things right, maintaining fresh eyes.
The procedure of an eyelid surgery
Depending on the patient’s needs, an eyelid surgery is performed on the upper eyelid below the eyebrows or on the lower eyelid where bags have formed. At the patient’s request, both interventions may also be carried out as one surgery. Lifting of the upper eyelid – also called brow lift – is performed under local anaesthesia and twilight sleep. For this purpose, fine incisions are made in the natural crease of the upper eyelid to remove excess fat and skin. The procedure takes 30 minutes and is performed in an outpatient setting. Lifting of the lower eyelid is also performed under twilight sleep or even general anaesthesia. The incisions are made right below the lash line, so no visible scars are left behind. The existing fatty tissue is, as needed, redistributed, refilled or removed. The surgery takes 60 minutes.
In the days following the eyelid surgery, it is important to cool the eyes with a special cooling mask several times a day to reduce swelling or bruising. The stitches are removed one week after surgery. Due to the special nature of the eye tissue, no visible scars will remain. Two weeks after the surgery, the skin will have healed and all bruises disappeared, so the patient can return to everyday life.
Eyelid surgery for men
Even for men, bags under the eyes and drooping eyelids are an increasing burden. They feel that their appearance conflicts with their actual vitality and energy. An eyelid surgery is an opportunity also for men – for example in a professional context – to appear more confident again in dealing with colleagues and employees.
| Type of intervention | Outpatient procedure, with or without sedation |
|---|---|
| Duration of the procedure | 30 to 60 minutes |
| Recovery time | 7 to 17 days |