Upper Eyelid Surgery is usually carried out under local anaesthetic. However, sedation or general anaesthetic is also available for people who would prefer not to be awake for the procedure.The surgeon will make an incision along one of the natural lines and creases in the upper eyelid. This helps ensure the scar is discreet and unobtrusive. Your specialist will remove any excess fat, they pull loose muscle and skin tight and suture the layers into place before trimming away excess skin.

What is a droopy eyelid?
‍The drooping of the upper eyelids is a medical condition known as ptosis.  In simple terms, the border of either one or both of the upper eyelids droops to a lower position than normal.

This condition can give people the appearance of looking tired, can cause vision problems in severe cases where the eyelid obstructs the eye. Chronically, the condition often results in headaches and neck pain. The severity of the condition varies, but typically patients experience the following symptoms: Finding it difficult to keep their eyes open Strained eye fatigue especially when involved with reading and driving. Forehead and eyebrow aches from muscle fatigue due to the effort required to keep the eyelids raised Ptosis usually occurs in adults due to a dysfunction of the eyelid muscles. It can be a gradual process, taking years to manifest. There may be congenital or hereditary aspects to the causes.  Unfortunately, it is not possible to prevent ptosis in most cases, and in patients with age-related ptosis, the droopiness can gradually worsen with time. 

Causes
As we get older, the soft skin around the eyes often shows the earliest signs ofageing. Elastic fibres within the skin tissues degenerate and facial musclesloose tone and resilience, leading to and the appearance of sagging skin. Gravityplays a role in this process, as the facial tissues gradually descend.  Weightloss can be a factor, where loss ofvolume in fat cells allowing the skin to hang and sag.Fatcan move and migrate downwards on the face, pulling the skin and causing bulgesand changing youthful contours.Sagging,drooping eyes can be exaggerated by this migration of fat, causing baggy, tiredlooking circles around the eyes that give the appearance of many sleepless nightsand of stress.  

‍Blepharoplasty Surgical procedures
‍Surgical remedies and corrections of these conditions require experienced professional specialists. In planning the procedure, the blepharoplasty incision point is measured and marked. A 3D model has assisted in visualizing and articulating the plans with the patient. While precise and sensitive, this is usually an out-patient procedure.   

UPPER EYE: The surgeon proceeds to remove excess skin, allowing for a flap to conceal the incision. The surgeon considers their options and approach based on underlying muscle and fat, determined when they can see what they are working with under the skin. Tissues can be repositioned to fill hollows, working to achieve a uniform appearance of the eyelid and to improve the visual field. Finally, dissolvable stitches are used to close up the skin surface and a regimen of care is prescribed to help in healing. 

LOWER EYE: The lower eye surgery is the more complicated of the two areas of concern. Often, the main aesthetic issue is a noticeable bulge under each eye. This is caused by a deposit of tissue, which is often fatty and difficult to eliminate. The surgeon must take their time and layer their approach. An alternate, specialized approach can be considered, this is a transconjunctival ‘scarless’ approach, through the inside of the eyelid.