Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery) Treatment Cost in India

It is a type of operation designed to fix falling eyelids and remove too much skin, fat or muscle from the eyes. With age, your eyelids stretch and your muscles weaken. As a consequence, the fat can gather below and above the eyelids that can cause the eyebrows to sag and droopy upper lids and bags under the eyes are formed. Blepharoplasty aims to eliminate any vision problems that can arise as a result of sagging skin and make the eye look younger and vibrant.

Any individual who wishes to address their sagging and drooping eyelids which prevent them from opening their eyes completely or pull it down to the lower lids can think of getting a blepharoplasty surgery done. Excessive tissue removal from the upper eyes may result in a clear vision, and upper and lower eyes can make eyes alert and look younger than the present. Following are the conditions for blepharoplasty:

• Drooping or baggy eyelids
• Excessive skin formation on the upper eyelids that interfere with the peripheral vision of the individual
• Too much of skin in the lower eyelids
• Bags formed under the eyes

Individuals can opt for blepharoplasty in combination with other procedures like a brow lift or skin resurfacing or facelift like youthful regaining procedures.

Local or general anesthesia can be adopted for blepharoplasty surgery. Local anesthesia can be given where simple fat must be removed.

The patient will sit upright with his eyes appropriately placed in a neutral look. The lid crease is located above the ciliary margin 8 to 9 mm in women and 7 to 8 mm above in men. The lower limit of excision should be performed after plugging the eyelid from the lower edge of the forehead to the lateral canthus. The fat location is clearly defined and pre-operatively marked.

With 25 lidocaine and a 27 to 30 gauge needle, the upper eyelids are injected. The skin incision is made. Medial and central are two fat compartments that can be accessed via incisions made in the septum and it can be resected using radiofrequency. 

The fat that comes easily into the wound will be removed out of central and medial fats. From the orbit, fat should not be pulled aggressively.

Retro orbicularis oculi fat can be reached beneath the lateral orbicularis that overlies the superior orbital rim. To reduce the heaviness of the upper lid and lateral brow resection has to be done. During wound closure, the sub brow fat pad is repositioned during the closure of the wound with the help of eyelid suspension sutures. With the help of two or three absorbable sutures that can incorporate the orbicularis from the lower and upper edge of the incision along with the superolateral arcus marginalis. The skin incision can be closed with the help of running or interrupted sutures with absorbable or permanent materials or cyanoacrylate glue for achieving aesthetic beauty.

The inferior formix, lateral canthus, and eye skin are anesthetized with 1% lidocaine have epinephrine in transconjunctival lower lid blepharoplasty. An incision is made 4-6 mm below the lid margin through the conjunctiva and lower eyelid retractors. With the help of scissors sharp dissection can be done or with the laser. The fat compartments get prolapsed with gentle pressure on the eyeball and this aids in the identification of the fat pads. The surgeon takes caution so as not to harm the inferior oblique muscle that separates the central fat pocket from the medial one. The incision is kept open and both the inferior and superior edge of the epithelium are opposed well enough to avoid any type of overlap. The incision takes around a week to heal and reveal aesthetic results.

The arcus marginalis is released and the orbital fat is made to advance beyond the infraorbital rim which is underneath the orbicularis muscle with the help of sutures that are temporarily exteriorized in a fat repositioning surgery. Either in a supra-periosteal plane or subperiosteal plane, the fat can be placed which will apparently have no effect on aesthetic results. This method is good at camouflaging the lower orbital rim anatomy and renders a more youthful look to the midface.

Some may consider non-invasive or less invasive alternatives to address the problems of blepharoplasty. People with milder symptoms and poor signs of aging can take this for granted. However, they can think of alternatives, but the results are not as dramatic as blepharoplasty surgery. Patients can consider injectable filler or chemical peeling for the lower eyelid. They have a faster recovery and has reduced risks of eye infection and blood loss compared to blepharoplasty, but it might be that the procedure has to be repeated often to restore the youthfulness of the face.

Botox can be another alternative to blepharoplasty surgery. More than rectification it works as a preventive measure against fine lines, wrinkles and frowns. Such technique will remove crow's feet adjacent to the eye corners and helps the eyebrows gradually to lift up. The Botox's effects are very evident, but its desired effects are not as noticeable for the eyes themselves and are more subtle in contrast to the outcomes of an eyelid operation.The Botox results can be enjoyed for 3 to 4 months and has to be maintained from time to time with follow ups and treatments.

Skin resurfacing techniques can also tighten the skin around the eyes and makes use of chemical peel, micro needling or ultrasound for its treatment. This is also a non-surgical technique and it requires less recovery time.

In another therapy called ultherapy, ultrasound is made use of to disturb the fats deposits under the eye and naturally stimulate the production of collagen to give a more youthful look. However again the results are not as dramatic and long lasting as a blepharoplasty surgery.

Before scheduling blepharoplasty, you will meet with a plastic surgeon and an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) or a plastic surgeon who specializes in eye surgeries (oculoplastic surgeon) to discuss:

Your medical history: The surgeon will ask questions about past and current operations, including dry eyes, glaucoma, asthma, blood circulation, thyroid problems, and diabetes. You will also be asked for medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements, alcohol, cigarettes and medicinal products.

Your doctor will perform a physical exam, which can include testing the production of your tears and measuring your eyelid parts.

A summary of the vision. The vision, including the peripheral vision, is checked and evaluated by the eye doctor. To sustain an insurance claim, this is important.

By different angles, the eyes will be captured. Such pictures help to plan the case, assess the immediate and long-term effects and support the insurance claim.

The doctor shall advise patients on the following things in detail:

• Compression on the eyes or gentle dabbing with iced gauze pads can be given to help reduction of swelling in both eyes and cheeks and also to fight discoloration in the region.
• It is important to keep the patient’s head in an elevated position which can help in fighting the swelling. The patient can use a recliner or an extra pillow on the bed.
• Washing face or hair with mild soaps and shampoos are advisable
• The doctor can ask the patient to gently clean with a Q tip and half-strength hydrogen peroxide solution if the patient has undergone an external eyelid incision. An antibiotic can also be prescribed as an ointment for use maybe 3 times a day for cleaning. But the patient should strictly stick to the medicine prescribed by the doctor and nothing else.
• It is advisable to wear contact lens two or three weeks after the surgery only
• Only after three weeks can the patient get back to the full-fledged regime of workouts but not before that. Heavy strength training or even intercourse should be avoided and any kind of physical activity which includes stress should be avoided. If required light walking can be started after 3 days.
• Sun exposure should be avoided for at least six weeks and if it is a necessity to go outdoors then one must use a protective shield of sunscreen and that should be generously reapplied after every 1 or 2 hours. The minimum of SPF 30 is recommended. Excessive heat can cause swelling of the face and that must be avoided as much as possible.
• Eye swellings are common, and it usually stays for 2 weeks, in some cases patient can see the improvement in swellings only after 6 months. If swellings get worse in this time period, then the patient must get in touch with their healthcare provider.
• One can use makeup after 7 to 10 days after the surgery.
• Medications should be followed only as per the instructions of the doctor.

Eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty surgery cost in India is $1500.