Blepharoplasty / Eyelid Surgery

Drooping upper eyelids and puffy bags under the eyes cause someone to look tired and aged. Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid correction, is a procedure that can correct this problem and give your eyes a new look. During the procedure excess skin, muscle and fat are removed, as necessary, to create a refreshed appearance. Dr. Bandy uses state of the art techniques to expedite the healing process and produce the best possible results. Learn more about Blepharoplasty at our Newport Beach, Orange County office.

Before and After Photos

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Who is Blepharoplasty recommended for?

A blepharoplasty is recommended for anyone with excess upper or lower eyelid.

Pre-operation

How can I prepare?

As for any surgery, a patients’ health and well-being is our main priority. We require that patients who are undergoing surgery be healthy with normal lab work (your labs will be performed within 2 weeks of surgery). Furthermore, Dr. Bandy provides patients with a vitamin protocol to being before surgery to aid in the recovery and healing process. During your consultation 2 weeks before surgery, our staff will thoroughly review with you all important information that needs to be completed prior to surgery in order to ensure the best outcome and easiest recovery possible.

Will anesthesia be administered?

A blepharoplasty may be performed under a local anesthesia, permitted the patient is healthy enough to do so. In this case, the eyelid area is numbed and the procedure is performed while the patient is awake. Patients can be given a medication to help ease their nerves during the procedure as long as they have someone to drive them home. The procedure can also be performed under general anesthesia if the patient prefers.

Is painful?

Following the procedure patients will be prescribed pain medication in order to minimize discomfort. Typically the blepharoplasty procedure is well tolerated under both local and general anesthesia.

What if I am sick before?

If a patient is noted to be sick prior to a procedure, it is advised to contact Dr. Bandy’s office immediately to discuss the best way to move forward.

How long before I see results?

Following a blepharoplasty, the eyelids may have a significant amount bruising and swelling. Typically full results can be see about 4-6 weeks following surgery.

Post-operation

Is scarring expected after?

The incisions are very small and are placed in the natural contours of the eyelids, limiting the visibility of the incision. Although all patients scar and heal differently, Dr. Bandy’s suturing technique is suburb and the majority of patients are very happy with the appearance of the incisions once healed.

Can I drive home after?

Following a blepharoplasty the eyelids will be extremely swollen and you will not be able to drive. Patients are advised not to drive for at least 3 days following surgery.

Should I try avoiding touching the area after?

A patient will have sutures, staples, and/or surgical tapes covering their incisions and these will remain in place for a few weeks. It is recommended that a patient not touch the incisions until they are healed.

What activity should I refrain from after?

Following a blepharoplasty patients are advised to ice the eyes for the following two days to minimize swelling. Patients should avoid strenuous activity, getting overheated and sunbathing for 2-3 weeks. Makeup can be applied once incisions are healed, usually about 10 days following the surgery.

Do I need to take any medication after?

A patient is usually prescribed a topical numbing cream to apply prior to the surgery (if the surgery will be done under a local anesthetic), an antibiotic and a pain medication. If a patient is undergoing a general anesthesia, sometimes they are prescribed an anti-nausea medication to combat any feelings of nausea that some patients experience after having a general anesthesia.

Costs

What is the average cost?

Upper or lower blepharoplasty cost under local anesthetic is dependent upon the complexity of the case. Combining upper and lower blepharoplasty surgery at the same time will reduce the overall cost. During consultation Dr. Bandy will review the price in detail.

Are there financing options?

The patient has multiple financing options. For example, the patient can pay for the surgery on credit card, and make monthly payments back to their credit card. Additionally, CareCredit is a financing company specific for cosmetic surgery; patients can apply for CareCredit, and there are multiple options for CareCredit. Sometimes, patients opt to make payments directly to the office. This is a prepayment plan where a patient would pay until he or she pays the entire balance for the surgery; then, they would have their surgery.

Recovery

What is the recovery time and the healing process?

The recovery for a blepharoplasty is described as minimally painful. Our office will provide detailed information on the recovery process during your pre-operative appointment. Most patients can expect to be swollen and bruised for about a week. We advise patients to rest for 48 hours, during which time we recommend icing the eyes to reduce swelling and bruising. Makeup can be applied to the eyes once the incisions are fully healed, which is usually around 10 days post-operative.

Is there a post-operative recovery facility that you recommend?

We do have a post operative recovery facility that we refer our patients to in Orange County, CA and Los Angeles, CA. In these situations, they will be picked up by the post operative care facility from our recovery room and brought to the recovery center where they are recovered overnight, and then brought back the next day for their follow up appointment.

We are here to listen and address your concerns.

– Dr. Amy Bandy, Over 20 Years of Experience

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