Serving Mississauga and Toronto – Eyelid Surgery
It is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. However, the eyes can be deceiving when they are droopy, puffy, or are encompassed by dark circles. They can give the impression that a person is always stressed or fatigued, or even that he or she is constantly angry or unhappy. Dr. Frank Lista helps Mississauga and Toronto patients by using advanced eyelid surgery techniques to treat baggy, dark-rimmed eyes by tightening skin and redefining the contours of the eyes. Dr. Lista performs hundreds of eyelid surgeries each year, making him one of the most experienced eyelid surgery experts in the area. Patients are virtually assured of outstanding results when they have eyelid surgery at the Plastic Surgery Clinic.
- Before the Eyelid Surgery
- The Eyelid Surgery Procedure
- After the Eyelid Surgery
- Returning to Normal Life
- The Risks of Eyelid Surgery
Before the Eyelid Surgery
Cosmetic eyelid surgery (technically known as blepharoplasty) can produce remarkable results and boost self-confidence, but any prospective Mississauga or Toronto eyelid surgery patient should have reasonable expectations for this or any other cosmetic procedure. Eyelid surgery will improve the appearance of the eyes, making them look younger and fresher, but it will not necessarily transform a patient's life.
If you are an Oakville, Brampton, Mississauga, or Toronto resident who has chosen eyelid surgery for cosmetic enhancement, Dr. Lista will meet with you at least once, twice if possible, prior to your surgery. In your consultation, Dr. Lista will evaluate your medical history and facial structure. Then you and he will discuss your goals for your eyelid surgery, and he will help you to establish realistic expectations. Dr. Lista will be able to show you an approximation of your final results using our advanced computerized digital imaging so that you will be fully informed before deciding to undergo the procedure.
The Eyelid Surgery Procedure
As with face lift surgery, Dr. Lista will give you detailed instructions in your consultation so that you can prepare for your procedure. The instructions provide guidelines for foods, beverages, and medications to avoid before surgery. Smokers should plan on quitting at least two weeks prior to surgery.
Eyelid surgery is an outpatient procedure that generally takes one to three hours, depending on the extent of surgery you have requested. Eyelid surgery is done under either local anesthesia or general anesthesia administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist. Once you are sedated, Dr. Lista makes incisions that follow the natural lines of your eyelids. He then works within the incisions to remove excess fat, tighten muscles, and trim excess skin. When the eyelid surgery is complete, he closes the incisions with fine sutures that will dissolve or be removed after about 10 days.
In the eyelid surgery procedure, underlying fat is removed and muscle and skin are tightened.
Dr. Lista may perform a transconjunctival blepharoplasty procedure if your lower eyelids contain a pocket of fat but don't require the removal of excess skin. Dr. Lista uses a laser to make an incision inside the lower eyelid so that no visible scar remains. Dr. Lista usually performs this procedure on younger patients because they have thicker, more elastic skin.
In a transconjunctival blepharoplasty procedure, Dr. Lista removes fat with fine forceps through an incision created with a laser. Self-dissolving sutures are used to close the incision.
Some patients who visit our office serving the greater Mississauga and Toronto area may need to have additional treatment following eyelid surgery. An additional laser treatment of the lower eyelids is sometimes performed to remedy very wrinkled skin or "crow's feet." Our patients who have very droopy upper eyelids or eyebrows may require a forehead lift in addition to their eyelid surgery in order to achieve maximum aesthetic benefit. Both of these procedures can be performed at the same time as the eyelid surgery.
Oakville, Brampton, and all Ontario residents can learn more about our eyelid surgery and other cosmetic procedures by scheduling a consultation with our plastic surgery expert, Dr. Frank Lista. Contact the Plastic Surgery Clinic today.
After the Eyelid Surgery
Dr. Lista will apply ointment to your eyes after your eyelid surgery, but you won't have to wear any bandages. If you feel that it’s necessary, Dr. Lista can prescribe pain medication to alleviate post-surgical discomfort. To ensure your safety, you'll need to have a companion drive you to your home after your eyelid surgery and stay with you for 24 hours.
You will need to keep your head elevated for several days after your eyelid surgery and apply cold compresses to your eyes to reduce swelling and bruising. Bruising typically lasts two weeks to a month. Because your eyes may be gummy for about a week after the procedure, Dr. Lista will supply instructions for carefully cleaning your eyes. To alleviate dryness or burning and itching, you may want to use eye drops. Other symptoms you may experience after your eyelid surgery can include light sensitivity, excessive tearing, and temporary eyesight aberrations such as blurring or double vision. Dr. Lista will monitor your progress carefully in the first two weeks to confirm that your healing is progressing as it should.
Returning to Normal Life
After two or three days' healing time, you should be able to resume watching television or reading. You should plan to wear glasses (if necessary) for about two weeks after your eyelid surgery, however, because you will be unable to wear contact lenses.
After a week to 10 days, you'll likely feel ready to return to work or take part in other outside activities. Dr. Lista will advise you at this point if your healing has progressed enough to allow you to wear makeup to conceal remaining bruising. Because you may experience light or wind sensitivity for several weeks after your eyelid surgery, Dr. Lista advises that you wear sunglasses and use a special sunblock designed specifically for eyelids.
You should keep physical activity to a minimum for at least a week, and you should avoid strenuous physical exertion that will raise your blood pressure, such as bending and lifting, for three or four weeks. Dr. Lista also recommends that you stay away from alcohol while your eyes heal because alcohol causes fluid retention.
We remind patients who visit our Oakville, Brampton, Mississauga, and Toronto-area office that healing after eyelid surgery takes time. The scars from eyelid surgery may remain pink for six or more months. With time, however, they will fade to nearly undetectable white lines. In the long term, our patients who have eyelid surgery find that the alert and youthful look they achieve lasts for years, and in some cases the results are permanent.
The Risks of Eyelid Surgery
Complications with eyelid surgery are very rare. However, every surgical procedure has inherent risks. Infection and adverse reaction to anesthesia are possible. With eyelid surgery, risks include visual distortion for a few days after the procedure, slight asymmetry in healing or scarring, and small whiteheads that may appear after your stitches are removed. Some patients may experience difficulty closing their eyes during sleep. In rare cases, this can be permanent.
Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism and Graves' disease, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes can increase the risk for patients who undergo eyelid surgery, so it is extremely important to fully disclose all current and previous medical problems and supply a complete medical history to Dr. Lista prior to eyelid (or any) surgery.
Schedule an Eyelid Surgery Consultation
Serving the Oakville, Brampton, Mississauga, and Toronto communities, our eyelid surgery expert can provide outstanding results that make you look years younger. Contact the Plastic Surgery Clinic today to learn more about our eyelid surgery and other excellent procedures.