A lower eyelid correction is usually performed to remove the so called eye bags or puffy bags under the eyes that are especially visible with light from above that casts a shadow and shows dark circles under the eyes. Another symptom is excessive skin under the eyes that forms skin folds, but this is far less common.
A lower eyelid correction is usually performed to remove the so called eye bags or puffy bags under the eyes that are especially visible with light from above that casts a shadow and shows dark circles under the eyes. Eye bags are caused by excessive fat in the sockets of the eyes. During the procedure some of this fat will be moved or taken away.
Another symptom is excessive skin under the eyes that forms skin folds, but this is far less common. In case of a pigmented skin the excessive skin can have a dark coloration. In this case only skin will be removed, there is no need to remove fat.
Lower eyelids can undergo an accelerated ageing process (both the eye bags and the excessive skin) caused by regular swelling. For instance due to an allergy, but also because of fluid retention. Fluid will first appear around the eyes. When this is the case I will refer you to the physician or to an internist in order to eliminate the cause of the fluid retention first, prior to the eyelid correction.
When you look at the photos, you will see examples of eyelid correction because of eye bags (fat) and because of excessive skin.
Fat removal
Just underneath the eye lashes of the lower eyelid an incision is made through the skin and the underlying muscle, after which some of the excess fat can be removed. Where necessary some skin can be removed. The scar just under the eyelashes is hardly visible. Because the removal of fat can be a bit painful, I prefer to perform this procedure under, short, general anesthetic, however, local anesthetic is also a possibility.
In case only fat (a small amount) needs to be removed than this can be done via an incision in the inside of the eyelid, the so called transconjunctival incision. This technique has two advantages: a) There is no scar at all, not even the small scar under the eyelashes., b) The muscle around the eye is untouched which has long term advantages for the function of the lower eyelid.
Skin removal
If mainly excessive skin needs to be removed, than the procedure is as follows: The skin will be loosened from the underlying muscle through an incision just under the eyelashes of the lower eyelid. The skin will be partially removed and tightened. The muscle remains untouched.
The operating time for a lower eyelid correction is one hour.
I recommend that you take a rest and lie down with cold gauzes on your eyes during the first hours after the surgery. You must avoid every form of strain. Just as with the upper eyelid correction there will be a quick recovery. After 5 days the stitches can be removed. In case there are (mild) bruises, then these will vanish after a week.
Bruises can negatively influence the result of the treatment. During the operation the small blood vessels will be cauterized as much as possible. High blood pressure, strain, coughing and anticoagulants increase the risk of bruising. Another, irritating, possible complication is eye twitching. This can be prevented by careful surgery and restraint removal of skin. During the first few days after surgery a slightly twitching eye is normal and will disappear.
Dr. Erik J.F. Timmenga
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