Is Blepharoplasty Considered Minor Surgery?

In a purely semantic sense, blepharoplasty is categorized as a “minor” operation by most medical professionals and insurance companies. It is, without question, one of the most popular cosmetic procedures for both men and women. As with most cosmetic procedures, it is usually performed on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia and sedation. From a billing and scheduling standpoint, Blepharoplasty McLean VA or Eyelid surgery Richmond VA is indistinguishable from mole removal, or the technical name for the most common, truly minor surgical procedure. Yet it is a huge misnomer. Just because it is the most common surgery in the world doesn’t make it a routine, trivial or simple procedure. For patients considering Blepharoplasty McLean VA or a similar surgery, or a Brow Lift Specialist Washington DC who is an expert in that area can provide a combined procedure, one has to take a closer look at what “minor” really means when it comes to eyelid surgery.

Blepharoplasty sits somewhat in the middle of the major-minor surgery divide. On the one hand, it is an outpatient surgery, performed on an accredited surgical center or in a doctor’s office. Most cases are performed under local anesthesia and sedation. That’s right, the doctor injecting you with numbing medicine in your eyelids so you won’t feel the snip and tuck. It’s in your best interest, as well as your surgeon’s, that there be as little risk to the general anesthesia as possible. Local makes the procedure far less costly than would be the case with an overnight stay in a hospital or surgical center. It also means you can come home and sleep in your own bed, a crucial consideration if you want to avoid the dreaded tripalgia that can accompany any post-anesthesia recovery! The initial recovery time is relatively short. The most aggressive swelling, bruising and pain usually lasts for 7 to 10 days. During that time, most people can take at least a week off of work and step back from social engagements so they can heal and limit stress on the newly repaired area. Compare this to any truly major surgery, like a total hip replacement. Blepharoplasty is almost trivial by comparison.

For the patient who is thinking about Eyelid surgery Richmond VA or Blepharoplasty McLean VA, it is important to consider what blepharoplasty actually involves. This operation is designed to remove excess skin and fat that cause sagging, droopy lids and puffiness. The goal is to tighten the upper lids, or the lower lids, or both, to open up the eyes and restore a fresher, more alert, youthful appearance. Blepharoplasty can be purely cosmetic, as in the case of the young patient who just wants to look rested and refreshed. But for many people, the droopiness is not just annoying, but life altering. The field of vision of a person with overly droopy upper lids can be severely constricted. For these people, blepharoplasty is a medically necessary operation to improve their quality of life. The technical demands of the procedure are nothing if not complex. It involves the careful excision of skin and fat, or repositioning of muscle and tissue, on the most delicate and highly expressive feature of the human face. There is a reason people talk about “sleeping with the lights on” and not some other, equally vulnerable or exposed body part. The surgical manipulation of the upper eyelids requires a truly masterful hand to execute a design that looks natural and fresh. The surgeon has to make incisions along the natural creases and lines of the lids. They have to be invisible or almost invisible after healing. Any surgeon who has performed facelifts, for instance, knows that it is easier to hide scars on the lower third of the face, near the mouth and chin, than it is on the upper part of the face. The eyelid is one of the thinnest parts of the body, and the skin especially so. Tugging and pulling is out of the question. It is pure architectural reshaping of a very limited and high-visibility space. The margin for error is infinitesimal, as is the amount of skin that can be cut away or repositioned without creating irregularities and harsh or artificial-looking folds and lines.

The fact that blepharoplasty is usually done as an outpatient procedure is the primary reason for its low risk status. The anesthesia makes it far less complicated than other surgeries. The incisions are not as large as for other cosmetic surgery and because of the delicate tissue, not as deep, either. This keeps the cost relatively low, which makes it more accessible. And because the patient can go home right after the procedure and take about two weeks off of work or social life to heal and rest, it becomes much more palatable. The major reason it is considered a minor procedure is that the initial recovery is very manageable and relatively short. Of course, as with any surgery, there is pain, bruising and swelling and you will have to take it easy and take medication for at least the first week, and sometimes two, but these are far less extreme than with other procedures. The initial “social” recovery of 10 to 14 days is only the first phase of a longer, less visible and more subtle healing process that can take six months to a year. Most patients can get back to their normal routines at about the two-week mark, but the swelling, particularly under the eyes, takes much longer to go down. And it is a long time before the patient sees the finished, refined results.

There is another major consideration, though, when assessing just how minor blepharoplasty truly is. That is the possible complications and risks. The worst case scenarios are quite rare in the hands of a skilled surgeon, but they are part of the equation nonetheless. In addition to the classic problems of too much or uneven skin removal, or laxity in the lower lid due to too much resection of fat, there is a whole host of possible negative outcomes. Infection is possible, as with any surgery. Serious bleeding can occur, which is especially serious as it can cause a sight-threatening retrobulbar hematoma. The results can be lopsided and asymmetrical or the patient may have permanent changes to vision. The fact is, the orbital space is jam-packed with very small, vital structures, including the tear duct system, very intricate muscles that drive eyelid function, and numerous nerves. Blepharoplasty is far from simple snip and tuck. It is precise work that requires an understanding of orbital anatomy that few plastic surgeons possess. A Brow Lift Specialist Washington DC who is an expert in that field may be the one to provide the most exacting technique and consider Eyelid surgery Richmond VA or Blepharoplasty McLean VA as well to help create that synergistic, comprehensive rejuvenation and restoration to the patient.

For patients who require surgery for functional reasons, and who get their Eyelid surgery Richmond VA or Blepharoplasty McLean VA, or Brow Lift Specialist Washington DC provides a combined procedure, blepharoplasty is anything but minor. Correcting vision-impairing hooding can make a huge difference in quality of life, energy level and general outlook. For the purely cosmetic patient, the difference blepharoplasty makes is still profound. The eyes are the center of human connection and communication. They are the first part of the face people look at and register. Revitalizing the eyes, or the entire upper face in a Brow Lift Specialist Washington DC’s case, makes a huge difference in the perceived age of the patient. The difference between being seen as “middle aged” and “getting older” is often just the eyes. In a way, they are even more important to a successful rejuvenation than the mouth, which is the next most expressive area of the face. Looking as vibrant and rested as you feel can have huge psychological benefits. The boost in self-confidence that can come from having fresh-looking, alert and open eyes cannot be overstated. It is a major result, which means blepharoplasty, as with all surgery, is serious business.

Does this mean that patients should not have Eyelid surgery Richmond VA or consult with a Brow Lift Specialist Washington DC or consider Blepharoplasty McLean VA as part of a rejuvenation plan? Of course not, but they should be properly informed and have realistic expectations. It is a major decision and a major procedure in many ways. A true specialist, not just any plastic surgeon, is a requirement for safety and quality. An Orbitalist (one who specializes in the surgical and reconstructive work of the orbit) or oculoplastic surgeon is a necessity. A qualified professional in that field has the training and experience to properly assess if the patient is a candidate, or not. They can precisely measure how much tissue needs to be removed and excised, or repositioned, and perform the work with the necessary finesse to avoid a “operated” look. They also can competently assess and manage patients who come in with complicating factors, like sagging brows, and can make appropriate recommendations, which may include a combined brow lift procedure, that will achieve the most effective and harmonious outcome. Virginia patients should seek out a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who can provide Blepharoplasty McLean VA or Eyelid surgery Richmond VA or, to consider the entire upper face, look for a Brow Lift Specialist Washington DC to lead the team.

The bottom line is that, like most things in life, it depends on the definition. As a purely outpatient procedure with local anesthesia, it is minor surgery in that context. But as a complex operation on a highly visible, delicate and significant facial structure, there is nothing minor about it. One hopes that, as the individual considers the impact it can have on his or her life and appearance, the goal would be a team of doctors who are top notch specialists and artists in their field. A board-certified facial plastic surgeon or oculoplastic surgeon who can offer Eyelid surgery Richmond VA or Blepharoplasty McLean VA as part of a total rejuvenation package would be ideal. For a region like Washington DC with special needs of patients with different hair and skin types, a Brow Lift Specialist Washington DC can be the right choice. They can provide a complete facial rejuvenation with upper and lower procedures or, if the eyes are the primary concern, they can refer for Eyelid surgery Richmond VA or Blepharoplasty McLean VA or suggest a double vision-correcting Eyelid surgery Richmond VA.

Patients can be reassured that this relatively common procedure is safe when performed by a qualified, highly trained and experienced surgical team. The cosmetic benefits can be enormous, particularly in a combined procedure with Brow Lift Specialist Washington DC, a top Blepharoplasty McLean VA, or Eyelid surgery Richmond VA or similar surgery, and are well worth the two weeks of downtime for most people. It is important to consider both the good and the bad and, in addition to extensive online research and the proper consultation with a board-certified specialist, weigh the options as one would a serious decision. It is ultimately a major operation, even if its minor status is convenient and cost effective. It should be taken seriously.