Blepharoplasty in London

The surgery generally causes mild ache or discomfort which settles within less than 48 hours, and the surgery is not regarded as painful. Most of Dr De Silva’s patients require minimal or no analgesia after blepharoplasty. Usually over the counter mild analgesia is sufficient to reduce the discomfort (e.g. Paracetamol or Tylenol).

Patients are able to have upper blepharoplasty under local anaesthesia alone, sedation or general anaesthesia. Dr De Silva has used all of these for his patients for more than 10 years, Sedation Anaesthesia offers the advantage of a more comfortable experience and faster recovery. Blepharoplasty may also be completed under local anaesthesia, however, the eyelids are sensitive and delicate and the use of sedation is a useful adjunct for surgery. For best natural results, eyelid surgery is often combined with other procedures such as fat grafting and skin resurfacing, with these additional procedures, light sedation is generally preferred. General anaesthesia is not a requirement of blepharoplasty and is associated with more recovery and potential side effects can be avoided. Dr De Silva takes time to advise each patient on the best type of anaesthesia for them. His team have pioneered the use of faster recovery sedation, aka twilight anaesthesia in London, UK and has been awarded a patent for their innovative sedation anaesthesia technique.

Upper Blepharoplasty Scar at 6 weeks: All scars are initially slightly pink in colour and lumpy and bumpy in appearance. Over a period of weeks to months, the colour returns to normal and the scar smoothes out. Dr De Silva takes care to hide scars in natural lines and creases and avoid scars wherever possible. Issues with scars are relatively rare and occur in less than 1%. Key is the detail, Dr De Silva does not use dissolvable stitches in this delicate area, as these can result in more visible scars afterwards.

Lower Blepharoplasty at 6 weeks: No scar is visible. Dr De Silva prefers to avoid scars in lower eyelid surgery by hiding the scars and completing the surgery on the inside of the eyelid. There are a small proportion of patients who may not be suitable for this technique however each patient’s surgery must be tailored to the individual to give the best possible natural-looking result.

Increased droopiness of the upper eyelids is a common change with increasing age. It is frequently a result of ageing of the eyelids and increased laxity in the soft tissues. Non-surgical treatment options for droopiness of the upper eyelids include lifestyle changes (healthy sleep, reduced stress), the use of wrinkle injections in the forehead area, limited skin tightening with radiofrequency or laser resurfacing. However non-surgical options are usually of only modest effect with a short and limited improvement. Only a surgical correction will improve the appearance after the changes are more readily apparent.

There is no specific age limit for blepharoplasty. Key to a successful blepharoplasty is your general health and fitness. If you have any underlying medical conditions such as high blood pressure, it is important to check and control with appropriate medication.

An assessment of your general medical health and your specific eyelids is important to ensure safety and to guide surgical planning to obtain the best result. Often there may be additional factors to consider with increasing age, these can include dry eyes, eyelid laxity and droopy eyelids (termed ptosis), which may require additional treatments at the same time of surgery to ensure a successful result.

Blepharoplasty will not correct changes in the skin quality including pigmentation, discolouration or wrinkles. The procedure may be coupled with skin resurfacing techniques, including peels or laser treatments to improve skin quality. The dynamic lines that are seen at the corner of the eyes, often termed crows fee, are a consequence of the activities of the orbicularis oculi muscle underlying the skin. These wrinkles are not affected by blepharoplasty and are best treated with anti-wrinkle injections treatments.

Depending upon your medical history and age, certain medical and laboratory tests may need to be ordered before eyelid surgery. An ECG/EKG or heart tracing is required on men 45 and over and women 55 and over as routine screening. Blood work may need to be performed depending upon individual health history. Women of childbearing age should undergo a pregnancy test the week before the surgery to make sure that they are not pregnant at the same time as undergoing blepharoplasty.

Smoking has a negative impact on surgery by delaying healing and may lead to unsatisfactory results. If you are a smoker you are advised to stop smoking, or at least to cut down on cigarettes for at least one week before eyelid surgery. Smoking slows down the recovery process and it can also increase the risk of complications.

It is important to avoid any medications that thin the blood and encourage bleeding before eyelid surgery. This includes aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E, and any type of herbal supplement. You should stop all vitamins and herbal supplements two weeks prior to surgery.

Choosing the right blepharoplasty surgeon is crucial for achieving the best results. Here are detailed measures to help you select a highly qualified and experienced surgeon:

Key Considerations:

• Board Certification: Ensure the surgeon is board-certified in plastic or facial cosmetic surgery. This certification indicates they have met rigorous standards in training and expertise. Within plastic surgery, Oculo-Plastic Surgeons specialise in eyelids and blepharoplasty, more than general plastic surgeons or ENT Facial plastic surgeons.
• Specialisation: Look for a surgeon who specialises exclusively in facial surgery, as this indicates a deep understanding of facial anatomy and techniques. Facial surgery is a matter of millimetres and body surgery is a matter of centimetres. Dr Julian De Silva, for example, has dedicated over 20 years to specialising in facial procedures
• Experience and Results: Review the surgeon’s portfolio of before-and-after photos to assess their skill and the naturalness of their results. Dr. De Silva has performed thousands of facelifts and has extensive experience in revision surgeries.
• Consultation: Schedule consultations with multiple surgeons to discuss your goals and assess their approach. This will also give you an opportunity to gauge their communication style and bedside manner.
• Patient Reviews and Testimonials: Read reviews and testimonials from previous patients to understand their experiences and satisfaction levels.
• Hospital Affiliations: Check if the surgeon operates in reputable hospitals or clinics with accredited facilities. Dr. De Silva operates in a top-notch state-of-the-art facility, ensuring the highest standards of care.