Process, risks and costs of the cosmetic surgery

Drooping eyelids are usually operated on for aesthetic reasons. In some cases, however, the operation may also be necessary from a medical point of view. Find out here when an operation on the drooping eyelids makes sense and how it works.

What are drooping eyelids and eye bags?

“You look tired” – some people hear this sentence more often. With age, the tissue on the eye sagging, suddenly there is too much skin. On the upper eyelid it is called “drooping eyelid”, on the lower eyelid “tear bag”. The excess skin on the eyes makes the face look tired, tired or sad. Sometimes younger people are also affected. Because the eyelid deformity is difficult to conceal, some people think about an operation to get rid of drooping eyelids or bags. The operation is known in medical circles as blepharoplasty.

Which clinic for the drooping eyelid surgery?

Care should be taken when looking for a clinic. “Every doctor can call himself a cosmetic surgeon or cosmetic surgeon,” warns Daniela Hubloher from the Hessen Consumer Center. But only with specialists in plastic and aesthetic surgery or with specialized ophthalmologists is a patient with a desire to correct eyelids in good hands. Patients should also inquire how often the surgeon has performed the procedure.

Serious medical specialists take a lot of time for advice and provide comprehensive information about possible complications. “The patient shows what is actually bothering him about his eyelids,” says Prof. Christoph Hintschich from the eye clinic of the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich. He is an ophthalmoplastic surgeon, i.e. a specialist for surgical treatments or laser therapies for the eye. This is how a consultation begins. However, some patients express such unrealistic ideas that they should be advised against an operation. The doctor cannot guarantee that the patient is really satisfied with the result.

Schlupflid-Op: two procedures

The operation is performed using a scalpel or a laser. The procedure takes place with local anesthesia, an inpatient stay is generally not necessary. If desired, the patient can be put into a kind of twilight sleep.

The doctor discusses which surgical procedure is used for upper eyelid surgery with the patient. The surgeon marks the area to be treated and places the incision either with the scalpel or with the laser in the eyelid groove or on the lower eyelid below the eyelashes or in the conjunctiva. First, excess skin as well as muscle and fat tissue are removed. Then the skin is tightened and a suture is made. If the eyebrows have dropped in the course of the aging process, the doctor can “lift” a little here.

Possible complications der Schlupflid-OP

It is also important to be aware of what can go wrong. Possible complications are:

• Temporary swelling
• Bruises
• Bleeding and infections in the eye socket
• Deterioration of vision
• in rare cases blindness

“The intervention is precision work,” explains Torsten Kantelhardt. The specialist from Rottach-Egern is President of the German Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. If too much skin is removed, the eye can no longer be closed properly. Because the tear film is no longer evenly distributed in the eye, there is a risk that the cornea and conjunctiva will dry out. Visible scars can also result from eyelid surgery or asymmetry with a drooping eyelid.

After the droopy eyelid surgery: What needs to be considered?

After the procedure, the operated area is cooled and a pressure bandage is applied. Patients should sleep with their torso slightly elevated for the first two weeks and avoid physical exertion. The threads can be removed after seven to nine days. The patient then massages a low dose Cortisoneanoint in the operated area to support the healing process.

What does the drooping eyelid removal cost?

According to Hintschich, the operating costs for an upper eyelid correction are on average around 2,000 euros, for a lower eyelid correction up to 2,300 euros. The health insurance companies only contribute to the costs if the intervention takes place for medical reasons.

Drooping eyelid correction: aesthetic reasons

“Eyelid surgery is often desired for purely aesthetic reasons,” says Hintschich. Patients hope for a fresher look from the procedure. “But in advance, the treating doctor has to explain to the patient very precisely what is possible and what is not,” he adds.

When is an operation on the drooping eyelids medically necessary?

Eyelid surgery may also be necessary from a medical point of view. This is the case, for example, when sagging skin overhangs from the upper eyelid in such a way that the patient’s field of vision is impaired and he can no longer see properly. A visual field examination at the ophthalmologist shows whether this is the case. Misaligned eyelids can also reduce visual acuity. “If the edge of the eyelid does not touch the surface of the eye, the surface of the cornea is not adequately wetted with tear fluid,” explains Hintschich. Then the eyes are more sensitive to glare.

Causes of drooping eyelids

Mostly, drooping eyelids develop with advancing age and thus represent a natural process. But they can also be genetic or due to an unhealthy lifestyle (alcohol, smoking, Stress, Lack of sleep).

An eyelid can also be the cause of drooping eyelids

“Before a possible Operation there is a thorough ophthalmological examination, “explains Torsten Kantelhardt. The specialist from Rottach-Egern is President of the German Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. It also has to be clarified whether the eyelid misalignments may be due to an undetected one thyroiddisease.

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