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Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
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By Mayo Clinic staffBefore scheduling blepharoplasty, you need to meet with a plastic surgeon to discuss whether the procedure is likely to work well for you. This meeting generally includes:
- Your medical history. Your surgeon asks questions about conditions you have or have had. Detailed questions may focus on dry eyes, glaucoma, eye-related allergies and other eye problems. Tell the doctor if you have circulatory problems, thyroid problems, diabetes or other serious medical conditions. Your doctor will also ask about your current medications, including over-the-counter medications. Make sure to tell your doctor about any herbal supplements you take, as some of them — including ginkgo, ginseng, garlic and ginger — may cause bleeding problems.
- A physical examination. Your surgeon conducts a physical examination, which includes testing your vision and tear production. Special tools may be used to measure parts of your eyelids.
- Photographs. Your eyes will be photographed from different angles. These photos help with planning the surgery and assessing its immediate and long-term effects.
- A discussion of your expectations. An honest discussion will help set the stage for a satisfactory outcome. Be prepared to talk about your motivation for seeking blepharoplasty and what you hope the results will be. Your surgeon can tell you whether your expectations are in line with usual results.
Before blepharoplasty, you'll be asked to:
- Stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as well as herbal supplements associated with increased bleeding. It's best not to use these medications and supplements for two weeks before and after surgery. Take only medications approved or prescribed by your surgeon.
- Avoid exposing your skin to excess sunlight for one week before surgery and two to three months after surgery.
- Arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery if you're having outpatient surgery. Plan to have someone stay with you for the first night after surgery.
References
- Kim EJ, et al. Blepharoplasty. In: Lalwani AK. Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw Hill Medical, 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2833075. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Surgery of the eyelids. American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. http://www.aafprs.org/patient/procedures/blepharoplasty.html. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Eyelid surgery for women. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Trussler AP, et al. MOC-PS CME article: Blepharoplasty. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2008;121:1.
