Our eyes reveal so much about us, it’s hardly surprising they are referred to as “the windows to the soul.” However, the natural ageing process, which may be slowed but cannot be stemmed, will all too often demonstrate its signs first on the eyes! With age, the natural elasticity of the skin decreases, and our thin eyelid skin becomes dehydrated, inelastic, and wrinkled. The underlying muscles weaken and sag, and the lower fat pockets herniate and become more prominent around the eye area. Thus, the skin of the upper or lower eyelids will loosen and sag, looking creased, often along with some bulging or herniation of fat of the lower lids – the classic “bags under eyes” appearance.

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is one of the most popular and commonly requested surgical procedures to transform and rejuvenate the face - in men and women. A blepharoplasty is very effective in eliminating the early signs of ageing and helps you look and feel more youthful and alert again. Those who look and feel fresh again will act younger and, due to the law of reciprocity, will invariably be treated as young again.

Experienced plastic and oculoplastic surgeons are best placed to perform this kind of surgery. Dr Rozina Ali, a highly qualified aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon in UK, has advanced experience in all aspects of aesthetics as well as both surgical and non-surgical facial aesthetics. In this article, Dr Ali shares with us her best practices and insights on blepharoplasty, as well as the key benefits of upper and lower eyelids surgery, as it retains its popularity as the first line of defence among both women and men.

Why Should You Get a Blepharoplasty?

Eyelid surgery is not only about feeling beautiful and young. It can treat various symptoms of having a stressful lifestyle. The weight of excess skin makes you look sleepy, tired or disinterested and makes peripheral vision and night driving difficult. Frown lines develop as you strain your forehead muscles to keep your eyelids /eyebrows raised- it’s exhausting and can lead to neck spasms and headaches.

As a minimally invasive surgery, blepharoplasty can be conducted as a local anaesthetic, day-case procedure on an outpatient basis. Those struggling with excess skin and prominent under-eye bags, regardless of their age, can benefit from this kind of facial aesthetic procedure.

Below is an example of a 57 yr old lady, who has undergone a lower lid blepharoplasty.

Below is an example of a 48 yr old lady, with upper lid blepharoplasty.

Key Benefits of Undergoing a Blepharoplasty procedure

According to Dr Ali, the most sought-after benefits of blepharoplasty surgery are:

Fresh and youthful appearance of the upper face. Smooth forehead, excess skin is removed, bulging fat is removed, eyebrows are lowered back to a youthful position. Less arched and flatter.

Unfortunately, excess, sagging eyelid skin is considered to be a major sign of ageing, the most common reason people seek upper eyelid surgery, also called upper blepharoplasty, is to restore a fresh and youthful appearance. So they are no longer overlooked for promotion or dismissed as aged!

Over time, the thin, delicate skin, less than 0.5mm in thickness of our upper eyelid, starts losing elastin and collagen: natural proteins that make the skin firm and elastic. When this happens, the skin can’t withstand gravity, so it sags and droops, it gets dry and dehydrated, and it gets wrinkly. For those with a genetic predisposition, it can be a serious problem which can cause discomfort early on and get worse as they get older.

Improved field of vision

People with sagging, heavy upper eyelids usually have a more pronounced droop of their eyelids due to the weight of the skin, especially the lateral edges. In extreme cases, the drooping can become so severe as to restrict the eye’s field of vision. Through blepharoplasty, the surgeon will remove the excess eyelid tissue and restore the field of vision while assuring the results align with the patient's eye and facial architecture.

Long-time results with minimal scarring

Upper eyelid surgery is different from other skin-reducing plastic treatments available. While it is true that blepharoplasty will not stop the ageing process of the skin - because nothing really can :) - its results will last five to seven years or maybe re-operated on through the same scars. Most people declared that their confidence improved after the surgery, so it definitely is rewarding.

Whatever your reasons for seeking blepharoplasty, you’ll see the best results with a highly qualified surgeon. Rozina Ali is a highly trained professional who performs various facial aesthetic procedures, from facelifts to brow lifts. Her dedication and excellent attention to detail are well known. Her humour and personality will transform any surgical experience into a worthwhile and unique experience established on your individual needs.

Book an appointment!