| Patients
must refrain from ingesting medications or substances
which could potentially cause surgical complications.
A list of medications should be reviewed and discontinued
at least two weeks prior to the procedure. Report
any and all infections which arise prior to operation,
however minor they might seem. This is imperative
to avoid infections during surgery. Antibiotics
are prescribed prior to surgery to reduce the
risk of surgical wound infection. You will also
receive prescriptions for antibiotics and pain
medication for after the surgery is completed.
Preoperative
photos will be taken to show your progress. You
will be asked to sign a surgical consent which enumerates the risks of the procedure
in detail. These risks will be explained herein and also at the consultation.
You will need to arrange for
an escort to drive you to and from your procedure.
Patients cannot operate motor vehicles after surgery.
You will need arrange the assistance of someone
for at least 24 hours after surgery. |
Patients are under a local anesthetic with intravenous sedation. You will
not feel the injections of local anesthetic, and you will be very drowsy throughout
the procedure. Continuous monitoring of your vital signs is carried out throughout
the operation.
Excess skin, muscle, and fat are removed. The
skin is then closed with very fine sutures. If
you do not require removal of any skin from the
lower eyelids, the Doctor will remove the bulging
fat pads through a small incision inside the lower
eyelid, leaving no visible scar. This is usually
the case in patients with younger, more elastic
skin, and may be combined with a chemical or laser
skin resurfacing procedure. Occasionally, the
lower eyelid is very lax, and removal of any amount
of skin could result in a pulling down of the
lid, or ectropion. In this circumstance, Doctor
Parker may elect to perform what is called a lateral
canthoplasty. In this procedure, the actual lid
structure is tightened up to the bone of the eye
socket near the outer corner. This may result
in a change in the shape of your eyelid which
can be permanent, and will lengthen your recovery.
There is an additional fee for this procedure
as well.
Following your procedure,
you will be monitored briefly in the recovery room, and you will then be released. |
You will have lubricating ointment placed in your eyes, which may blur your
vision temporarily. You will need to apply light weight ice cold compresses to
your eyes for the first three days. You should avoid using your eyes and try to
get as much rest as possible during the first week after surgery Keep yourself
propped up during sleep or sleep in a reclining chair. Blood pressure needs to
be kept under control. Avoid blinking your eyes, reading, watching television,
or using a computer for the first week. Take this opportunity to catch up on your
sleep and avoid any interruptions which may cause you stress. Swelling
and bruising usually lasts for ten to fourteen days, but makeup can be applied
as a camouflage after the first week. Always use sunglasses, as you may be very
sensitive to light for a while. Avoid contact lenses for a week or so. The eyes
may fatigue easily for several weeks after surgery, due to any residual swelling
in the tissues.
You should avoid strenuous activities such as
bending, lifting, and sports for about six weeks.
Healing is a gradual process and it usually takes
six weeks to three months. Most people return
to work in a week being able to maintain confidentiality
by using concealing makeup. |
Eyelid
surgery
