The eye area is an aesthetically important region. Accordingly, excess skin of the upper eyelids, also called drooping eyelids, can give a very tired impression. The excess skin can be familial or mostly age-related and is caused by a progressive slackening of the connective tissue.
In the case of very pronounced excess skin, even the field of vision can be restricted. An upper eyelid lift can restore a fresh, alert and youthful appearance.
What are the methods for upper eyelid lifting?
The incision is made just below the natural crease of the eyelid and the excess skin is surgically removed accordingly.
If there is a clearly visible fat pad in the inner eye area, the eye socket can be opened and the fatty tissue either redistributed or sparingly removed.
No change is usually made to the eye muscle itself. The scar is hardly visible after about 3 months.
How is the operation performed?
The operation is usually performed on an outpatient basis. The operation can be performed under local anaesthesia, twilight sleep or general anaesthesia and is determined individually in the consultation according to the patient’s wishes and the extent of the operation.
What do I have to consider before the operation?
If you smoke, you must abstain from nicotine for a fortnight before and after the operation. This improves the oxygen supply to the skin, accelerates wound healing and the scar heals more beautifully. You should also refrain from taking blood-thinning painkillers such as aspirin or Brufen and high-dose vitamin E for about 10 days before the operation. On the day of the operation, patients must refrain from cosmetics and creams.
Can an upper eyelid lift be combined with other operations (treatments)?
In the case of drooping eyebrows, it is recommended to perform an eyebrow lift at the same time. This can be performed either via the same access as for the upper eyelid lift or via a separate incision either directly above the eyebrow (so-called direct eyebrow lift) or indirectly (so-called endoscopic eyebrow lift) with small incisions in the hair area.
In the case of hollow eyes, a simultaneous autologous fat treatment can be performed to restore the volume accordingly. Furthermore, the upper eyelid lift can be combined with other facial procedures (e.g. nose correction, lower eyelid lift, face and neck lift, eyebrow lift).
Are there alternative, non-surgical treatments for upper eyelid lift?
In the case of discreet excess skin, eyelid lifting can be performed using a radiofrequency microneedling treatment. Other alternative options for eyelid lifting are laser treatments (e.g. CO2 laser) or plasma pen. However, the results of these methods are not comparable with a surgical upper eyelid lift and are less recommendable.
What are the risks of an upper eyelid lift?
As a rule, the risks of an upper eyelid lift are manageable and uncomplicated. Possible rare complications are bruising, infections, post-operative bleeding, outward tilting of the eyelid in the case of excessive skin removal or a feeling of dryness of the eyes.
Is an upper eyelid lift painful?
The upper eyelid lift is a pure soft tissue operation and therefore hardly painful. Paracetamol is usually sufficient for the first few days after the operation.
What do I have to keep in mind after the operation?
The eyelid must be cooled immediately after the operation. This will prevent any swelling or bruising. For further reduction of swelling, the upper body should be elevated for the first few days and also at night. Arnica can be taken for 7 days as a supplement to reduce swelling.
For 5 days you should use moisturising eye drops, thread removal is done after 5 and 7 days. Then you are usually socially acceptable and you can also apply make-up. Afterwards, I recommend regular scar care and sun protection SPF 50. If you are a lens wearer, you can wear your lenses again after 2-3 weeks without any problems.
When will I see the result of the upper eyelid lift and is the result permanent?
A first result is visible immediately after the operation, the swelling and redness will have subsided after about a week. The final result will then be visible after about 6-12 weeks.
What are the costs for an upper eyelid lift?
As the procedure is often an aesthetic treatment, health insurance companies do not usually cover the applications. An exact cost estimate can only be provided after a personal consultation.
If there is a significant restriction of the visual field, an ophthalmological examination may be advisable in order to submit an appropriate request for reimbursement.