What does the surgery involve?
Eyelid surgery covers several possible operations, and what yours involves depends on what your surgeon plans to do. Start with the questions to ask and the places to read below.
Upper lids, lower lids and the tissue involved
Ask whether the plan is for the upper lids, the lower lids or both, and what is to be changed in each. Ask what tissue is addressed, such as skin, muscle or fat. A clinical study, Which Tissue Should Be Removed in Upper Blepharoplasty? Analysis and Evaluation of Satisfaction, poses this choice as an open question, which is a good reason to ask your surgeon why they favor their approach.
Pieces of an eyelid surgery plan
- Reason for surgery: appearance, function or both. The reason can affect the plan.
- Which parts of the lid are involved and why.
- What to expect on the day, from anesthesia to leaving.
- Timing: whether waiting is a reasonable choice for you.
The MedlinePlus blepharoplasty series is a plain-language reference that lists why the operation is done. It is a good primer before a consultation.
Turning eyelid reading into consult questions
- Read the encyclopedia series, then write down your questions.
- Ask your surgeon to describe the plan for each eyelid separately.
- Ask what skin care and sun protection they recommend before and after.
Surgeons who explain their eyelid method
Look for a surgeon who can explain why they chose a method, not only what it is. Where the research is mixed, a good answer says so. What your own eyelid plan should include is for your surgeon to advise.