Dr. Mark Walsh Details Functional and Aesthetic Reasons for Eyelid Surgery

Dr. Mark Walsh of Southwest Florida’s Naples Plastic Surgery will tell you that few patients fully appreciate the benefits of having a blepharoplasty and what it corrects. “Even when told that blepharoplasty is eyelid surgery, many people don’t understand why someone would want or need to have it,” he adds. And yet, it’s the most frequently performed procedure of all facial plastic surgeries, according to the latest American Society of Plastic Surgeons “Procedural Statistics” data.

“Our Naples-area patients primarily seek a blepharoplasty for one of two reasons,” says Dr. Walsh. “For some of our patients, eyelid surgery is an affordable option to subtly refresh the face by correcting signs of aging around the eyes, while others need it to improve vision if impaired by the drooping skin of their eyelids.”

Dr. Walsh notes that the delicate skin around the eyes is often the first area of the face to display visible signs of aging. “As we age, our eyelids stretch, and excess skin and fat accumulation causes them to sag, creating eye bags and circles that make people appear tired no matter their sleep routine,” he says. “For some younger people, drooping eyelids, bags, and circles can start appearing decades before other signs of aging.”

When the skin of the upper eyelids develops enough laxity, it can lead to impairment of one’s vision. This can be considered a functional medical condition..

How Dr. Walsh Performs Blepharoplasty Surgery in Naples

“Our goals with blepharoplasty surgery are to correct impaired vision when needed and to reduce eyelid sagging and drooping and tighten adjacent skin,” says Dr. Walsh. “The procedure may be termed an eyelift because the results make the patient’s eyes look less fatigued and more alert as well as diminish the appearance of unsightly eye bags and circles. However, the procedure is generally less invasive than many other plastic surgeries, consisting of strategically placed incisions, muscle tightening, and removal of excess skin and fat.”

Dr. Walsh says he makes the tiny incisions within the eyelid fold for the upper eyelid and just beneath the lash line or along the inside of the lower lid. “These openings let us access the skin, fat, and muscle tissues and their strategic location within eyelid creases and folds helps hide any noticeable scarring. It is not a complicated surgery, and I can typically complete an upper blepharoplasty in an hour or so when performed as a stand-alone procedure.” Dr. Walsh referred to it as a stand-alone surgery because some patients combine blepharoplasty with their facelifts or brow lifts to enhance their youthful-looking results.

What About Eyelid Surgery Pain, Recovery, and Downtime?

When asked about the pain and discomfort of eyelid surgery, Dr. Walsh notes that for upper blepharoplasty, the surgery can be conducted under local anesthesia alone or combined with oral sedation, which minimizes potential pain from the incisions and tissue extraction. “Many of my blepharoplasty patients say that the initial anesthesia injection is the worst part of the procedure,” he says, adding that pain during recovery is easily controlled with over-the-counter acetaminophen. “However, there’s nothing much patients can do to address other post-operative symptoms except wait them out. I tell my patients that they’ll likely experience instances of double vision, light sensitivity, eye-watering, and blurriness for a day or two after their surgery. This is normal and is not generally concerning. All patients are seen the day after surgery, but a patient should definitely contact me if these after-effects haven’t started to subside by day three. I also tell my patients that swelling and bruising around the eyes should start to diminish within four to seven days. And as it does, they’ll start to notice the aesthetic results, with their eyes looking more refreshed, alert, and younger.”

As for downtime, Dr. Walsh says patients who only have surgery on the upper eyelids should expect functional recovery in one to two weeks, while those who undergo upper and lower eyelid surgery typically need a slightly longer amount of downtime. “The crucial factor in ensuring a smooth recovery and optimal surgical results is to follow our detailed aftercare instructions.” These include the following:

• Application of cold compresses to the eyes as directed for the first 24 hours.
• Periodic application of eye drops and/or ointments as directed.
• Refrain from strenuous exercise or vigorous activities for at least a week.
• Sleep and rest with the head elevated.
• Wear sunglasses when outside to protect the eyes from sunlight and wind.
• Do not use contact lenses for up to two weeks.
• Do not apply makeup or creams to the eye area for at least two weeks.
• No rubbing the eyes.
• No smoking.

Contact Naples Plastic Surgery to Consult with Dr. Walsh About Your Eyelid Surgery

Dr. Walsh is proud that Naples Plastic Surgery has garnered a stellar reputation in Southwest Florida for its blepharoplasty expertise. “We are the go-to surgeons for men or women in the Naples area seeking eyelid surgery excellence,” he concludes. To schedule your blepharoplasty consultation with Dr. Walsh, contact Naples Plastic Surgery at 239.566.2611.