Many people are surprised to learn that eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is annually 1 of the top 5 cosmetic surgical procedures performed in Canada and the U.S. My eyelid surgery patients in Toronto are overwhelmingly satisfied with their outcomes, but I also see women and men who have had the same procedure elsewhere and aren’t happy with the results. Revision, or corrective, eyelid surgery can improve their appearances.
Eyelid surgery is an appealing option for patients who look tired or older than they are because of excess skin around the eyes. This delicate procedure produces dramatic results without the invasiveness of more extensive facial plastic surgery. When performed by an inexperienced plastic surgeon, however, complications can occur, and these can lead to less-than-desirable outcomes.
Eyelid Surgery Explained
Before discussing the reasons for corrective eyelid surgery, it’s important to understand the procedure. Cosmetic eyelid surgery may involve the upper or lower eyelids, or both. In some extreme cases, upper eyelid surgery may be needed because a patient’s vision is partially obstructed. But most people choose blepharoplasty to create a more youthful appearance without changing the shape of the eyelids. As an eyelid surgery specialist, I perform a detailed assessment of the area surrounding the eyes and create a customized surgical plan based on my findings.
Reasons for Revision Surgery
Choosing to undergo a second eyelid surgery is a highly personal decision that should be made only after consulting with a Royal College-certified plastic surgeon. Men and women may be unhappy with the results of a previous surgery for various reasons, including visible scarring or the lack of expected changes.
I also see patients with specific complaints about their Asian eyelid surgery procedures, an operation designed to create a more defined upper eyelid crease. Some men and women return for eyelid surgery simply because the natural aging process has eroded the results of the initial surgery.
It’s important that your eyelids heal completely after the first surgery before scheduling a second blepharoplasty. It can take several weeks or even months for the residual swelling caused by the operation to fully resolve. I recommend waiting at least 6 months before considering eyelid revision or correction.
Extending Eyelid Surgery’s Benefits
If you’ve had revision eyelid surgery and are happy with the outcome, there are certain things you can do to enhance and extend the results. It’s important to be careful when touching the delicate skin of the eyelids in the weeks after your procedure. This is especially true for women when they are applying makeup and moisturizer, as I wrote about in an earlier blog post. The biggest no-no is rubbing or pulling the eyelids.
Many of my patients combine eyelid surgery with BOTOX® Cosmetic injections to reduce frown lines and crow’s feet around the eyes. Dermal fillers injected underneath the eyes can also create a refreshed appearance.
View our photo gallery’s before-and-after pictures to see the positive results of eyelid surgery and get a sense of possibilities available from your own procedure.
If you’re considering revision eyelid surgery, contact us using the online form to request a consultation or call us at either (416) 925-7337 (Toronto) or (905) 743-9888 (Oshawa) to schedule an appointment.
I had upper and lower blepharoplasty in February 2023. The results are very disappointing. My original surgeon has denied any problem; however, my eyes are glaringly uneven. I just want to have this problem resolved by a surgeon who specializes in fixing this problem. I am located near Burlington Ontario so the Toronto office is the closer location. Thank you very much.
Thank you for contacting us. Please call the practice at (416) 925-7337 to schedule a consultation so that we can perform a full assessment.