DEFINITION, AIMS AND PRINCIPLES

‘Blepharoplasties’ means aesthetic surgical procedures of the eyelids aiming to correct unsightly aspects, whether due to heredity or age. They can be performed on the upper or lower eyelids alone, or all four at the same time. This technique may be carried out alone or in association with other cosmetic facial surgery (brow-lift, forehead-lift, faceand neck-lift) or with techniques such as laser resurfacing, dermabrasion or chemical peels. The goal of a blepharoplasty is to correct signs of aging and remove the tired look due to the heavy eyelids by a more rested, relaxed appearance.

The unsightly aspects most commonly found are the following: Drooping heavy upper eyelids, with a more or less marked skin-fold. Lower eyelids which have drooped and shrunk, leading to horizontal wrinkles due to distended skin. Bulging fat, responsible for ‘bags under the eyes’ at the lower eyelid level, or sagging upper eyelids The procedure aims to correct these problems durably by surgical removal of excess skin, fat and muscle, without of course affecting the normal functions of the eyelids. This procedure, for both men and women, is often carried out around the age of forty. It can however be done much earlier where the problem is congenital rather than age-related, for example in the case of bags under the eyes.