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Drooping eyelids are an early sign of advancing years. Blepharoplasty, or Eyelid Surgery, is fast becoming a popular among older people who do not want to lose the charms of their good looks to old age.

Eyelid surgery, to 'lift' eyelids can add shape to the eyes, and assist in the removal of under-eye bags. Wrinkles however are an issue that cannot be addressed by this procedure, as are crows' feet. To remove those, Botox treatments are required.

Drooping upper eyelids and swollen or puffy lower lids are often a hereditary characteristic that is visible in both men and woman. As a person ages, however, the skin around the eyes thins and stretches and does not remain taut as before. Age also causes the muscles in the area around the eyes to weaken, and the fat surrounding the eyeball shifts forward leading to eyelids that appear saggy.

The movement of a fat pad, detached from the bone of the lower eye, cause puffiness in the lower eye because it starts sagging. Hooding over the eyes is a result of drooping eyelids which occur as lids get heavier in older people.

If this is the situation you find yourself is, and you are weighing the possibility of a surgical procedure to lift your eyes, you should know what to expect and what you have to undergo.

The surgery is a simple procedure. While carrying out the operation, the patient may be under general anesthesia or conscious sedation, often referred to as twilight anesthesia. Under the latter condition, the patient remains under anesthesia but in a conscious state for the duration of the surgery. Although it sounds like daunting prospect, it isn't in actuality. A patient having eyelid surgery will probably be admitted only as a day patient, and will not be kept overnight after the surgery.

Lower Eyelid

The eyelid lift can be performed in a variety of ways, but there is one most preferred method of lower lid surgery. An incision is made along the lower lashes and under them. The skin and muscles under the lid are lifted to remove some amount of fat from the area. Trimming of skin and muscles reduces the puffiness around that area.

In case of only lower lid surgery, the surgery will not leave any scarring as the fat can be removed directly form the inside of the eyes to reduce bags and swelling.

Upper eyelid

Upper eyelid surgery is carried out by a procedure by which the surgeon makes his incision along the natural fold of the upper eyelid. The cut takes the natural shape of the eyelids. Once the lower part of the lid skin is marked, it is trimmed away along with excess skin from the upper edge. Fat deposits and muscles may also be trimmed to add more sharpness to the shape of the eyelid. The incision is stitched together such that the scar left by it is hidden in the natural eyelid crease.

The whole procedure doesn't take more than three hours under normal circumstances. In most cases the patients are discharged from the hospital the same day as the surgery without any pressure on an overnight stay.