Eye bag surgery can be done if you want to get rid of eye bags and wrinkles around the eyes. However, before deciding to undergo eye bag surgery, first find out how the procedure, preparation, and recovery are, and how much does it cost.
Eye bags are a condition when the lower eyelid swells, sags, and looks puffy. These eye bags can form due to the accumulation of fat or fluid in the eyelids, so the eyes look slightly swollen.
This is caused by the weakening of the tissues and muscles around the eyes. The main trigger is aging, but it can also be due to heredity, smoking habits, allergies, lack of sleep, or frequent consumption of salty foods.
There are many ways to get rid of eye bags. The easiest and cheapest are simple treatments that can be done at home, such as eye compresses and getting enough sleep. But if the eye bags are too big, interfere with appearance, or block the view, eye bag surgery can be the solution. That is if you are prepared to spend more.
About Information Eye Bag Surgery
In the medical world, eye bags or eyelid surgery is called blepharoplasty. This plastic surgery procedure aims to improve the shape and structure of the lower or upper eyelids. As a result, the eyes that were swollen and looked saggy will look firmer.
Interested in having eye bag surgery? Here are some things you need to know:
1. The cost of eye bag surgery
The cost of performing eyelid surgery varies, depending on the hospital that performs it. In some hospitals in Indonesia, the cost of this procedure ranges from 12 million to more than 25 million rupiah.
2. Preparation before eye bag surgery
Before undergoing eye bag surgery, there are several things you need to prepare, namely:
- Choose a plastic surgeon who is experienced in performing surgical procedures blepharoplasty.
- Maintain a healthy body condition overall.
- Keeping the tissues and muscles around the eyes in good condition, and ensuring that there are no serious eye conditions.
- Do not smoke for at least 3-4 weeks before surgery.
- Stop taking certain medications, such as blood-thinning medications or certain herbal supplements, before undergoing eye bag surgery.
- Make plans to take a few days off because you need to rest after surgery.
Before surgery, you will usually need a consultation session with your doctor to determine if you need to have eye bag surgery and when it can be done.
During the examination, the doctor will usually ask several things, including information about your medical history and medications you are currently taking and the reason why you want to have eye bag surgery.
After that, the doctor will perform a thorough physical examination, including an eye examination by an ophthalmologist.
When consulting, make sure you understand clear and detailed information about the benefits and risks of side effects from the surgery that will be performed by the doctor. Similarly, some instructions that need to be done before and after surgery.
3. Eye bag surgery procedure
After the surgery schedule is determined, you will be notified by the doctor when you need to go to the hospital and whether you need to stay in the hospital. The eye bag surgery procedures, namely:
- You will be asked to come to the hospital to prepare for surgery.
- Before the surgery begins, the doctor will give anesthesia or local anesthetic around the eye.
- Once the anesthetic has started to work, the doctor will then make an incision just under the eyelashes or on the inside of the lower eyelid.
- Excess skin and fat on the eyelids are cut and removed.
- After the surgery is complete, the surgical wound will be sutured. The stitches will usually be removed a week later.
The estimated time for eye bag surgery is about 1-2 hours. Usually the patient will be allowed to go home on the same day. However, sometimes it is possible to perform eye bag surgery under general anaesthesia.
If performed under general anaesthesia, recovery time and hospital observation may be longer than eye bag surgery that uses local anesthesia in the eye.
4. Postoperative recovery and care
To help the recovery process after eye bag surgery, there are several things you should do, namely:
- Support or elevate the head with a pillow while sleeping for several days.
- Clean the eyelids slowly and use ointment or eye drops that have been prescribed by a doctor.
- Compress the eye with a cold compress to reduce pain and swelling.
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun and wind.
- Take pain medication to relieve pain. Your doctor can give you pain relievers, such as ketorolac, ibuprofen, and celecoxib.
- Do not do strenuous activities and swim for a few days.
- Do not smoke.
- Do not use contact lenses or rub your eyes.
The final results of surgery will usually be seen within a few weeks after surgery. But remember, surgical incisions take at least a year to completely heal. You should also see the surgeon again for regular follow-up checks after surgery.
Generally, eye bag surgery does not need repetition. However, your eyes will still experience aging over time and your eye bags may return.
5. Complications of eye bag surgery
After eye bag surgery, there may be various complaints around the eyes. This common condition usually resolves within 2 weeks. Some of these complaints are:
- Mild pain in the eyelids.
- Bruising and swelling around the eyes.
- Numbness around the eyes.
- Eyes feel dry or watery.
- Vision looks blurry or ghosted.
- Eye irritation.
- The eyes become more sensitive to light.
However, immediately go to the doctor if after undergoing eye bag surgery you experience some of the following complications:
- Blurred or double vision.
- The eyes look asymmetrical.
- There is a blood clot under the eye skin.
- Scar tissue or keloid appears.
- The eye muscles are injured, a sign if the eyelids are difficult to open or close.
- The eyelids are folded outward, so that the space between the eye and the eyelid appears (ectropion).
- Excessive bleeding.
- Infection.
- Reactions to the anesthetic, for example dizziness, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and severe headache that do not go away after surgery.
Given that eye bag surgery costs a lot of money and has some risks and complications, you can consider other treatment options to disguise eye bags.
The treatment can be in the form of eye skin treatment using laser, chemical peel, or filler. You can get information about this treatment by consulting an ophthalmologist.
