Changing the shape and shape of the eyes: basic methods of plastic surgery

Blepharoplasty, also known as plastic eye surgery, is one of the most inexpensive and easiest operations in aesthetic surgery. At the same time, this intervention can smooth out the most obvious signs of aging – drooping and swelling in the eyelid area. During the operation, which also takes no more than an hour and a half, fatty hernias, which we usually call “bags” under the eyes, are carefully removed, excess skin is excised, and the problem of bruises under the eyes is eliminated. And if before the operation the patient still looked at the world “from under his brows” under the weight of swelling of the upper and lower eyelids, then at the end his gaze becomes open, youthfully “upturned” and fresh.

Limited eye plastic surgery

And, contrary to popular skepticism, the natural shape of the eyes after blepharoplasty does not change, they do not become artificially stretched, as, for example, in Jocelyn Wildenstein. To achieve such a result, you need to at least exceed the “limit” of plastic surgeries allowed to a person, and in general there should be no more than four of them. How many of them Jocelyn had is unknown, but she clearly went far beyond what was permitted, spending more than $4 million on her appearance.

In general, plastic surgeons say that during the operation the eyes lengthen by literally 1-2 mm; these changes, as a rule, are not even noticed by the patients themselves. But if you constantly tighten them and increase their size by 1 cm, then they will inevitably begin to give away all the secrets that have been so diligently hidden.

But at the same time, experts immediately emphasize that the effect of eye plastic surgery lasts only for 5-7 years. Therefore, the majority of patients here are people over 35 years old with visible age-related deformations that cause significant discomfort to a person.

Another important point: blepharoplasty does not smooth out wrinkles in the corners of the eyes, also called “crow’s feet.” For these purposes, there are now various injections - from botulinum toxin to more natural vitamin cocktails based on hyaluronic acid. Today this is the easiest, fastest and most painless way to get rid of fine wrinkles, not only around the eyes, but also on the forehead, in the nasolabial fold, between the eyebrows, etc.

Age-related changes are not the only indication for plastic surgery for the eyes

However, age as an indication for blepharoplasty is a rather relative criterion, since often young people who require plastic surgery for the eyes against the background of premature manifestations of signs of aging in this area turn to plastic surgeons. Early aging of this zone may be due to the following reasons:

genetic predisposition to rapid aging or the formation of “bags” under the eyes;
liver and kidney diseases;
“unhealthy” lifestyle: eating too salty foods, drinking alcohol, smoking, etc.
bad cosmetic habits, such as stretching the skin when applying creams, the habit of not washing off makeup, lack of proper cosmetic care, etc.

If a young patient does not require removal of excess skin, the surgeon will prefer modern eye plastic surgery - transconjunctival blepharoplasty. This technique is the most non-traumatic and does not even require sutures. The only thing is that in this way it is possible to remove only fatty deposits (bags under the eyes) in the area of the upper and lower eyelids, without excision of other tissues.

To carry out the manipulations, the plastic surgeon turns the eyelid inside out, makes a millimeter puncture on its inner side, which is called the conjunctiva, and through it removes fatty hernias, which are the cause of the formation of “bags” under the eyes. The puncture located on the mucous membrane is healed soon after the operation without any additional interventions, since the tissue here regenerates especially quickly. Typically, after such an operation, the patient is discharged 1-1.5 hours after the intervention.

What to choose: laser or scalpel

Today, blepharoplasty is possible in two ways:

Laser . Incisions during correction are made with a laser beam;
Scalpel . The traditional method is when the doctor makes an incision using a scalpel.

The difference between these methods is not fundamental for the surgeon, but is significant for the patient. Incisions made with a laser are thinner, which reduces trauma. When the vessels are cut with a beam, their edges are immediately “sealed,” which eliminates the occurrence of hematomas or bleeding. The rehabilitation period with this method is much shorter, the appearance of scars and cicatrices is practically excluded. Due to the bactericidal effect of the laser, the possibility of infectious infection is reduced to zero. Transconjunctival laser eyelid correction is performed only on young patients whose skin is elastic, mainly blepharoplasty for medical reasons. This method is not used to remove excess skin.

Types of plastic surgery eye correction operations

All interventions in plastic surgery on the eyes last no more than an hour and a half. They are performed either under general anesthesia (preferably for circular blepharoplasty), or under local anesthesia based on adrenaline and 1-2 lidocaine solutions. The patient must remain in the clinic for two hours after surgery to avoid complications.

Sutures after plastic surgery of the eyes are removed on the 3-4th day - in the case of classical blepharoplasty, but if the operation was performed transconjunctivally, then they are not applied at all.

After blepharoplasty, bruising and some swelling may persist around the eyes for 1-2 weeks. In general, this is a normal phenomenon - you just need to wait it out.

Plastic surgery of the upper eyelid

Involves eye correction in the upper eyelid area. As a result, “heavy” overhang is eliminated and excess skin is removed. For manipulation, the plastic surgeon makes an incision in the area of the natural fold located in the area of the upper eyelid, after which he removes the excess flap of skin, and, giving himself access to the fatty tissues, he removes them too. The incision is sutured here with an internal seam and special thin threads. As a result, after 1-2 months the scar becomes completely invisible even to the patient himself.

What can replace canthoplasty?

Correct application of makeup . This method is the safest, harmless and accessible in order to give expressiveness to the look.

Blepharoplasty of eyelids. Represents the elimination of fatty formations and excess skin on the eyelids.
Thread lifting . During this method, special threads are inserted into the dermis through thin punctures;
Hardware plasma lifting. It involves tightening problem skin using a pad cuff or plasma liner.

It is worth noting that representatives of the Asian age prefer to do Singapore, this is a correction of the upper eyelid, which allows you to form a decorative fold, due to which the appearance acquires European features.

Plastic surgery of the lower eyelid and removal of bruises and bags under the eyes

With blepharoplasty on the lower eyelid, an incision is made 1-2 millimeters below the eyelash line. During the operation, the surgeon first trims off some of the excess skin, after which he opens and removes tissue from the fat sacs, which are fat hernias. Sometimes lower blepharoplasty, on the contrary, does not eliminate fat deposits, but adds a little, distributing them evenly over the “lower” zone.

After this, internal sutures are applied, which, as in the first case, after about 1-2 months completely fade and become completely invisible.

Differences from canthopexy and blepharoplasty

Unlike canthopexy, canthoplasty not only tightens and fixes tendons and muscle fibers, but also separates them from the bone. Ligaments are also partially removed. The latter is carried out not only for cosmetic reasons, but also for medical reasons.

The difference between canthoplasty and blepharoplasty is the removal of excess fat and skin. In the first version of the operation, only the excess amount of skin in the area of the outer corner is resected, while blepharoplasty eliminates both fat and skin deposits in the eye area.

Plastic surgery of the eye incision

This eye plastic surgery is most popular among people of Asian appearance. The intervention, which is also called canthoplasty, allows you to transform the single fold of the upper eyelid, which is characteristic of the Asian population, into a double fold, similar to the one we have. During the operation of plastic surgery of the eye incision, the epicanthus (a characteristic overhang of the skin fold in the inner corner of the eye) is eliminated with the simultaneous formation of a double crescent fold. Excess fat deposits around the eyes are also removed.

But Asian appearance is not the only indication for eye plastic surgery, that is, in addition to correcting the folds of the upper eyelid. This intervention can correct the shape of the eyes, their shape, and tighten their drooping outer corners. Canthoplasty is no more traumatic than other types of blepharoplasty.

Reviews about canthoplasty

Alina, 24 years old

Unfortunately, I have been unlucky since birth. I'm goggle-eyed, just like my father. They laughed at me at school, my parents spent a long time looking for the cause in the thyroid gland, but everything was fine with it. You won’t believe it, but I almost don’t even have photos from childhood, I didn’t love myself so much. At the age of 20 I decided to have surgery. The prices for canthoplasty were, to put it mildly, rather high, but it was really hot, my parents helped. The anesthesia was thermonuclear, so I can’t say anything about the progress of the operation. The rehabilitation was successful, I spent a couple of days in the clinic. The changes were noticeable literally within a week, I was shocked. If there is such an opportunity, do not suffer, make a correction.

Recovery period after eye plastic surgery

On average, the recovery period takes from 2 to 6 weeks. People who do not smoke and strictly follow all postoperative recommendations of the surgeon can count on the minimum terms:

for 7-10 days the patient should wear tinted glasses;
for about 10-14 days you need to stop wearing contact lenses in favor of glasses;
avoid physical exertion, sudden movements, bending, etc., as this can cause rupture of the seams;
You need to avoid cosmetic procedures for at least a month;
Makeup is allowed only 10 days after surgery.

Contraindications to plastic surgery on the eyes

cardiovascular diseases;
colds and infectious diseases;
oncology;
diabetes;
respiratory failure;
liver and kidney diseases;
chronic diseases in the acute stage;
thyroid diseases;
mental disorders;
blood clotting disorder;
pregnancy and lactation

To identify factors that impede plastic surgery on the eyes, the following tests are performed:

general blood analysis;
blood for coagulogram;
blood chemistry;
cardiologist's report based on ECG;
endocrinologist's conclusion;
ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
blood test for HIV;
visiting a psychologist.

Price for eye plastic surgery

In recent years, prices for plastic surgery have dropped significantly. This is mainly due to the technologization of this area, but not to a decrease in the quality of services provided. Previously, plastic surgeons operated mainly with only one scalpel and using outdated techniques, making large and deep incisions that left quite noticeable scars. Today, these techniques are replaced by more affordable high-tech techniques that allow any surgical intervention to be carried out quickly and minimally invasively. Due to this, the price of plastic surgery has become more affordable for ordinary people. And, for example, today blepharoplasty can be done for 250 - 300 USD. e., whereas 10 years ago the price for plastic surgery of the lower and upper eyelids exceeded 1000 USD. e.

Useful video

Watch the video about how blepharoplasty for eye enlargement is performed: