Blepharoplasty

(Eyelid Surgery)

The thin, delicate skin around the eye area can quickly show the effects of the sun, ageing and lifestyle.

Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) , works to address concerns like loose, sagging skin and wrinkles. Blepharoplasty aids in the appearance of the upper eyelids, lower eyelids or both, and to the surrounding area of your eyes.

Dr Lim is experienced in facial plastic surgery and is known for creating a naturally tighter appearance. During your consultation, Dr Lim will discuss all your options, as it is possible to combine blepharoplasty with other procedures, such as a browplasty (brow lift).

While eyelid surgery can be expected to address certain conditions permanently, you will continue to age naturally. Lifelong sun protection will help to maintain your results.

Following the procedure, you will have fine stitches in your upper and/or lower eyelid. The ends of these will be secured to your face with surgical tapes, which must not be removed. These stitches require no special care except to keep them dry after showering or washing your face.

Initial healing may include some swelling, bruising, irritation or dry eyes and discomfort that can be controlled with medication, cold compresses and ointment. Your final results will appear within several weeks, but it may take longer for your incision lines to fully refine.

Dr Lim will do his best to minimise scarring, and the surgical method and required incision will be discussed with you in the consultation process.

Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery) is individually customised to each patient depending on their personal requirements — during the consultation period, Dr Lim will take you through all available options and possible outcomes.

The procedure involves removing sagging skin, creating a naturally tighter appearance. Dr. Lim will mark the area of the eyelid to be concentrated on. Excess skin or fatty tissue may be removed to aid in the appearance of the eyelid.

Blepharoplasty is performed under general anaesthetic in an accredited hospital. For lower eyelid surgery, you will be required to stay in hospital overnight. Dr Lim will review you post-operatively and give you specific instructions on how to care for your eyes. He will prescribe analgesia, antibiotics and ointments that will aid healing and reduce the potential for infection and bruising.

My Klinik staff will stay in touch with you after the procedure, monitor your progress and answer any questions or concerns as they arise. You’ll have reviews with Dr Lim one week, one month and three months after surgery.

Our goal is to make your experience as supportive as possible — Dr Lim and the My Klinik staff are always willing to answer any questions you may have.

Dr Lim’s 2023 Face and Neck lift Guide

Face & Neck Guide
Face & Neck Guide

Pre and Post-Operative Care

  • You must fast prior to your procedure — do not eat, drink (even water) or chew anything for at least six hours before your procedure. The hospital will ring you the day before your procedure to confirm your admission time.
  • If you have a gastric band or sleeve, you will need to have a fluid diet the day before your surgery and fast for at least eight hours on the day of your procedure.
  • Notify Dr Lim of any medications that you are currently taking.
  • Do not take any medication that contains aspirin, or any anti-inflammatory or herbal medication for two weeks before your procedure. Aspirin thins the blood, which can result in unnecessary blood loss during your procedure.
  • Do not smoke for four weeks before and four weeks after your procedure. Smoking decreases blood flow to the skin and may delay the healing process or increase the risk of blindness.
  • Do not drink any alcohol for two days before and two days after your procedure as it can interfere with the anaesthetic you will be given on the day.
  • Vitamin C may help reduce your healing time and is recommended for two weeks before and two weeks after surgery.
  • Do not wear any nail polish, make-up or jewellery to the hospital and leave any valuables at home.
  • You will need to wear comfortable, loose clothing that does not need to be pulled over the head or face before and after surgery. It is also recommended that you wear comfortable (not form fitting) sunglasses for your journey home.
  • On the day of your surgery, please do not apply any cream or lotion to your face.
  • Dr Lim will normally visit you in the hospital after your procedure. Dr Lim will also be in contact with the nursing staff during your stay. You should be discharged the day of your surgery. For lower eyelid surgery, you will be required to stay in hospital overnight.
  • General anaesthetic can take a few days to recover from — it can be quite normal to feel a little slow or out of sorts for a few days.
  • Following the procedure, you will have fine stitches in your upper and/or lower eyelid. The ends of these will be secured to your face with surgical tapes, which must not be removed. These stitches require no special care except to keep them dry after showering or washing your face.
  • Dr Lim will remove your stitches at your one-week post-op review. Eye make-up may be worn after the stitches have been removed.
  • Some swelling and bruising is normal and no cause for alarm — it may take a few weeks for this to disperse. You may apply cold compresses to the area for the first two days to help reduce the swelling and bruising.
  • You will be given medication for the pain. The amount of pain you feel after the operation varies from person to person. If you are concerned about the amount of pain you are in, or you feel you cannot control the pain, you should inform the nursing staff while in hospital, or call My Klinik if you are at home.
  • It is crucial that you finish the course of antibiotics you are prescribed to prevent any post-op infection.
  • You will be given a prescription for chloromycetin eye ointment and this should be applied into the eyes at night before sleep.
  • It is best to sleep and rest in an upright position, on two or three pillows, until the stitches have been removed. This helps to reduce the swelling.
  • You may wash your hair one to two days after your procedure. Avoid bending down as this may make bruising and swelling worse.
  • Avoid strenuous activity such as jogging and housework for the first two weeks. These types of activities raise the blood pressure and may cause bleeding.
  • You will not be able to drive for two days after the procedure due to the sedation. You should be careful driving in the following weeks as you may experience a tearing sensation, light sensitivity, blurring or double vision.
  • You will not be able to wear contact lenses for three weeks.
  • Do not smoke during your recovery period as this may slow the healing process and affect wound healing.
  • Contact My Klinik if any of the following develop:
    • A temperature higher than 38°C or chills
    • Severe pain
    • Heavy bleeding from the incisions
    • Redness around the incision which is spreading
    • Loss of feeling on any part of the face
    • A change in vision.
  • Dr Lim and the nursing staff are available to you as you recover — should you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact My Klinik. For after-hours concerns, please contact the hospital where you had your surgery and they will be able to contact Dr Lim as required.

Blepharoplasty – Eyelid Surgery FAQs

If you are basically satisfied with your eyelids but have one or more of the following concerns, blepharoplasty surgery may be an option for you:

  • Loose or sagging skin that creates folds or disturbs the natural contour of the eyes
  • Excess fatty deposits that appear as puffiness in the upper eyelids
  • Bags under the eyes
  • Droopiness of the lower eyelids
  • Excess skin and fine wrinkles of the lower eyelid.

Blepharoplasty is best suited for patients in good physical health who have realistic expectations about the outcome of the procedure. While most people who undergo blepharoplasty are older than 35, it is possible to undergo this surgery at a younger age if the appearance of your eyes bothers you, or if you have heavy bags under your eyes.

Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) involves removing sagging skin, creating a naturally tighter appearance. Dr. Lim will mark the area of the eyelid to be concentrated on. Excess skin or fatty tissue may be removed to aid in the appearance and function of the eyelid.

Dr Lim will examine your eyelids and consider factors such as the size, position and shape of your eyelids and the quality of your skin. Please come to the consultation prepared to discuss your medical history. This will include information about any medical conditions you have, medications you are currently taking, allergies you have, other medical treatments you have received and any previous surgery you have had.

A second consultation is required if you wish to proceed with surgery.

Dr Lim will examine your eyelids and consider factors such as the size, position and shape of your eyelids and the quality of your skin. Please come to the consultation prepared to discuss your medical history. This will include information about any medical conditions you have, medications you are currently taking, allergies you have, other medical treatments you have received and any previous surgery you have had.

A second consultation is required if you wish to proceed with surgery.

We recommend taking vitamin C for a week prior to the surgery.

Avoid products that contain aspirin, glucosamine, herbal supplements, fish oil and krill oil for four weeks before surgery. We also strongly recommend avoiding alcohol, and not smoking for four weeks before and after surgery. Smoking can negatively affect the healing process.

On the day of surgery, patients should wear comfortable, loose clothing that does not need to be pulled over the head or face. Don’t wear any make-up, jewellery or nail polish.

We want to make this experience as supportive as possible — you will be given all pre-operative instructions prior to your procedure but please don’t hesitate to call My Klinik if you have any questions or concerns before your surgery.

Dr Lim performs all surgeries at fully accredited hospitals — Lakeview Private Hospital and Westmead Private Hospital. Blepharoplasty surgery is performed under general anaesthetic and you can expect to go home the day of your surgery. For lower eyelid surgery, you will be required to stay in hospital overnight.

Please contact the hospital a day before surgery to confirm your admission and fasting time. On entering the hospital, you need to report to the admissions desk and the staff will direct you through the admission process. Dr Lim and the anaesthetist will both see you prior to surgery and Dr Lim will make some markings on your eyelids.

After the procedure, you will spend some time in the recovery room where you will be closely monitored until you are fully awake and returned to your rooms. Dr Lim will visit you in hospital the morning after your surgery.

The first days after surgery are usually the most uncomfortable and painful, particularly when you are moving around or coughing. Like most operations, it is not painless; you will be prescribed pain medication during this period and Dr Lim will provide a prescription for you upon discharge.

It is normal to feel tired and a little slow for a day or two following a general anaesthetic. Your eyelids may feel tight and sore, and your eyes may be covered with a bandage.

Everyone is different, so the recovery period following this procedure varies from person to person. Most people are back to their normal routine in approximately one week, however the full healing process can take up to three months. The ears will be sensitive for six weeks following surgery and should be handled according to your own level of comfort.

Returning to work depends on the demands of your job — you may be able to return to light work within two weeks, however, heavy lifting is not recommended for four weeks. Dr Lim will discuss your individual situation with you before and after your surgery.

We endeavour to make sure our patients are as informed as possible. While some of the potential risks seem frightening, it is important for you to be aware that they can occur. During consultation, Dr Lim will take you through the risks involved and the potential complications.

Some of the possible complications are:

  • Removal of too much skin, possibly exposing the cornea to injury
  • Asymmetry of the eyelids
  • Noticeable scarring
  • Itchy, watery or dry eyes
  • The final result may not be as the patient desired (e.g. drooping of the lower eyelid) and may require follow-up procedures
  • Changes in vision — this is usually temporary but can be long-lasting or permanent in rare cases
  • Blepharoplasty can lead to blindness in extremely rare cases.

Dr Lim will monitor your progress carefully and our staff will stay in contact with you during the post-operative period. You will be seen at one week and one month after the procedure. Your relationship with Dr Lim and the nursing staff does not end once you have had the procedure.

If you have any questions or concerns after your operation, you are always welcome to call My Klinik.

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Due to Australian medical guidelines we are unable to publish reviews and testimonials on our website. This is to ensure any opinions or information you read comes from an unbiased and unedited source. Though this is the case, we understand that reviews and testimonials are a very important part of your decision-making process when selecting a specialist plastic surgeon. Please contact the My Klinik team for further information.

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About Dr Jake Lim

Highly qualified and experienced specialist plastic surgeon Dr Jake Lim focuses on facial plastic, cosmetic breast and body contouring after significant weight loss

Dr Lim creates the best possible plastic surgery results for his Australia-wide and international patients.

Dr Lim is passionate about making sure each and every patient has access to the right information about available treatments and procedures and is able to make well-informed decisions.

At My Klinik, patient safety, education and achieving optimal results are our top priorities.

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