Blepharoplasty
Your doctor has diagnosed that you have excess skin and fat present on your eyelids. The surgical treatment for this – blepharoplasty is designed to remove the excess skin and excess fat if necessary. This is generally undertaken under local anaesthetic as a day case. The operation may take up to one hour.
You will have stitches in your eyelid which may dissolve on their own or may require removing after two to three weeks. Your doctor will advise you about this.
Complications
Your eyelids will be swollen and bruised as a result of the local anaesthetic and the surgery. This may last several weeks. Other complications can include bleeding, bruising, infection, scarring, asymmetry, over or under correction, dry eyes, recurrence, and loss of vision
There is a slight risk of infection and scarring which will fade over time.
Occasionally not enough skin or fat is removed and if necessary further surgery may be required. Occasionally too much skin may be excised (removed) and you may have difficulty in shutting your eyelids. This can on rare occasions require a skin graft to your eyelid to repair the defects.
In most cases you will be required to have both your eyes patched overnight following surgery, which may require you to make special arrangements.
Sometimes, there may be a slight difference between the two eyelids.
Some research has reported permanent loss of vision following blepharoplasty. This is usually the result of a haemorrhage (loss of blood) which occurs behind your eye as a result of removal of some fat. This is exceedingly rare.
The Ophthalmic Day Surgical Unit
The Ophthalmic Day Surgical Unit is a specialised unit which cares for patients undergoing eye procedures.
The unit cares for women and men.
There are separate toilet facilities for women, men and disabled patients.
Smoking
The Trust operates a no smoking policy and your co-operation with this is appreciated.
Health and Safety
Our patients have poor vision. Please consider their safety by co-operating with the following activities:
• Try not to obstruct corridors.
• To reduce the risk of injury to you and other patients, please avoid assisting others.
Where is the Ophthalmic Surgical Unit?
If you are registered disabled and have a ‘blue badge’ the nearest car park is Woodlands which can be accessed from East Park Drive near the Gastroenterology department.
From the car park you can walk directly into the unit.
When leaving the car park you are advised to turn left not right.
If you are not registered disabled / do not have a ‘blue badge’, or there are no available disabled car park spaces left, please park in the multi storey car park.
Enter the hospital using the ‘Main Entrance’ where you will find the retail stores.
Turn right up the stairs, escalator or lift. Go straight on down the main corridor.
The Ophthalmic Day Surgical Unit can be found approximately 200 metres down this corridor.
