Offering perfect results in upper eyelid repair and lower eyelid repair, Dr. Be improves the quality of life of his patients with personalized treatment plans. In line with these perfect results, he brings his patients to the results they desire both psychologically and physically.
What is Eyelid Repair Surgery?
Eyelid repair surgery is a surgical procedure performed to correct deformities of the eyelids caused by congenital deformities, aging, trauma, tumor or infection. This procedure aims to regulate functions such as eyelids, eye protection, moisturizing and tear distribution. In this context, the operation is performed with different surgical techniques depending on the size, location and type of damage to the eyelid. The most important of these techniques are graft or flap techniques. At this point, simple corrections can be made under local anesthesia for minor problems, while graft or flap techniques can be applied in case of severe deformities or tissue loss. Symptoms such as swelling and bruising may be seen during the healing process after the operation. However, these symptoms are usually temporary.
Eyelid repair surgery is a comprehensive intervention performed both to meet the functional needs of the patient and to achieve an aesthetic appearance.
Why Is Eyelid Repair Operation Needed?
The main reasons for the need for eyelid repair surgery are the need for the eyelids to have a healthy structure both aesthetically and functionally. For this reason, surgeries targeting different areas such as upper eyelid procedure and lower eyelid procedure are applied. In this context, upper eyelid repair usually targets problems such as sagging, excess skin and muscle laxity in the eyelid, while lower eyelid repair usually targets problems such as bagging, sagging, skin laxity and protrusion of fat tissue under the eye. Thus, the eye area is addressed both functionally and cosmetically.
The upper eyelid generally treats problems such as loosening or drooping of the upper eyelid due to the aging process, sun damage and genetic factors. In this context, in the upper eyelid repair, less skin and muscle tissue is removed, the eyelid is lifted up and a natural, vibrant appearance is given. At the same time, proper closure of the eyelid is ensured, helping to protect the surface of the eye.
In lower eyelid repair, the tired and aged appearance caused by aging, genetic factors or sleep irregularities is eliminated. For this purpose, excess skin and muscle tissue is removed with lower eyelid repair and fat tissue is repositioned or reduced when necessary. In this way, bags under the eyes are removed and a firmer skin appearance is achieved. At the same time, the eye area is rejuvenated.
Eyelid Repair Surgery Methods
There are certain surgical methods of eyelid repair. These surgical methods are applied according to the wishes and needs of the person. At this point, the doctor makes a detailed analysis. When we examine these eyelid repair surgery methods in detail; Anterior Lamellar Defects, Full Thickness Defects, Primary repair, Tenzel valve, Cutler-Beard flap, Orbicularis myocutaneous advancement flap, Foot base plate and Regional wings methods appear. If we need to discuss these methods in detail;
- Anterior Lamellar Defects: Anterior lamellar defects are a method used in eyelid repair operations. This method is the loss of skin and orbicularis muscle in the anterior part of the eyelid. These defects can be caused by trauma, tumor removal or some congenital conditions. The lack of anterior lamellae makes it difficult for the eyelid to close, disrupting the protective barrier of the eye. Therefore, surgeons repair these defects with skin grafting or local flap techniques to restore the functionality and aesthetics of the eyelid. For the repair of anterior lamellar defects, thin skin grafts from the face and neck are preferred, as these grafts provide a natural appearance to the eyelid and are compatible with the thin structure of the eyelid.
- Full Thickness Defects: Another eyelid repair procedure, full-thickness eyelid defects aemliyat, is a major procedure that involves both the anterior (skin and muscle) and posterior (style plaque and conjunctiva) layers of the eyelid. It is an operation that targets the removal of tumors, severe trauma or congenital defects. It is a highly complex procedure, often requiring the use of multiple tissues for both aesthetic and functional goals. Generally, eyelid structures are reconstructed with grafts or flaps taken from the donor area. In full thickness repairs, a natural appearance is aimed by preserving the eyelid's mobility and eye health.
- Primary repair: Primary repair is a technique for small and less complex eyelid repair. This technique is particularly suitable for defects of 1/3 or less in diameter. This technique, which is performed by directly joining the two edges of the defective area, restores the functionality and structural integrity of the eyelid in a short time. In primary repair, the sutures are applied in a way that leaves minimal scarring on the skin. It is one of the first preferred methods for small eyelid defects because it offers a simple and fast solution.
- Tenzel valve: The Tenzel flap is a flap eyelid repair technique used to repair medium to large-sized defects in the lateral part of the eyelid. In this method, the defective area is filled using a semicircular tissue flap taken from an area near the eyelid margin. The Tenzel flap is especially preferred for the repair of full-thickness defects in the lower eyelid. This technique provides an aesthetic appearance by preserving the natural curve of the eyelid and allows the eyelid to maintain its functional mobility.
- Cutler-Beard flap: The Cutler-Beard flap is a flap technique used in the repair of large full-thickness defects in the upper eyelid. In this technique, the tissue flap from the lower eyelid is moved to the defective area on the upper eyelid. The surgery is performed in two stages; in the first stage, tissue transfer is performed and after healing is complete, the free end of the flap is cut and adapted back to the lower eyelid. This technique is especially preferred for large upper eyelid defects after tumor removal and aims to preserve the natural appearance of the eyelid as much as possible.
- Orbicularis myocutaneous advancement flap: Orbicularis myocutaneous advancement flap is a technique used to repair skin and muscle defects in the lower eyelid or around the eye. In this technique, the orbicularis oculi muscle around the eye and the overlying skin are moved together and draped over the defective area. This flap technique is particularly suitable for the repair of small to medium-sized defects and helps to achieve an aesthetic result by adapting to the natural folds of the eyelid. Orbicularis myocutaneous flaps generally provide good healing around the eye area due to their natural tissue conformity.
- Foot sole plate: The style plate is a type of cartilage or hard graft used as a support structure in eyelid defects. It is generally used for defects in the posterior lamella of the eyelid, that is, in the style and conjunctiva area. The style plate contributes to the healthy function of the eye by maintaining the shape and resistance of the eyelid. These grafts can be taken from ear cartilage or nasal septum and provide a strong support structure for the eyelid. The style plate helps to achieve a long-lasting result by increasing the durability of the eyelid, especially in full-thickness defects.
- Regional wings: Regional flaps is a surgical technique in which the skin, muscle and connective tissue around the eye is moved to the defect area and repaired. In this method, the defect area is closed with tissue flaps taken from areas close to the eyelid. Regional flaps are preferred especially for medium and large sized eyelid defects. Tissue flaps taken from the cheek, temple or nose area adapt to the natural folds of the eyelid and offer both aesthetically and functionally satisfactory results. This method helps to maintain eye health while reconstructing the appearance of the eyelid and provides a long-lasting repair.
Benefits of Eyelid Repair Procedure
Eyelid repair procedure has many benefits both in terms of lower eyelid repair and upper eyelid repair. To examine these benefits in detail;
- By correcting problems such as sagging or drooping, the field of vision widens and the quality of vision improves.
- When the eyelids close properly, the eyes are better protected. This reduces the risk of dry eyes, infection and irritation.
- Eyelid repair surgery generally gives the facial expression a youthful, dynamic and natural look.
- By removing under-eye bags, skin laxity and wrinkles, the face becomes more vigorous and healthy.
- The eyelid repair procedure gives the person a younger and more vigorous appearance. Thus, it increases self-confidence and makes the person feel more comfortable in social and professional life.
Things to Consider Before and After Eyelid Repair Procedure
There are important factors to be considered before and after eyelid repair surgery. These factors not only make the surgical process more comfortable and ensure that the targeted results are achieved, but also help to experience a rapid recovery process after the operation. At this point, we recommend that you pay attention to the following factors.
Things to Consider Before Eyelid Repair Operation
There are important factors to be considered before eyelid repair. These factors help the surgery to go better. At this point, the points you should pay attention to before the eyelid repair procedure are as follows;
- In the pre-operative consultation with the doctor, your medical history, medications and information about your eye health should be fully shared. You should also be informed about the expectations, risks and recovery process of the surgery.
- The use of blood thinners such as aspirin and ibuprofen before the operation may increase the risk of bleeding. For this reason, it is important to avoid such medications for the period specified by the doctor.
- Smoking and alcohol can negatively affect the healing process. For this reason, it is recommended to stop or reduce smoking and alcohol use before surgery.
- A balanced and healthy diet before surgery ensures that the body is prepared for the healing process. Especially foods rich in protein and vitamins should be consumed.
- On the day of surgery, make-up, creams, lenses or eye cosmetics should not be used. It is also recommended to wear comfortable clothes to the health facility where the surgery will take place.
- After the surgery, you need to be accompanied by a companion in order to rest and return home safely. Therefore, always have a companion for eye repair surgery.
- Avoiding products that irritate the eye area and resting the eyes before surgery contributes to eyelid repair surgery.
Things to Consider After Eyelid Repair Operation
There are many points you should pay attention to after eyelid repair. By paying attention to these points, you can experience a comfortable process after surgery. At the same time, you can get high efficiency from the operation. The points you should pay attention to for this are as follows;
- It is very important to protect the eye area against impacts and possible injuries after surgery. In this process, rubbing the eyes or forceful movements should be avoided.
- To reduce swelling and bruising that may occur after eyelid repair surgery, cold compresses can be applied for the period recommended by the doctor. This helps the tissues around the eyes to heal faster.
- It is important to use the antibiotics and painkillers prescribed regularly to prevent the risk of infection and reduce pain after surgery.
- For the first few days, it is recommended to keep the head elevated to reduce swelling. Therefore, sleeping on a high pillow helps reduce edema around the eyes.
- Makeup and cosmetic products should be avoided around the eyes during the healing process. Such products may increase the risk of infection and prolong the healing process.
- Since the eye area is sensitive, it is important to wear sunglasses when going outside to protect from the harmful UV rays of the sun. Especially during the healing period, protecting the eye area from the sun accelerates healing.
- Heavy exercise, swimming and activities that strain the eye area should be avoided for a few weeks after the eyelid repair procedure. This is necessary to prevent the sutures from opening or the risk of infection.
- Regular use of eye drops or creams recommended by your doctor prevents dryness and irritation around the eyes.
- It is important not to miss the follow-up appointments set by the doctor after surgery. These check-ups are done to make sure that the healing process is progressing properly.
- Avoid rubbing your eyes during the healing process. Otherwise, the stitches may be damaged and your risk of infection may increase.
Who Can Have Eyelid Reconstruction Surgery?
Eyelid repair surgery can be performed on individuals with loss of function, sagging, deformity or tissue loss in the eyelid. Patients with problems such as droopy eyelids, inability to close the eyelids, dry eyes and narrowing of the visual field may also benefit from the surgery. However, we recommend that you have a preliminary consultation with your doctor to get detailed information on this subject. This way, you can have more detailed information.
Doctor Berke, One of Turkey's Best Eyelid Reconstruction Surgeons
Doctor Be Clinic, one of the best asymmetric eyelid repair surgeons in Turkey, offers perfect results for functional and cosmetic problems in the eye. Thus, you can have healthy eyes and achieve perfect eye health.
Publications about Facelift & Rejuvenation
Cakmak O, Özücer B, Aktekin M, Özkurt FE, Al-Salman R, Emre IE.
Aesthet Surg J. 2018 Nov 12;38(12):1269-1279. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjy062.
PMID: 29509842
Cakmak O, Emre IE, Özücer B.
Facial Plast Surg. 2018 Feb;34(1):59-65. doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1615283. Epub 2018 Feb 6.
PMID: 29409105 Review.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eyelid Reconstruction Surgery
Is eyelid reconstruction surgery an aesthetic operation or a medical necessity?
Eyelid reconstruction is an operation that is needed both medically and aesthetically. Because while this procedure is a medical necessity in cases that cause functional problems in the eyelid, it is aimed to improve the appearance of the eyelid in operations performed for aesthetic reasons.
Will there be any scarring after eyelid reconstruction?
As with any operation, possible temporary scars may occur in the eyelid reconstruction procedure. However, since these scars are temporary, you do not need to worry.
Is there a feeling of dryness in the eyes after eyelid reconstruction treatment?
Dry eye may occur after the procedure depending on the eye structure. However, this situation is at the minimum level. You can use the drops recommended by your doctor in order not to disturb the possible dryness.
Can I wear contact lenses after eyelid reconstruction surgery?
Contact lens wear should be avoided until postoperative healing is complete. This period is usually limited to a few weeks. Your doctor will inform you when you can start wearing contact lenses.
Can I wear makeup after eyelid reconstruction surgery?
At this point, we recommend that you avoid applying makeup to the eyelid for the first few weeks. After the eyelid has completely healed, you can start applying makeup. However, make sure that makeup products are sterile and hypoallergenic.
Will eyelid reconstruction surgery negatively affect my eye health?
Eyelid reconstruction surgery performed by an experienced surgeon does not negatively affect your eye health. On the contrary, it is a procedure applied to improve eye health and make corrections in terms of appearance.
