Lower Blepharoplasty

The skin of the eyelids is particularly thin, so it can contract hundreds of times an hour. It's also an area that isn't well protected from external aggressors, such as wind, cold or UV rays.

This is why aging can be premature.

With age, eyelid skin loses its firmness and elasticity: it tends to droop under the effect of gravity, while fatty pockets tend to herniate, as they are no longer held in place.

At the same time, the loss of fat and skin volume accentuates the deepening of dark circles under the eyes. As a result, the look becomes increasingly tired and slumped, detracting from the face's beauty and dynamism.

Dr Christelle Santini in Paris 16th offers lower blepharoplasty to treat :

• Fatty bags appearing under the eyes as a result of relaxation of the palpebral muscle and protrusion of the underlying fatty tissues;
• malar bags, which form as a result of sagging skin with significant skin excess, leading to the formation of an unsightly bulge under the dark circles;
• dark circles that deepen and darken the eyes;
• wrinkles forming on the lower eyelid, which becomes crumpled.

Each procedure is therefore tailor-made, and techniques can be modified according to the lesions or imperfections observed.

Dr. Christelle Santini devotes a preliminary consultation to listening carefully to your expectations and examining your eyes. She pays particular attention to the state of the tissues, and whether or not there is excess skin to be resected.

For less advanced lesions, she can sometimes recommend rejuvenation of the eyes without surgery, for example by injection ofhyaluronic acid to fill in dark circles.

Medical photos are taken to clarify expectations and optimize follow-up. She will usually prescribe an ophthalmological check-up and an anaesthetic consultation, which is mandatory for any general anaesthesia.

Dr. Christelle Santini also always gives you the most important medical instructions, including :

• Stop smoking 1 month before surgery, to reduce the risk of skin necrosis.
• Stop taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs or oral anticoagulants for 15 days prior to the procedure, to reduce the risk of bleeding, with the cardiologist's agreement.
• Stop taking oral contraceptives 1 month before surgery, to reduce thrombo-embolic risk.
• Do not eat or drink on the day of surgery.

Dr. Christelle Santini performs this lower eyelid lift in the clinic, usually under general anaesthetic or a so-called vigile anaesthetic (neuroleptanalgesia). The procedure generally lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, and is performed on an outpatient basis, with discharge the same evening.

The contours to be incised are perfectly delineated, with the help of medical photos if necessary.

The technique will depend on the extent of the facelift to be corrected:

• if there is excess skin to be removed, Dr Santini makes an incision flush with the eyelash, extending if necessary towards the crow's feet wrinkle;
• if there is no excess skin, the incision is made in the conjunctiva, resulting in a scarless blepharoplasty.

The eyelid is then re-tensioned, and the excess tissue can be removed by pinching (pinch blepharoplasty) or by deeper detachment of the palpebral muscle to correct a malar pocket.

If necessary, additional procedures can be combined, such as lipofilling of hollow circles.

Dr Santini often recommends a few days' absence from work, as bruising or swelling can occur in the operated area.

Once the sutures have been removed, between 5 and 6 days, make-up can be applied.

Pain is usually moderate, and is managed with simple analgesics. Cold compresses and eye drops may be used to relieve local inflammation.

You should wait around 2 weeks before resuming sports (4 weeks for swimming or water sports), and avoid excessive sun exposure for at least a month.

The rejuvenation of the eyes is clear as of the second week, when the oedemas have disappeared, but it is necessary to wait at least 3 to 6 months for a complete remodelling, which sublimates the eyes without altering the identity.

• Rapid procedure, under short general anaesthesia or vigilant anaesthesia.
• Visible eye rejuvenation in 15 days.
• Can be combined with other eye rejuvenation techniques.

What to do before a lower eyelid plasty?

• 1 to 2 plastic surgery consultations with a quote and photographs.
• Stop taking anticoagulants, stop smoking and stop taking the pill.
• Check-up by an ophthalmologist.
• Anesthetic consultation.

How is a lower blepharoplasty eye rejuvenation procedure performed in Paris?

• Quick response.
• Sutures removed after 7 days.
• Few inflammatory sequelae.

What are the after-effects of lower eyelid surgery?

• Social eviction of less than 8 days.
• Net result in 15 days, optimal between 3 and 6 months.
• Spectacular rejuvenating effect on the eyes.