Good day to you!

Based on recent memories, I would like to tell you about my blepharoplasty. I myself was looking for the most detailed review, so I will try to describe everything to the smallest detail.

I dreamed of surgery for a long time, because I got my dad’s eyes with a drooping upper eyelid, and I constantly heard: “Why are you so sad? Did something happen?” If you are reading, then most likely you are familiar with this. I am 27 years old. The age is no longer young, but it is not fading either, so when else, if not now, should one start becoming a beauty?)

The general plan "BEFORE" photo is just this. You can see that the skin lies on the eyelashes.

By the will of fate, I ended up in the city of Noyabrsk and found out that “Doctor - Golden Hands” operates with them. And that’s it, I decided - here and as soon as possible.

So:

Place of operation - Central City Hospital of Noyabrsk

Unfortunately, the site rules prohibit disclosing the name of the plastic surgeon.

The cost of the operation is 13,705 rubles.

The cost of the ward is 5781 rubles/day

The cost of tests is 3824 rubles.

The cost of medicines is 2500 rubles.

Plastic surgeon.

Of course, I reviewed all his available works, a couple of broadcasts from operations on Instagram, found out that he is constantly improving his skills, first went for Botox, for a consultation, and was confirmed in my decision. During the operation, I trusted Georgy Yuryevich more than myself.

Consultation.

At the consultation, the doctor looked at me, told me about the operation, set a date (in 6 days, luck was favorable to me, since the appointment was half a year in advance), and gave directions for tests. He told me to take gel glasses and sunglasses with me. You will also need a robe and personal hygiene products if you stay in the hospital overnight.

By the way, the operation was scheduled 5 days before menstruation. It is not recommended to be so close to it, but I had no choice.

The next day at 8 a.m. I arrived at the hospital with directions, paid at the cashier and got in line.

You only need to donate blood from a vein (several tubes):

Day of surgery 06/19/2017

At 8 am I came to the hospital to register. The procedure, as it turned out, was long: get a referral from the head nurse, fill out a medical history, pay, go to the ward. By the way, I ate and drank for the last time the night before (I don’t know how correctly).

The nurse said she would give the history to the doctor, and he would accept it as time permits. That is, I sat and waited. I took a photo of the peephole BEFORE:

And then they came for me)

First they gave me an intravenous antibiotic. Then in the ward they had to undress completely, including underwear and all jewelry, put on a robe and go to the operating room.

Somehow everything happened so quickly that fear didn’t have time to come to me)

Operation.

In the room in front of the operating room, I again took off everything and wrapped myself in a sheet, they put rag shoe covers on my feet, and a cap on my head. And let's go...

The operating room looks creepy, large, bright, tiled (maybe it’s just for me). I lay down on the table. The nurses were preparing instruments. I still haven't seen my doctor. A quiet panic began. And then I hear him: “Hello.” I don’t remember the last time I was so happy)))

The doctor took a photo and marked my eyes. I lay down again, they covered me with something heavy, wrapped my head, wiped my face....

The doctor said the operation will last 45 minutes.

It was approximately 12.30.

I had local anesthesia .

First, an anesthetic injection with adrenaline in the eyelid, as it seemed to me, at several points - it hurts a little, but you can endure it for a few seconds.

Then I felt a strong hand press on my forehead (I didn’t immediately realize that they were cutting me at that time). Absolutely no pain. Only very bright light when the skin was cut.

And stitching - you only feel the tension of the skin.

The second eye is naturally all the same.

Experiences and struggle with them.

I’ll say right away that everything related to surgical manipulations, even on the screen, makes me tremble and feel weak throughout my body. And yes, now I feel like a heroine)

What do I need helped me control myself :

1. Complete trust in the surgeon.

2. No pain.

3. Beautiful eyes in the near future.

4. Music in the background)

5. Pride in your resilience.

6. Almost sleepless night (due to anxiety I hardly slept and sometimes dozed off during the operation).

After operation.

While they were taking me to the ward, twice I crawled from couch to couch, then to the bed.

The doctor said to lie with your head elevated for 3-4 hours, apply cold for 20 minutes every hour. They immediately put ice on me while my glasses were freezing.

At 2 p.m., lunch was brought, and soon the doctor arrived. I sat up and opened my eyes for the first time. I could only look down) The doctor said everything was fine and allowed me to eat.

At about 4 p.m., I felt a sharp rush of blood to my eyelids, and they began to swell. The seam in the corner of the nose began to bleed. My eyes were watering. As it turns out, this is the norm.

At 19:00 I was allowed to go home, where I immediately went to bed.

Day one 06/20/2017

It was not possible to get a good night's sleep, half sitting and controlling myself so as not to roll over on my side. I put an orthopedic pillow on a regular pillow and fixed my head as best I could.

I was prepared for the fact that I wouldn’t be able to open my eyes at all, because the swelling grew for 2-3 days, but it wasn’t that bad. I went to the dressing room, where everything was washed and a new bandage was applied. It was already possible to go about your business. Only I could see very poorly through the slits, and only if I lifted my chin.

Day two 06/21/2017

The swelling began to subside... fall down along with the hematomas. It's a little easier on the eyes. But there was another problem - a bruise on the white of his right eye. It doesn't interfere, but it looks scary. I never part with my sunglasses even when visiting (my relatives know and understand, but it’s still a sight).

Connected care:

Lyoton - 3 times a day on the lower eyelid for bruises.

Aloe Gel - on halves of a cotton pad and as patches under the eyes. I read that aloe resolves bruises and also moisturizes.

Lymphatic drainage massage - lightly pressing your fingers, without stretching anything, along the orbital bone.

Day three 06/22/2017

Bandaging again. Emoxipin (3 times a day) and Tabrodex (6 times a day) were prescribed to be dropped into the eyes.

You can even look almost up. Feels like the patch is rubbing. The seams don't itch.

And again oh-oh-oh! The right eye does not close completely. I really hope this is due to swelling.

Day four 06/23/2017

It’s noticeable how my eyes bloom and the swelling goes away))

Despite the fact that in recent years general anesthesia has become extremely safe and comfortable, patients are always happy to choose other, less profound options for pain relief.

Unlike most plastic surgeries, Blepharoplasty can be performed under local anesthesia, when the anesthetic effect affects only the area around the eyes, and the patient remains conscious. A full-fledged eyelid lift as an outpatient procedure certainly looks attractive - however, it has its own nuances and pitfalls that you should know about in advance.

So, does this method have objective advantages or disadvantages? In what cases is it indicated and in what cases is it not? What medications are used and how is the operation performed? The site goes into detail:

How do they do it?

It is not possible to do without general anesthesia during blepharoplasty in all cases. This is only possible if a technically simple small-scale operation is planned - for example, isolated correction of the upper eyelids - and the patient himself is mentally ready to endure it, being fully conscious. At the same time, local anesthesia has obvious advantages:

• minimal likelihood of developing complications associated with the action of more “heavy” drugs for general anesthesia;
• the ability to open and close the eyes on command, which greatly simplifies the operation for the surgeon and reduces the likelihood of under- and over-correction;
• The hospital stay at the end of the intervention is limited to a few hours, after which you can immediately go home. All subsequent manipulations (observation, removal of sutures) are performed at an outpatient appointment.

So there are some disadvantages:

• in the absence of general anesthesia, and also due to inevitable nervous tension, the patient’s blood pressure will be quite high - this does not threaten health, but may interfere with the surgeon (in addition, many doctors, in principle, prefer to work with “sleeping” patients);
• there remains a small probability of allergic and other undesirable reactions to injected drugs.

There are two ways to turn off pain sensitivity without putting a person to sleep:

• Application - an anesthetic cream or spray is applied to an area of ​​skin, and after a few minutes it becomes “numb”. The main disadvantage of this option is that the effect practically does not affect the subcutaneous fat and muscles, so it is used only for minimally invasive procedures, such as or.
• Injection - when the anesthetic is injected using a syringe with a thin needle. In this case, it will penetrate into much deeper layers of skin and tissue, and in addition, it will act much longer.

For eyelid surgery, only the second (injection) method is used. Specific drugs can be very different; they are selected by a surgeon or anesthesiologist “for the patient.” As a rule, these will be products based on lidocaine, ultracaine and bupivacaine. But novocaine, popular among cosmetologists, is not suitable due to its short duration of action.

Features of the operation under local anesthesia

Regardless of the type of anesthesia chosen, the preparatory stage will be approximately the same: the patient must undergo a standard set of tests, temporarily give up alcohol, smoking and a number of medications. In addition, his allergic and anesthesiological history is necessarily studied: whether operations were performed in the past, what kind of anesthesia was used and whether it led to any undesirable consequences, whether there is intolerance to certain drugs, etc. – this is necessary to exclude the possibility of anaphylactic shock and other serious complications.

Immediately before the operation begins, the areas where the lift will be done are marked on the skin of the eyelids with a special marker. Next, the entire face is treated with an antiseptic, injections are given to “turn off” sensitivity, and when they take effect, the surgeon begins work.

Many people are concerned about the question: will they feel pain during eyelid surgery if they choose local anesthesia?

• During the injections themselves, you will have to be patient: they are extremely uncomfortable, since the anesthetic drug is injected quite deeply and at the same time into a very sensitive and delicate area near the eyes.
• Further, during the operation, there will be no pain, but patients can feel the pressure of surgical instruments and the movement of threads during suturing - much the same as we feel the dentist’s manipulations inside our teeth and gums. In addition, you will have to look at the bright light of surgical lamps, and when using a laser scalpel, you will also have to smell the smell of burnt meat. For many, such sensations cause nervous tension and other unpleasant reactions, so local anesthesia is almost always supplemented with oral sedatives - they bring the person into a calmer, sleepy state.
• For people with a very low pain threshold and/or increased anxiety, intravenous sedation, during which consciousness is completely switched off, may be indicated instead of oral sedation. Subjectively, this option is not much different from general anesthesia: the only difference is in the dosages of the drugs and the possibility of spontaneous breathing.
• The intensity and duration of local anesthesia depends on the amount of the drug administered, its concentration, as well as the individual characteristics of the human body. It happens that right during the operation, the effect of the anesthetic weakens and sensitivity begins to return. This must be reported to the surgeon so that he can make an additional injection.

Upon completion of the plastic surgery, the patient is taken to the ward to monitor his condition for 2-3 hours. If no problems arise at this stage, painkillers are prescribed in the form of tablets or intramuscular injections (analgin, ketanov, paracetamol), after which you can go home.

Possible complications and side effects

The most formidable negative consequence of local anesthesia, which everyone has heard of at least once, is an allergic reaction leading to the development of Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock, which directly threaten the patient's life. Fortunately, this happens extremely rarely - about 1 problem case per 15,000 successful operations (0.01%), which even according to the strict canons of aesthetic surgery is considered a relatively acceptable risk.

To completely eliminate the possibility of such negative reactions, the surgeon or anesthesiologist, firstly, carefully examines the health status and individual characteristics of the patient before the operation, and secondly, they can conduct additional tests for sensitivity to the drugs that are supposed to be used for pain relief. Even if it turns out that one or more of them actually cause allergies, you can almost always find a safe replacement for them. Normally, such a test is carried out only if there are any reasonable concerns, but it is also possible simply at the request of the patient. Other undesirable consequences of local anesthesia include:

• Possible problems with spontaneous breathing - they threaten only patients with serious pathologies of respiratory function; as a rule, local anesthetics are contraindicated for them in principle.
• Puncture of a vessel: manifested by a burning sensation that occurs during an anesthetic injection, slight swelling and redness, and later a bruise may form in this place.
• Other problems associated with injections as a method of delivering painkillers into the body: infection, hematomas, increased swelling. But in the vast majority of cases, these “side effects” do not pose a serious danger and do not require any special attention against the background of the main consequences of eyelid surgery.

What to remember

The choice between general and local anesthesia during blepharoplasty is made depending on the volume of the operation, which particular pair of eyelids - upper or lower - is being worked on, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient. Your wishes regarding anesthesia can be discussed during the consultation, but the final decision is made by the surgeon based on his professional knowledge. Wherein:

• The final quality of the operation and its aesthetic effect do not depend in any way on which option is used.
• Under local anesthesia, discomfort is partially preserved. In addition, looking at the surgeon’s work while conscious can be psychologically difficult, and it is impossible to visually isolate the surgical field (the eyelid area) from the patient. Therefore, in the vast majority of cases, additional sedatives are also used - orally or intravenously.
• Even if you cannot do without general anesthesia, you should not panic again. Most of the information about its severity dates back to the end of the last century and is very outdated: modern drugs provide restful sleep, minimal risk of complications, as well as a cheerful, healthy state upon awakening - without nausea, dizziness and other unpleasant symptoms.

Experts' opinions:

I try not to do blepharoplasty under local anesthesia, only in rare cases when there is not a large volume of work - for example, if I need to remove part of the skin without delving into the deeper layers of tissue, a hernia.

Plastic surgeon, candidate of medical sciences

This type of anesthesia is used primarily if a small amount of surgical intervention is planned. At the same time, I always take into account the patient’s wishes, his emotional background and physiological reactions to stress. Naturally, a decision in favor of local anesthesia is also made in case of contraindications to general anesthesia. In general, the choice of pain relief method depends on a number of factors:

• volume and duration of the proposed operation;
• the patient’s physical condition and age;
• psycho-emotional state;
• presence of allergic reactions, etc.

Both options have their pros and cons. The most important thing is to take into account the characteristics of a particular patient.

Plastic surgeon, Doctor of Medical Sciences

Any blepharoplasty can be performed under local anesthesia. Its advantages are that the patient is always fully conscious and can go home immediately after the operation. Disadvantages: since all manipulations are carried out near the eyeball, for some it causes very unpleasant sensations. As a rule, men prefer general anesthesia, and women prefer local anesthesia.

Age-related changes in the eyelids can only be corrected by blepharoplasty - a surgical operation to tighten the skin of the upper and lower eyelids. It is carried out solely for aesthetic purposes, but women are ready to endure the pain and inconvenience of postoperative recovery for the sake of radical rejuvenation.

After forty to fifty years, the only real way to get rid of the problems of age-related aging in the eye area, including lower eyelid hernias, severe wrinkles, and sagging skin, is to undergo blepharoplasty. But in some cases, correction can be carried out at an earlier age. The operation is one of the most popular, because you can visually look ten to fifteen years younger.

Indications for correction

Why is eyelid surgery needed? The essence of the operation is the excision of excess skin and accumulations of fat. They are the ones who make your face look old and tired. Indications for a radical facelift are as follows:

• overhang of the skin of the upper eyelid on the area of ​​growth of the upper eyelashes;
• lack of a fold in the upper eyelid as a result of severe overhanging skin;
• formation of deep wrinkles in the lower eyelids;
• the formation of numerous wrinkles under the lower eyelids (“corrugated paper effect”);
• deterioration of vision as a result of severe sagging of the upper eyelid;
• permanent fat bags under the lower eyelids;
• a special structure of the upper eyelid that does not allow the use of cosmetics (natural overhang).

Before plastic surgery, you should check your health, as there are contraindications: blood clotting disorders, oncology, skin diseases, diabetes, hyperthyroidism.

If there are no contraindications, the plastic surgeon will determine the condition of the skin, outline a plan for eyelid correction, conduct a consultation and schedule a day for surgery.

Types of blepharoplasty

What type of lift the surgeon decides to use depends on the specific problem. There are the following types of blepharoplasty:

1. correction of the upper eyelid;
2. changing the incision and shape of the eyes (canthoplasty, canthopexy);
3. correction of the lower eyelid with simultaneous removal of fat accumulations in the intraorbital area:
4. correction of the lower eyelid without removing fat depots (fat is redistributed over the eyelid area);
5. simultaneous eyelid correction (circular blepharoplasty).

The surgical intervention is performed either under general medical anesthesia or under local, lighter anesthesia. Both options will not cause trouble, because in both cases there will be no pain.

Features of different types of correction

Upper blepharoplasty

The upper incision is made along the natural crease of the eyelid. The operation allows you to get rid of sagging skin, change the shape of the eyes, for example, carry out correction using the “Cleopatra look” technique. After healing, the seams are almost invisible and can be easily cosmetically disguised.

Lower eyelid blepharoplasty

In the lower eyelid, it is possible to either cut the skin along the eyelash line or penetrate (puncture) through the mucous membrane. In the latter case, we are talking about the transconjunctival method, which only allows the removal of fat bags, and therefore cannot be used in the presence of excess skin and deep wrinkles.

Circular blepharoplasty

Circular blepharoplasty makes it possible to solve several problems at once:

• correct drooping upper eyelids and drooping corners of the eyes;
• remove fat bags in the paraorbital area;
• get rid of wrinkles;
• correct the asymmetrical shape of the eyes.

This type of correction is most preferable for comprehensive relief from signs of aging. In combination with other methods of hardware correction (Fraxel, laser resurfacing, etc.) an amazing effect will be achieved that will last up to ten years. The seams are completely invisible.

Preparing for surgery

Eyelid lift surgery takes different times. This depends on whether the surgeon will work only on the upper eyelids, only on the lower eyelids, or on both eyelids at once. In addition, it also matters whether the excision is performed under local anesthesia or general anesthesia. The decision is made before the procedure based on an initial examination of the skin structure, the condition of the facial muscle corset, the structure of the skull bones, the presence of asymmetry, etc. It is necessary to understand how much skin and fatty tissue will have to be eliminated.

When deciding on anesthesia, it is important to inform your doctor about the facts of an allergic reaction, especially to medications and painkillers. Together with the client, the specialist will decide how the plastic surgery will be performed: under general anesthesia or local anesthesia.

Important: before surgery, no salon cosmetic procedures are allowed.

The doctor must find out how much tear fluid is produced, for which he will conduct a special examination before the operation. It is necessary to promptly report existing eye diseases, for example, glaucoma or dry eyes. It is important to talk about the presence of chronic diseases (diabetes, dysfunction of the thyroid gland, hematopoietic organs, etc.) - all of these are contraindications for eyelid surgery. If the client is taking any medications or herbal remedies, he should tell the doctor about it. All this will help prevent dangerous bleeding during surgery.

After the examination, the surgeon is obliged to talk about the possible consequences of the surgical intervention, since there are cases of atypical skin reactions both to anesthesia and to the effect itself. At the same time, he will explain what results should be expected after the stitches heal and prescribe tests.

Preparation period

Before the operation, the client must go through a certain preparatory period:

1. drink a lot of water to ensure quick successful rehabilitation (you will have to drink water even after the operation is completed);
2. completely give up nicotine, otherwise tissue regeneration will be very low and rehabilitation will be delayed;
3. Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory, homeopathic medications, vitamin complexes not only on the day of surgery, but also three to four days before (they provoke bleeding, why risk it).

Local anesthesia or general anesthesia

If the operation is performed under local anesthesia, general tests such as blood chemistry, blood clotting tests (coagulogram) and the presence of infections will be required. You can get advice from a therapist and a specialist if you have a chronic illness.

If the operation is complex and is carried out under general anesthesia, then you will need not only to undergo tests, but also to undergo an ECG procedure, take a fluorography or take an x-ray of the sternum, and attend a consultation with an anesthesiologist.

The choice between local anesthesia and general anesthesia is simple. If we are talking about circular plastic surgery, anesthesia is needed, because the time of exposure to tissue and mucous membranes increases. In addition, it is not painful at all, whereas under local anesthesia there may well be unpleasant sensations. If the surgeon is only working on the bottom or top of the eyes, local anesthesia can be used.

The operation is performed on an outpatient basis. After plastic surgery, the client must go home, but a loved one must be with him for the first 24 hours.

How is the operation performed?

Before the operation, the surgeon uses a special marker to mark the area to be treated, then injects an anesthetic (this may be painful). If the operation is performed using the traditional surgical method, then a thin incision is made with a scalpel in the skin or in the mucous membrane of the lower eyelid (for transconjunctival plastic surgery).

Unnecessary tissue and fat bags are excised through incisions. The surgeon can simultaneously tighten the muscles and strengthen them. Sometimes the fat is not removed, but is redistributed under the lower eyelid.

The seams are sewn together with special threads, which, when absorbed, do not leave scars: the seams will be invisible. In some cases, the surgeon will also use a laser (which is not painful at all) to improve the condition of the skin. After restoration, grinding can be done.

Rehabilitation period

After the operation, it will take time to return to normal life and enjoy the effect that eye blepharoplasty gives. In advance, before going to the clinic, you need to prepare the following items:

• ice cubes;
• gauze napkins;
• pharmaceutical preparations for the eyes (the surgeon will prescribe them on the eve of the operation);
• painkillers or injections (some can cause bleeding, so it’s best to ask your doctor for a list of acceptable medications):
• the surgeon will tell you in detail how to do drainage and dressing (if necessary), which antibiotic to take.

The first time after surgery will be difficult for the eyes: they will begin to react more strongly to light, profuse lacrimation will appear, and double vision may occur. For the first two to three days, the stitches will stand out, swelling will appear, and numbness may persist - the consequences of local anesthesia or anesthesia. This is a normal reaction.

How long the swelling and hematomas last depends on the sensitivity of the skin. On average, recovery occurs on the seventh to tenth day. It shouldn't hurt, but there may be discomfort. You can apply ice compresses and take painkillers.

Under no circumstances should you take aspirin or naproxen. Taking ibuprofen and herbal supplements is prohibited.

Usually on the third or fourth day, pain relief is no longer necessary.

Removing stitches

On what day are stitches removed? The doctor will schedule the first consultation on the third postoperative day. If all is well, the stitches are removed. It doesn't hurt at all. If something alerts the doctor, he will advise you to wait a little longer, in which case the stitches are removed on the fourth day.

If your eyelids are very painful, there is swelling, redness, or the sutures are inflamed, you need immediate consultation with a surgeon.

Is blepharoplasty necessary?

Keeping in mind possible complications both during and after the operation, the question arises: is correction really necessary? If blepharoplasty is contemplated, only the patient himself can analyze the pros and cons in order to make the right decision.

Pros of the operation

• bags under the eyes will completely disappear;
• it won't hurt;
• the look will become younger and open due to the correction of the upper eyelid;
• in some cases, vision will improve (there are medical indications);
• the seams are invisible.

Cons of exposure

• results may not be seen immediately (at least on the thirtieth day, or even after one and a half to two months);
• long recovery period accompanied by discomfort;
• in some cases, a second operation will be required if there are deep wrinkles on the forehead;
• plastic surgery may not be successful, there will be no result.

Complications

You should not discount the complications that such a surgical procedure can cause:

• allergy to an anesthetic drug;
• hematoma formation;
• inflammation as a result of infection;
• scarring of tissue;
• formation of an inverted lower eyelid.

There are no medical indications for blepharoplasty, so you can make decisions on your own. What it will become depends only on the woman’s desire to become younger, more beautiful, remove bags and wrinkles, and look ten years younger.

Anesthesia or local anesthesia? When performing certain plastic surgeries, the patient can independently choose one of two proposed options. If you decide to do traditional abdominoplasty, then anesthesia will definitely be chosen, even without your participation. But if you just want to have eyelid surgery, then here you can express your preferences regarding pain relief. Blepharoplasty is sometimes performed under local anesthesia, which pleases patients who want to avoid complete immersion in sleep during surgery. What are the obvious and not noticeable features of eyelid correction under local anesthesia?

Eyelid surgery and local anesthesia

If you decide to undergo blepharoplasty, this does not mean that the possibility of general anesthesia is automatically excluded in your case. Avoiding anesthesia during surgical correction of the eyelids is possible only with a technically simple and small-scale operation, for example, with upper blepharoplasty. Of no small importance is the moral state of a person, who must be psychologically prepared to undergo surgery while conscious.

Speaking about the advantages of using local anesthesia during plastic surgery on the eyelids, it is worth mentioning the following points:

• extremely low risk of developing possible complications, since more “heavy” drugs are used during anesthesia
• the patient can move his eyelids and open and close them at the request of the doctor, which makes it easier for the latter to carry out the operation
• the risk of under- or over-correction of the eyelids is reduced
• opportunity to go home on the day of surgery

But since plastic surgery, regardless of the level of technical complexity, is a surgical intervention, blepharoplasty under local anesthesia has its pitfalls. So:

• During the operation, the patient will have high blood pressure due to nervous tension. This phenomenon in itself is not dangerous, but it will be less convenient for the doctor to work
• there is still a risk of allergic and other reactions to drugs
• Many surgeons fundamentally work only with patients under anesthesia, so as not to be distracted by anything during the operation

How is the operation performed?

Whether local or general anesthesia is ultimately used, the patient follows the same rules regarding the preoperative period. So, you should not take blood-thinning medications, and stop drinking alcohol and smoking 2 weeks before the intervention. The patient submits a list of tests, and doctors also compile his allergy and anesthesiological history so that during the operation there are no complications or threats to the patient’s health and life.

Before the operation, the plastic surgeon applies special markings on those areas of the eyelids where eyelid surgery will be performed. Then an antiseptic is applied to the entire face and painkiller injections are administered. After the anesthetic takes effect, the plastic surgeon begins manipulations.

After the operation is completed, the patient spends several hours in the ward under observation. If no complications arise, painkillers (tablets or injections) are prescribed, then the patient is discharged home.

Is it painful to have blepharoplasty under local anesthesia?

To ensure that the patient does not feel pain and is not under anesthesia, two methods are used.

1. The first is called application, which involves local application of an anesthetic cream or spray. After this, the area becomes numb, but the cream does not affect the deeper layers. This method of pain relief is usually used for Botox or filler injections.
2. The second method is injection. From the name it is clear that the anesthetic drug is injected into the tissues using an injection, which allows the active substance to penetrate the subcutaneous fat fiber and muscle. Typically the drug contains lidocaine, ultracaine and bupivacaine.

The injections themselves are quite unpleasant to endure, because the injections are administered to a considerable depth, and the periorbital area itself is very sensitive. When the operation itself takes place, there will be no pain, but all manipulations will be felt - the pressure of the instruments, the moving threads during suturing. The process will resemble dental treatment with anesthesia, when the movements of dental instruments in the oral cavity are felt, but without pain.

During blepharoplasty, the patient will see the light of surgical lamps, and also, if a laser is used instead of a scalpel, the person lying on the operating table will also have to inhale the smell of burnt meat. Not everyone can cope with such an ordeal calmly, so sedatives are often added to local anesthesia to put the patient into a calmer, sleepier state.

If the patient has a low pain threshold or is too sensitive, then intravenous sedation is usually recommended. Consciousness is switched off, which makes this option of pain relief almost equivalent to anesthesia, with which they differ only in the dosage of drugs and the possibility of spontaneous breathing.

How long the pain relief will be provided depends on the amount and concentration of the drug administered. The individual characteristics of the patient’s body also have an impact. There have been cases when during surgery the patient feels that the effect of the painkiller is decreasing. In such a situation, you need to tell the plastic surgeon about this, who will administer an additional injection.

Possible complications after blepharoplasty

The most dangerous complication of local anesthesia is an allergic reaction to the components of the drug, which can lead to anaphylactic shock. To avoid this, the surgeon and anesthesiologist examine the patient's health status and, if there is reasonable doubt, perform a sensitivity test. This test is also performed at the request of the patient. But even if the test turns out to be positive, then with the wide variety of modern anesthetics available today, it will not be difficult for doctors to replace the substance in the drug that causes an allergy in the patient.

Side effects of local anesthesia may include puncture of the vessel, which will cause the patient to feel a burning sensation during the injection. After surgery, puncture of the vessel may lead to the formation of a bruise. There is also a risk of impaired spontaneous breathing, but this complication occurs in patients with a history of serious respiratory dysfunction. But for such patients, local anesthetics are generally contraindicated.

Let's sum it up

The choice of a particular type of anesthesia is influenced by whether upper or lower blepharoplasty will be performed. The individual characteristics of the patient’s body also contribute to the selection process. Patients themselves can express their preferences in choosing pain relief, but the plastic surgeon has the final say. But patients should remember that the use of one or another type of anesthesia does not affect the quality of the operation - only the level of professionalism of the doctor affects this.

The time has come when cosmetics no longer allow you to look 10 years younger - droopy eyelids show age, no matter how hard you try or cover it up. They say different things about blepharoplasty: the operation is easy, like going to the dentist, the rehabilitation period is from two to three weeks, the next correction will be required no earlier than in 7 years.

I have no time to think - it’s already 50 years. I went to the clinic after reading reviews. It’s surprising that the doctor I chose based on reviews practices practically next to my house. I considered this a lucky sign. I didn’t even have time to comprehend everything that happened then - I called the clinic to find out about a consultation, they said, come over now. I drove up, talked with the doctor for five minutes, and immediately made an appointment for tests and surgery. Less than a week later, I got new eyes.

So, we were shown into the room and given disposable underwear. The surgeon came and took photographs. The anesthesiologist took me to the operating room. There they strapped me to a table, put clothespins on the fingers of my right hand to measure my oxygen level, put a cuff on my left forearm - the whole operation monitored my blood pressure. They covered her with a sheet up to her eyes and injected a sedative into her vein.

The doctor came, drew future incisions on the eyelids, and warned that he would carefully place injections. Indeed, very carefully, with a thin needle, I numbed the eyelids first, then with a thick needle I injected the required amount of painkiller.

To the right and left, two shadowless lamps shone - a little bright, uncomfortable. The operation lasted about an hour and a half, the doctor and I talked constantly. There were almost no unpleasant sensations, only at the end, when we worked on the lower eyelids, it became a bit painful. The doctor sewed the stitches, adding anesthesia.

After the operation, I got up myself and went into the room. There was no dizziness, double vision, watery eyes, and there was no pain either. They put an ice compress on my eyelids and I lay there for about an hour. then they sent me home. An hour later I was already driving my car without feeling any discomfort.

The first day was strange - it’s not very comfortable to be indoors wearing glasses. There was no pain. The most difficult thing was sleeping on my back, half-sitting. The first few days I didn’t watch TV, I listened to audiobooks all day long. You shouldn't strain your eyes.

Today is day five and I feel much better. The second and third days are the hardest - there is severe swelling, there is still blood on the napkins. Now nothing bothers me except the itching from the stitches. By the way, the stitches were not removed; they will be removed on the eighth day.

The face, of course, is very scary in the first days, the bruises are a frightening color. But gradually they become yellow. You cannot smoke or drink alcohol two weeks before the operation and two weeks after; you need to limit yourself as much as possible in salt. Now I apply Traumeel C and Venalife to my bruises, and apply cabbage leaf compresses twice a day. Rehabilitation is still in full swing. It’s as if my eyes are not mine, but I already like me.

What I can confirm or deny: the operation is really painless, no worse than going to the dentist. The rehabilitation period for me personally turned out to be longer than even when the cyst was cut out of my gum. But the dental intervention that time and the postoperative period were more painful and painful. Rehabilitation after blepharo does not fit into 2-3 weeks, I can already feel it. As for everything else, we'll see.

Added.

Today is day 9. The stitches were removed yesterday. Bruises remain, but without swelling and are easily masked with concealers. There is practically no swelling; the right upper eyelid remains slightly swollen in the morning. The scabs from the seams have almost come off; when the seams are completely clean, you can take off the glasses.

I would like to give recommendations for quick rehabilitation. In addition to sleeping on my back on high pillows until the stitches were removed, I took Hypotazid 25 mg once a day, half a tablet, for swelling. To strengthen blood vessels and prevent the formation of age spots (it’s still summer) Ascorutin 3 times a day. I lubricate the seams only with Chlorhexidine, moistening cotton swabs with it. Twice a day I apply Venolife ointment and Traumelgel C gel to the bruises in turn. Several times a day I apply very thin plastic sheets of raw potatoes, almost transparent, to the hematomas. Before going to bed, I also apply cabbage leaves, first cutting them crosswise. Thanks to these procedures, within a week the terrible hematomas turned into small bruises.

Today I warmed the blackness of the bruise with dry heat, using boiled potatoes in their jackets. The ink color turned to red. It is very effective, but you can start warming up the hematoma only when the swelling has completely disappeared.

Added.

3 months have passed since the operation. The seam on the left upper eyelid is absolutely invisible, on the right it is bright pink, if you do not cover it with shadows, it is visible. I’m used to the face, but if you don’t look at the photos, it seems like it was like that.

I thought that after three months the operation would be nothing but memories, but this is not the case - rehabilitation continues. Only now the numbness of the upper eyelids has gone away, although closer to the inner corner it still persists. Interesting sensations during the transition from the cheeks to the lower eyelids - itching-not-itching, difficult to explain. Those who have undergone surgery say that it is the nerves that are sprouting))) Maybe so. More pleasant than not.

It still hurts to put pressure on the suture of the upper eyelid - the suture from appendicitis has not hurt for so long. I really want to rub my eyes very hard, I start to rub, and I am afraid that the stitches will come apart. In general, I’m already tired of everything, I want to forget. Now I doubt that the seam on the right eyelid will ever lighten.

I’ll wait, maybe in six months after the operation everything will finally go away.

Added.

1.5 years have passed since the operation. The white seams with stitches on the eyelids are still visible. The left eye is in a natural fold, almost invisible, and the right eyelid very easily shows where the operation was. If I didn’t use decorative cosmetics every day, I’m sure some attentive friends would ask questions.

The pain has gone away, but numbness on the upper eyelid closer to the inner corner remains.

The lower eyelids have not acquired folds, but they no longer have tone; you cannot hide your age.

And the main conclusion: everything is correct - it was necessary to have an operation. Despite the fact that “wow didn’t happen,” the gaze remains open, the shape of the eyes is not Buryat, like all my elderly relatives. If I changed something, it would probably be the doctor. But how can you guess? The reviews were the best.