Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery Specialist Op. Dr. Süleyman Köken answered frequently asked questions from patients regarding upper and lower eyelid surgeries performed under the umbrella of periorbital aesthetics.

What is eyelid surgery? Actually, it’s also called periorbital surgery. Patients come to us complaining of sagging upper eyelids, bags under the eyes, sagging skin, and wrinkles. Sometimes, there’s also drooping eyebrows. The procedures performed to correct all these problems are called eyelid surgery.

Who is a suitable candidate for eyelid surgery? Generally speaking, there is no necessity for it in aesthetic procedures. What is important is whether the procedure requested by the patient is medically appropriate. Even if the patient is elderly, if the requested procedure is suitable, it can be easily performed at older ages as well.

What precautions should be taken before surgery? Each patient should be evaluated individually before surgery. If the patient is taking blood-thinning medication, or using non-medicinal blood-thinning herbal supplements such as green tea or cherry stem tea, we recommend that they stop using them one week before the surgery.

How is eyelid surgery performed? Each patient is thoroughly evaluated before the surgery. The procedures to be performed during the surgery are determined and marked with a pen, according to the patient’s needs. Then, the procedure begins with local anesthesia. Upper eyelid surgery under local anesthesia takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.

Is eye patching required after surgery? Eye patching is not required after surgery. It does not interfere with normal vision. If patients feel well, they can even perform daily household chores without difficulty.

What precautions should be taken after surgery? We recommend that our patients apply cold compresses for 2-3 days to minimize swelling and bruising that may occur after surgery. Patients can be discharged the same day after surgery. They should avoid blood-thinning medications for about a week. The stitches are removed in the first week after surgery. During this time, we recommend massaging the area with antibiotic creams. Swelling and edema subside after 2-3 weeks. It may take several months for the suture marks to completely disappear. Our patients can start light walking 2-3 days after surgery, and brisk walking after a few weeks. We recommend that they avoid strenuous sports that significantly increase blood pressure, such as fitness and weightlifting, for a while longer.

What is Lower Eyelid Surgery? Patients may experience pain during lower eyelid surgery when under-eye bags are removed. Therefore, for the comfort of both the patient and the doctor, we recommend that the surgery be performed in a hospital setting under general anesthesia. The pre- and post-operative procedures for lower eyelid surgery are the same as for upper eyelid surgery.