Eyelid Surgery for Men
in San Francisco, Novato & Marin County, CA

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR EYELID SURGERY

The initial consultation for eyelid surgery can be scheduled at either Dr. Delgado’s San Francisco office near Union Square or his Novato office in Marin County. Dr. Delgado will discuss your concerns in great detail at this meeting, and your goals and expectations will be addressed. Digital photography may be used to put your image on the computer. Computer imaging can aid in evaluating your appearance and demonstrating the proposed changes that can be achieved. Your medical history will be reviewed, and a physical examination will be conducted. Dr. Delgado will determine if the upper eyelid sagging is due to the upper eyelid skin, laxity of the eyebrow, or a combination of both. He will also determine if there is laxity of the lower eyelids that could be improved with tightening or other procedures.

Dr. Delgado will advise you as to whether eyelid surgery is the best procedure. He will help you decide whether both the upper and lower eyelids need correction and whether a brow lift is advisable. At times, additional suggestions are made. For example, if you would like eyelid rejuvenation, which will make your face look significantly younger, he may suggest other procedures to balance the face and create harmony.

Lastly, you will be given a pre-operative instruction booklet that will explain medications that will be ordered and any preparations that need to be made at home for recovery. This pre-operative booklet provides a detailed list of aspirin and aspirin-containing compounds, including anti-inflammatory products, that must be discontinued two weeks before and two weeks after surgery to minimize bleeding. The booklet also recommends vitamin supplements and homeopathic remedies that can be taken to minimize bruising and promote healing.

The first few hours after surgery are spent in the recovery room, and cold compresses are placed over the eyes. The head and back are elevated above the heart to reduce swelling. When full alertness has returned, you may be discharged to your home. It is necessary to have a responsible adult to assist in the first 24 hours. The surgery is not painful, but a sensation of tightness from the swelling can be uncomfortable. During the early 48 hours, ice compresses to the eyelids will significantly reduce this swelling. Some patients experience irritation and dryness after surgery, and in this case, an ointment or eye drops will be prescribed until the symptoms resolve.

It is recommended for both upper and lower eyelid surgery to take five to seven days off work. If only the upper lids are done, you can likely return to work after three to four days. The sutures are removed five days after eyelid surgery in Sonoma County. The bruising resolve in seven to ten days, and at this point, the use of eye makeup and contact lenses may be resumed. The incisions remain pink for approximately four to six weeks, gradually fading to inconspicuous lines in about eight to twelve weeks. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for the first four to six weeks following surgery, as excessive exercise can cause unwelcome and persistent swelling.

WILL I HAVE VISIBLE EYELID SURGERY SCARS?

The upper eyelid incision is concealed within the natural crease fold and truly fades to the point of disappearing. The only way to see the incision is when the eyes are closed—this natural fold results in an excellent scar. For a lower lid blepharoplasty in Napa Valley, potential post-operative scarring depends on the technique. If a patient has fat fullness, but the skin and muscle tone is tight, there is no incision outside the eyelid. 

This transconjunctival incision is on the undersurface of the eyelid—thus, no external incision or scar. The other lower eyelid technique is performed when the eyelid skin is loose or saggy, and there is muscle laxity and lid laxity.

This requires an external incision below the eyelashes and usually extends out to the crow’s feet area. The incision below the eyelashes is an excellent scar. While the one that extends to the crow’s feet area takes more time to mature, it also typically results in a good-quality, inconspicuous scar.

ARE THERE POTENTIAL EYELID SURGERY RISKS OR COMPLICATIONS?

As with any surgery, there are risks and complications with eyelid surgery—but in the hands of an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, the procedure can be performed with excellent safety.

There are risks of infection, bleeding, scarring, prolonged swelling, and on rare occasions, even blindness with eyelid surgery. The most common side effect experienced is the eye irritation of healing with the tearing mechanism being interrupted—possibly causing dry or irritated eyes. This usually resolves as the swelling is reduced.