Eyelid Surgery Chicago

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Many people seek out eyelid surgery for a number of reasons, whether it’s for medical or cosmetic purposes. If you’re suffering from a medical condition or simply don’t like the appearance of your eyelids and surrounding tissues, there are multiple solutions available.

It’s crucial to know the ins and outs of eyelid surgery so you can discern which route is best for your health and peace of mind. In 2020 alone, stats show that over 325,000 Americans had eyelid surgery, which shows it’s much more common than you might think. So, what is eyelid surgery, and what are the expected costs, risks, and surgical techniques?

Although the words eyelid surgery may sound self-explanatory, it’s a bit more complex than that. Also referred to as blepharoplasty, it’s a surgical procedure that helps to improve the aesthetics of the eyelids and can also be performed for medical reasons. The procedure is broken down into two areas, which are the upper and lower eyelids.

Regardless of your reason for pursuing the surgery, it’s bound to provide a rejuvenated look once you’ve fully healed. There are numerous health and cosmetic complications that eyelid surgery can treat.

Some of these include:

• Removing fatty deposits in the eyelids
• Minimize sagging skin which can lead to a drooping look and wrinkles, and affect your vision
• Heavy bags under the eyes
• The appearance of excess skin under or above the eyes

However, what eyelid surgery is able to treat is only one part of what you should to consider before pursuing the procedure. From costs, techniques, potential risks, and recovery, eyelid surgery is a fairly long-term commitment regarding the surgery itself and your lifestyle choices after the fact.
Types of Eyelid Surgery Procedures
Depending on your particular needs, you can consider a range of different eyelid surgery procedures. Some are more common than others, but each serves a specific purpose and can offer substantial improvements to your appearance. Although blepharoplasty is a common practice, as it aims to remove excess skin on and around the eyelids, other surgical procedures are sought out among a broad range of individuals and age groups.

Common types of eyelid surgery include the following:

Ptosis correction: This pertains to when one or both of your eyelids droop downward. Not only can this affect your vision, but can be aesthetically troublesome as well. In this case, the eyelids can be lifted and strengthened by shortening the eyelid muscle.

Ectropion or entropion repair: In the circumstance where the lower eyelid droops down and turns outward, this is referred to as ectropion. Whether it’s due to age or a range of health conditions such as skin disease, trauma, or even a tumor, ectropion can cause a lot of discomfort. Entropion relates to when the eyelid turns inward toward the eyeball. In short, surgery for this condition returns the eyelid to its normal position, which helps reduce irritation and pain, and improves vision.

Blepharoplasty: Focusing on some of the most common issues related to the eyelids, blepharoplasty helps by removing excess skin that’s caused by age or various lifestyle choices. When the skin of the eyelids starts to stretch, the excess skin can limit side vision, accentuate bags under your eyes, and cause a fairly droopy look in your eyes. Droopy eyelid surgery consists of removing excess skin and fatty tissue near the eyelid and even tightening muscles and tissue.

You may be experiencing one or more of the issues mentioned above, and your route to surgery may require a unique approach. Aside from the types of eyelid surgery that are available, you’ll also want to consider the total cost of your procedure.

Cost of Eyelid Surgery

The cost of eyelid surgery includes a variety of factors related to the expertise of the surgeon, techniques used, supplies, and even your location. Currently, the average cost for eyelid surgery is a little over $4,000, but this is just a rough number. You should expect the surgery to cost anywhere between $3,000 and $10,000, depending on the needs of your operation.

Surgery costs pertain to the following categories:

• Facility costs
• Anesthesia
• Any prescription medication that may be needed
• The surgeon’s fee
• Any testing related to your operation

All of these different fees can add to your bill, but it’s also common to set up payment plans. It’s understandable to seek your options for financial aid, and in special circumstances, your insurance company may be able to help you.

Is eyelid surgery covered by insurance?

If you’re seeking out eyelid surgery for cosmetic reasons alone, there’s a good chance your insurance company won’t help cover the costs. Although this may be unfortunate, this isn’t always the case, so it’s best to talk with your insurance company about the specifics of your procedure.

In the chance your procedure is strictly for medical reasons, you may be in luck with your insurance company. This will differ between different insurers and the circumstance of each patient. It’s best not to assume, so you should always give them a call before you commit to your procedure. Once you have that sorted out, you can move forward with scheduling the surgery and learn everything you need to know about before, during, and after the eyelid surgery.

Eyelid Surgery Before and After

There are a variety of steps that need to take place before your surgery takes place. Beforehand, your surgeon will walk you through preparation to ensure you’re as ready as possible.

This will include a medical evaluation or potentially lab testing. If you’re currently taking medications, you may have to adjust your regimen. You’ll need to refrain from smoking leading up to the surgery and avoid anti-inflammatory medicines, Aspirin, and herbal supplements. These can increase the chances of bruising and bleeding during and after the surgery.

Always consider that your specific procedure may come with its own set of preparation requirements. Not much is required of you during your procedure, as you’ll be under anesthesia from beginning to end. Other steps during the surgical process include the incision, internal and/or external work, and then closing the incision. Surgeons will always do their best to minimize the potential for scarring, but this can be hard to avoid in some circumstances.

Recovery Process

Your surgeon will provide detailed instructions on dos and don’ts regarding how you should care for yourself after your surgery. It’s common to apply lubricating ointment and cold compresses. There’s also a chance that your eyes may be covered by some gauze for some time after the procedure, which means you’ll need someone to drive you home as well.

You may need medication to help you with pain and swelling. Other symptoms after your surgery may include irritation, itching, dry eyes, and general discomfort in the area you had work done. It’s vital that you have ample sun protection and use sunglasses outside until you’ve fully healed. Regardless of which type of eyelid surgery Chicago has to offer, proper care is essential to see your desired results.

When you’re ready to explore your options for eyelid surgery, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 847-657-6884.

Frequently Asked Questions on Eyelid Surgery