Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is an operation that corrects
sagging, or drooping eyelids as well as bags and bulges around
the eyes. These conditions develop as a result of laxity of
the eyelid skin and protrusion of fat around the eyes. It is
not limited to older patients, as many individuals inherit
a predisposition toward development of fat pouches at an early
age. Excess skin is treated by excision or occasionally by
laser resurfacing. If excess fat is present, it can be removed
simultaneously. Care must be taken to not remove excessive
amounts of fat to avoid a hollowing appearance with increasing
age of the patient.
Surgical correction is appropriate for all
age groups. In some cases, the condition will be caused by
other medical
problems such as allergy or thyroid disorders. In these patients,
the proper treatment may be medical rather than surgical.
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