Blepharoplasty, an eyelid surgery, is generally performed on patients who are well into their 30s or even in their 40s. However, in a technical sense, this surgery can be performed at any age. There are no specific age restrictions for undergoing blepharoplasty. In rare cases, five or six year old kids may also need to undergo the surgery because they have a problem opening the upper eyelid area.
In some cases, lower eyelid blepharoplasty can be performed on younger patients who are in their late teens. At this age, the patient may just need to have the bulging fat removed from the area, but not any skin. The fat removal incision can be made inside the eyelid, and not outside of the eyelid. This ensures that there is no external scar left after the blepharoplasty procedure.
Ideal candidates for blepharoplasty are patients in good physical health. At the same time, the patients must have realistic expectations from the procedure they are about to receive. In some cases, patients may need this surgery not out of cosmetic considerations, but because they are unable to see properly. Drooping eyelids can sometimes obstruct the patient’s vision and this can be corrected with the blepharoplasty procedure.
Patients who suffer from dry eyes, which mean that they have an inadequate production of tears, are not good candidates for this type of surgery. Furthermore, patients with severe medical conditions, advanced conditions of hypertension, diabetes, blood circulation disorders, heart disease, and thyroid problems may not be well suited for this procedure either.
It is very important that the patient does provide their accurate medical history to the surgeon prior to the procedure, preferably during the first consultation. This will help the surgeon to evaluate the candidate and determine the right approach he will need to take to perform the surgery.
