Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure to remove excess fat, skin, and muscle from around the eye area. It can entail a variety of techniques depending on the patient's needs. A very common technique is to have an incision made along the natural crease of the upper eyelid. The muscle that gives your eyelids their lower border will then be tightened so it's lifted up higher than before.

Blepharoplasty is great for correcting a lot of different conditions. People who suffer from puffiness, bags of the eyes, hooded eyelids, or even very large upper lids can undergo blepharoplasty. If you're planning on undergoing the surgery here are some tips on how to properly prepare for it.

1. No smoking or drinking before the surgery

You should not smoke the week before your surgery. This is because smoking causes blood vessels to constrict, which in turn makes them hard to get rid of by the surgeon. If this happens, it can cause more damage in the process of reshaping your eyelids.

You should also avoid drinking alcohol for a whole day before your surgery. This is because alcohol can increase blood pressure and make it difficult for you to relax during anesthesia and recover from it.

2. Careful with any medications you take

Certain medications can cause not only the risk of bleeding but also damage to scars. Be sure to tell your surgeon about all your current medications before the surgery. If you take any blood-thinning medication, such as aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) you should stop taking them seven days prior to your surgery.

3. Make sure you undergo the necessary examinations

Your doctor needs to examine you thoroughly in order to make sure that you aren't suffering from any serious medical conditions. This examination will also be used to determine the amount of fat and skin that needs to be removed from your face.

Your surgeon will need to examine you before surgery in order to find out the type of blepharoplasty procedure that is most suitable for you. They need to check how much fat, skin, and muscle they can remove without causing permanent scarring and disfigurement.

4. Be honest about your medical history 

Tell your surgeon about any previous injuries or surgeries. Some of the things they will want to know about include the following: If you have received stitches, how many, and where have they been placed? Have you had previous surgery on your upper eyelids? If so, does it appear to be healing nicely? You also need to tell your surgeon if you are allergic to any medications or if you have a disease or infection that affects your body.

5. Get yourself a designated driver to and from the hospital 

Driving yourself to the hospital after the surgery is not very fun. It's important for you to have someone who can drive you there and back when it's time. It's best if this person drives you to your surgery, so they can watch your children at home, and then take over as driver afterwards. The same should go for the pick-up from the hospital.

For more tips, contact local eye surgeons.