Blepharoplasty generally yields a marked and long-lasting improvement with less cost, risk, pain, and inconvenience. While many physical variables influence the final result, the outcome of cosmetic eyelid surgery depends greatly upon the skill and experience of the surgeon. Blepharoplasty is perhaps the most exacting operation in the field of facial plastic surgery, and even minor errors in judgment or technique can create an unnatural appearance. Hereditary tendencies often hasten such deterioration. A person is ready for cosmetic eyelid surgery whenever the effects of Mother Nature bother him or her enough that an improvement is desired.
Most people report minimal or no discomfort during the procedure.
Compared to general anesthesia, local anesthesia is associated with less bleeding, enhanced precision, faster recovery, increased safety, and thus better results. Compared to a stainless steel scalpel, use of the carbon dioxide laser to perform blepharoplasty has been associated with increased collateral tissue damage, delayed healing, increased scarring, less precision, and higher cost. Advertised claims of less bruising and a more rapid recovery have not been validated by recent unbiased studies. The eyelid tissues are too delicate. The majority of patients report mild aching, which can usually be controlled with Tylenol.