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STEP-BY-STEP PLAN
Appointment
Make an appointment for a preliminary visit with Dr. Karim. In it we will discuss your wishes. When you make an appointment you can nearly always count on being received by Dr. Karim within 2 weeks.
Operation
The procedure can usually be performed within two weeks of the preliminary visit.
Rest
After the procedure, take a week to relax. Recovery from an operation is important, give yourself the time and rest you need to recover!
Follow-up and removal of stitches
Two weeks after the operation you will come back for us to see how you’re doing and to remove the stitches.
Final checkup
Three months after the operation, we’d like to see you again for a final checkup. We check if everything has recovered properly and if you are satisfied with the final result.
Before the operation
Travel
Because you cannot drive home after an operation (no car or bicycle), it is important to make travel arrangements.
Drugs
Do you use blood-thinning drugs? Please let us know if you do. Ask the doctor from whom you get the prescription and find out if you can temporarily stop treatment. Your doctor will tell you how many days before the operation you should or can stop taking the blood-thinning drug. Dr. Karim wants to ensure this is possible in order to avoid unnecessary risks.
Disease
Fever or flu the day before the operation? Contact Dr. Karim to decide if the operation can be performed or should be postponed.
Cosmetics and personal care products
We understand that you always want to look your best, but on the day of surgery you cannot use skin care products or makeup.
Alcohol
You may feel nervous about the operation, but you can’t drink alcohol the day before (or on the day itself, of course!)! Drinking alcohol increases the chances of subsequent bleeding of the wound.
Lymphatic drainage
To prepare your skin for the operation, you can undergo lymphatic drainage with your dermatologist.
During the operation
Signing of the consent form
Local anaesthetic
Cleaning of the face and preparation of sterile area
Removal of excess skin, muscle, and possibly also fat from the eyelids
Stitching
Operating time: about 45 minutes
After the operation
Swelling
Your eyelids may be thick, blue or swollen. This is bothersome, but completely normal and the symptoms disappear by themselves.
Cold
For the first 48 hours you should apply cold to your eyes: with gel glasses or a bag of frozen peas.
Water
Do not wet your eyes for the first 48 hours.
Pain
The eyelids and surrounding area will feel sore for the first few days. Then the pain will subside.
Drugs
If you wish, you can take two 500 mg paracetamol tablets four times a day.
Sleep with your head raised high
Sleep the first night with your head raised, this will help prevent swelling.
Physical activity
Avoid overexertion, such as bending over or lifting heavy objects.
Stitches
The stitches are reabsorbed after seven days.
Scar cream
Four weeks after the operation, you can start applying a few smears of scar cream.
Risks
Bleeding problems
These are common. Your eye contour will turn blue. The blue colouration disappears after a few days.
Infection of the wound
Very rare
Bleeding behind the eye (in the eye socket)
This is a rare and dangerous. If it happens, contact us immediately.
Compressed optic nerve
The optic nerve may become impinged, which could lead to blindness. You can detect this by sudden bruising (the eye area turns blue and swollen, and is accompanied by impaired eyesight). Contact us immediately.
Opening of the wound
The wound may open when the patches or stitches are removed prematurely. Leave the patches and stitches in place until the follow-up appointment.
Epithelial cyst
On rare occasions, an epithelial cyst (skin cyst) may develop. This can be removed.
Results
The result of an upper eyelid correction is long-lasting.
Because of scarring, the eyelid may begin to tighten in the first few weeks. This is completely normal and remits with time.
Numbness and fluid retention
You may also experience temporary numbness of the eyelids and fluid retention. These symptoms will automatically disappear with time.