During your blepharoplasty consult your doctor will carefully discuss your concerns and your goals with you.
To make your first visit for your eyelid surgery a success, plan on discussing the following information with your doctor:
- List of Previous surgeries
- Your past and present medical conditions
- Medication(s) you are taking
- Allergies, especially those that affect your eyes
- Any problems with dry eyes
- Any visual problems
As part of the examination for your eyelid surgery your eyes will be evaluated, and photographed for your medical records. Your doctor will assess the amount of excess fat and skin in your eyelid areas, the position of your eyebrows and the condition of the muscles. Your personal desires are key in the decision making process. You should approach eyelid surgery with extra caution if you have any of the following medical conditions:
- Thyroid problems, such as hypothyroidism or Graves' disease
- Lower eyelids that droop significantly and reveal the white beneath the iris (the eye's colored portion)
- Eye problems, such as "dry eyes," a detached retina or glaucoma
- High blood pressure or other circulatory disorders
- Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
It is very important at your eyelid surgery consult to inform your doctor if you have any of these problems. If you do have visual impairment caused by excess upper eyelid skin, and this can be objectively proven with a visual field test, then insurance may cover some or all of the cost of the surgical procedure.