Blepharoplasty Eyelid Surgery Procedure

Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery) in Sydney – Procedure

What happens during eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) in Sydney?

When you book your appointment to discuss eyelid surgery in Sydney, you will be sent a Patient Information Form. Completing this and returning it prior to your appointment will streamline your appointment. Most patients will not meet the criteria for Medicare financial assistance for their blepharoplasty, so their procedure is classed as cosmetic by the Federal Department of Health. Due to this, from the 1st July 2023 onwards, Federal Guidelines state that you will also need to complete a screening questionnaire for Body Dysmorphic Disorder when making your appointment.

Consultation appointments prior to eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) in Sydney

At your first appointment, you should expect to spend about an hour with Dr Gavin Sandercoe discussing eyelid surgery (also known as blepharoplasty). During this time he will take a thorough history and perform a full facial examination. Your main points of concern, and a detailed examination of your eyelids and surrounding structures, will help plan which is the most appropriate surgical technique for your eyelid surgery in Sydney. Digital photographs are taken to assist with planning and explaining any asymmetries or limitations.

Dr Gavin Sandercoe is a fully qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon with training and experience in many techniques of blepharoplasty. He does not favour one particular technique – instead, he will help you understand which procedure will best suit your face and your recovery needs, creating a personalised plan for your eyelid surgery in Sydney.

Dr Gavin Sandercoe will discuss what you wish to achieve from your procedure. The risks and expectations of the procedure are then discussed and you are given a take home information package to review before your second consultation. You may be asked to see an ophthalmologist if any part of your initial examination suggests that you would benefit from more in-depth care of your eyes. A frequent finding in older patients is undiagnosed dry eyes, which can be substantially improved with the correct drops and your corneal health should be monitored by a specialist ophthalmologist. Luckily Dr Gavin Sandercoe‘s little brother is Dr Trent Sandercoe, a local specialist ophthalmologist.

You are offered a second consultation free of charge to give you the opportunity to ask more questions that may have arisen after reading your information package, and to confirm your aims and choices for your eyelid surgery in Sydney. The Federal Guidelines for Cosmetic Surgery that came into effect on 1st July 2023 classify most cases of upper blepharoplasty and all cases of lower blepharoplasty as cosmetic because they do not qualify for a Medicare item number. The descriptor of Medicare note TN.8.103 states that patients need to have demonstration of visual field impairment to qualify for an upper blepharoplasty. This is only able to be proven in few patients, and the costs of having visual field testing soak up most of the Medicare rebate that patients receive from providing that proof. Due to this legislation, a second consultation is mandatory for almost all patients requesting blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery).

The day of your eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) in Sydney

Dr Gavin Sandercoe only performs blepharoplasty in Sydney in accredited hospitals and day surgeries, ensuring that your safety is paramount. There are other specialists that prefer to do their blepharoplasty surgery under local anaesthetic, but there are very few instances that Dr Gavin Sandercoe would suggest that as a better option.

You are put to sleep by a specialist anaesthetist (general anaesthetic), and pain relief and antibiotics are given through a drip before the operation is started. The antibiotic helps to prevent an infection from developing & minimising your post-operative risks. Once you are asleep, you will have planning marks drawn on you, a safety punch test performed, and a digital photograph taken. Dr Gavin Sandercoe has performed pre-operative marking with patients awake in the past, but found that the markings are invariably smudged by the time that incisions are being made due to inevitable patient blinking. Your face is prepared with an betaine solution and drapes are applied around your face. Local anaesthetic is instilled in the operating area. The incisions are made and the eyelid skin is lifted up to allow manipulation of the underlying tissues into a more functional position. Any excess skin is removed, and the incisions are closed and dressings applied.

Most eyelid surgery is a day surgery procedure, so you will be able to go home on the same day as your blepharoplasty operation. Dr Gavin Sandercoe will monitor you to ensure your safety during and after your eyelid surgery in Sydney.

What are the risks of blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) in Sydney?

You can click on the above link to go to a webpage that discusses the risks of blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) surgery. Alternatively, below is Dr Gavin Sandercoe‘s consent document that outlines the risks of blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) in Sydney. Please read this document, and watch the video of the risks being explained, prior to your appointment with Dr Gavin Sandercoe.

Blepharoplasty Risks 2023 PDF

Learn more about the procedure for eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) in Sydney

If you’re interested in more detail about what the blepharoplasty procedure entails, here’s an animated video created by the American Society for Plastic Surgeons showing the procedure. Dr Sandercoe would also be happy to discuss the surgical process with you in detail and answer your questions about it during your consultation appointments.

Watch ASPS 3D Animation: Eyelid Surgery