Photo: Trunk Archive/Antonio Terron
As the supposed windows to the soul, it seems unfair that our eyes and the surrounding areas are the first places to show signs of aging, no matter how young we feel at heart. While going under the knife at the first sign of this sagging skin may seem drastic, the sudden rise of an eye lift is a fascinating affair. Billed as the subtle but eye-catching cosmetic surgery that gives some of the world’s most photographed faces their extra It factor, an eye lift – known in medical terms as a blepharoplasty – has the potential to reverse some of the most significant signs of ageing. “Blepharoplasty is becoming more and more popular as people are now more conscious of their appearance, especially with all this social media,” says Dubai-based surgeon Dr Dany Kayle, founder of Dr Kayle Aesthetic Clinic, noting that time for social and remote dating apps have given women the opportunity to examine their face in greater detail. Performed under local anesthesia and sedation, the 30-minute surgery can correct the most severe drooping and sagging skin that is beyond the power of Botox by removing excess eyelid skin and under-eye bags, he says. Dr. Kayle. Depending on the individual, the result is a wider eye shape, a more defined and lifted brow, and a smoother under-eye area, with no obvious tell-tale signs of cosmetic surgery after recovery. More timeless than sometimes – serious fox-eye threads or as obvious as a full facelift, a blepharoplasty can be more subtle or completely face-changing, depending on the client’s preferences.
Dr. Yiannis Alexandridis, founder of 111SKIN and medical director of 111 Harley St, points out that “filler fatigue” is driving clients to consider longer-term results. “People are realizing the benefits of this procedure, as surgery offers natural-looking results that last a long time, unlike some treatments such as fillers which can lead to complications such as lumpiness or swelling. I’m seeing more and more people who have ditched fillers and are looking for an experienced blepharoplasty doctor.” Dr. Kayle says most of his Middle Eastern patients are over 40 years old. Immediate results, he says, are a big part of the surgery’s appeal, with revisions not required for years. “The results last about seven to 10 years,” he points out. “I tell patients we’re turning back the clock, but we can’t stop it from ticking.”
Performed on just the upper or lower eyelids, or both for a double blepharoplasty, the procedure cuts through three separate layers of skin, fat and muscle and removes and reattachs these tissues to re-engineer the new shape of the eyelid. Dr. Alexandridis says that depending on the severity of the case, a lighter touch may be used. “There is a technique that does not involve a skin incision, but can be done through the inside of the eye, which is called transconjunctival blepharoplasty. In these techniques, we tighten the skin and remove or redistribute fat to make the skin look smooth.” Like any surgery, there are potential risks, including limited eyelid closure, unwanted inward folding of the eyelid, along with ectropion, a condition where the eyelid falls outward.
Despite its seemingly sudden appearance, blepharoplasty – or as TikTokers call it “the bleph” – is not a new technique. Old Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe, a patient of Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Gardin, have long been rumored to have gone under the knife in preparation for their big break. Half a century earlier, double eyelid blepharoplasty was introduced in 1896 by Dr. Kotaro Mikamo, a Japanese surgeon, with the procedure migrating to the rest of the world. As plastic surgery becomes less taboo, slime has gone viral to reshape eyes for a more exaggerated doe look. Amassing 540 million views on TikTok, videos document patient surgeries and celebrity ‘before and after’ speculation. The procedure has also taken off with women in their 20s and 30s — younger than the usual anti-aging lineup — trying to define their facial features and lusting after the sculpted eyelids seen on the red carpet and in fashion campaigns.
But given how subtle the surgery can be, it’s no surprise that public figures are playing wild with their revamped looks, with the results often not apparent at first glance. Dubai-based content creator Yara admits she first became interested in the surgery after seeing it in the 2000 TV drama Nip/Tuck and became more interested in trying it herself as she neared her 50th birthday. “The skin around my eyes was gradually getting worse, becoming looser and more crepe-like, and I thought that a younger, more awake look would psychologically make me feel younger and more energetic,” she recalls.
Having done her research, Yara says she was hoping for a symmetrical and discreet result with no visible scarring. “Some surgeons fail to place the incisions in the upper eyelid crease and when the incisions are above the crease, you have to do a lot of work to reduce the scarring, from daily massage with silicone cream to laser treatment, as well as wearing eye makeup to hide the scars,” she explains. While she is happy with her results, she also points out that in her experience, the healing time was more extreme than her online research had led her to believe. “The most extreme swelling came in the first week after surgery. Some days my eyes flew up and I looked like I was in the ring with Tyson Fury. And then my dwarfs started to swell. Watching your own discolored face twist and contort with waves of fluctuating swelling and scarring is challenging.” Yara experienced this for weeks afterwards and couldn’t wear makeup for a month. He also has further work to do in the region. “My scars are above the fold, so I will need to have additional treatment to reduce them,” she adds. However, he shares, he finds the results to be worth it. “Some friends who didn’t know about my surgery have commented on how good I look and, at the end of a long night, I’m often shocked by my reflection in the bathroom mirror, forgetting for a moment why I look so awake at such a late hour. Then I remember that those indicator lights are gone forever.”
Originally published in the December 2023 issue of Vogue Arabia
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