Double eyelid surgery—while most popular in East Asia—is growing in popularity in the United States. Often performed under local anesthesia, patients sometimes voice concerns about the discomfort or pain they may experience—both during and after the surgery. As a sensitive part of the face, this is a completely understandable worry.
What Is Double Eyelid Surgery?
Double eyelid surgery is a procedure often performed on people of Asian descent (though not exclusively) who have a monolid. The procedure creates a visible crease in the eyelid. The function of the eye is not altered. Even though it is a surgical procedure, the eyelids will likely return to their original shape; however, this takes several years and potentially decades.
As previously mentioned, the procedure is popular in East Asia and is often one of the most performed and sought out procedures. In fact, until US-based surgeons began performing quality double eyelid surgery, people in the US would travel to countries like Korea to undergo the surgery. There are now many surgeons who perform double eyelid surgery regularly in the United States.
Is It Painful?
In general, patients will feel no pain during a double eyelid surgery regardless of the type of anesthesia used. In the case of local anesthesia, the anesthetic usually consists of lidocaine injections with either IV sedation or oral sedatives. This not only numbs the surgical area but helps keep the patient relaxed and relatively still.
During a Raleigh eye lift with Dr. Jindal, patients tend to remain perfectly comfortable. They may feel some movement or pressure, but should not feel any pain. After the procedure, patients may begin to feel some discomfort as the local anesthesia wears off. However, most patients report that this pain is not extreme and many manage with over-the-counter pain medications.
Other possible side effects a patient may experience following upper eyelid fat removal in Raleigh include blurry vision, itchiness, mild dry eye, tightness, and swelling. These side effects usually subside within a few days after surgery as the patient heals. Though residual swelling may be present for two or more weeks. As mentioned, patients rarely need prescription pain medication, but Dr. Jindal may provide it at his discretion based on the patient’s medical history and specific needs.
Dr. Jindal performs all of his double eyelid surgeries under local anesthesia. This is because the surgery is short and patients tend to tolerate it without issue. Additionally, using local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia shortens recovery time and reduces the side effects patients may experience.
Conclusion
Patients considering double eyelid surgery can expect a fairly quick and minimally painful surgery. Dr. Jindal has experience with functional and cosmetic eye surgeries, making him an efficient and knowledgeable surgeon when it comes to upper eye lift surgery in Raleigh. To learn more and schedule a consultation with Dr. Sumeet Jindal at the Jindal Institute for Youthful Aging, call us at 919-861-4494 ext. 3. Patients can also reach out via email [email protected] and chat. Virtual consultations can be booked online through our online scheduler.
