Laser eyelid rejuvenation surgery
	Why laser?
	The surgery and its after effects
	Eyelid smoothing
	Summary

Why laser?

Why has there been such a fuss latterly about the CO2 laser, since the technique has been around for twenty years?
Because the latest technological innovations now make it possible to use this laser in two ways.

1) Ultrapulsed mode (very high-energy pulses over a very short period): it is now possible to vaporise cells without accumulating heat, without burning, without carbonisation and therefore with no secondary scars. This technique is called "LASER RESURFACING", "LASER SMOOTHING" or "LASERBRASION".

2) Continuous mode: in this case the laser is used as a scalpel, known as a "MAGIC SCALPEL" because no bleeding is involved.

Both these techniques are used for eyelid surgery:
- Lower transconjunctival blepharoplasty (for bags under the eyes) - through a very fine conjunctival incision inside the eyelid, the fatty pockets are vaporised with a laser.
- Upper lid blepharoplasty: an incision is made, a small strip of skin is removed and the fat is vaporised. The scar is imperceptible because it is hidden by the eyelid fold.

The surgery and its after effects

Lower lid blepharoplasty: this carried out under local anaesthesia potentialised by light sedation. It lasts 45 minutes. It is an outpatient procedure, and the patient goes home within three hours.

Rest is strictly necessary during the first few hours, because light secondary bleeding may occur due to a rise in blood pressure, and this could cancel the beneficial effects of the laser. The patient may resume normal activity within 48 hours: there is no bruising, no swelling and no incision to the skin.

Upper lid blepharoplasty: laser treatment to laser on the upper eyelid results in a scar that is very fine (and soon imperceptible) thanks to use in the pulsed mode.
The operation is much more rapid, with less bruising than in conventional surgery because there is no bleeding during the operation. The stitches are removed five days after surgery and normal activity may be resumed in the second week (eighth day).

Eyelid smoothing

The skin of the eyelid reacts the best to laser treatment because it is very fine and needs only low-power lasers.

a) Surgery

- Local anaesthesia alone
- Duration 20 minutes
- No pain.

b) After surgery

- A dressing applied to enable new skin to grow very quickly; it is removed on the fourth or fifth day.
- The skin is then very pink and must be lubricated from the fifth to the tenth day.
- It is possible to apply makeup on the 11the day, when normal activity is also resumed.

c) Results

Smoothing techniques can completely eliminate lines around the eyes and the skin is more elastic with more collagen and elastin fibres. The result is much more natural than with conventional techniques that involve cutting and pulling the skin, often modifying the appearance of the eyes, giving a "surgical look".

Summary

These different techniques may be associated with a rejuvenating eye treatment, and may be carried out either at the same time or at different times.