Almond eye surgery has the potential to give patients a comelier appearance to their eyes that fits in more closely with many beauty ideals that society holds about one’s eyes. This is why it’s quickly becoming one of the most commonly requested surgeries for people’s eyes. Is almond eye surgery painful?
However, some patients may have concerns regarding the amount of pain that might be inflicted on them during the procedure. The good news is that thanks to general anesthesia, you shouldn’t experience much, if any.
Is Almond Eye Surgery Painful?
If you have an almond eye surgery planned, then take a look at this overview of how much pain you might experience during the procedure.
What Is Almond Eye Surgery?
Almond eye surgery is a type of eye surgery that aims to change the shape of a patient’s eye in subtle ways so as to make them conform more closely to certain cultural values surrounding eye shape. There are many cultures around the world that value an almond shape to the eye.
This type of procedure can add heft and a dazzling aspect to eyes that might otherwise have a “sunken” appearance or be lacking in a sense of dimension. This has made it an increasingly popular procedure amongst those unhappy with this part of their body.
Almond Eye Surgery Techniques
During an almond eye surgery, the physician raises the upper lid of the patient about two millimeters and tugs the upper corner of the eyelid towards the forehead. This raises the outer corner of the eye and adds a pleasing curve to the eyes.
Almond eye surgery can also be quite useful for correcting the issue of the eyelids known as ptosis. This issue, irritating in mild forms and potentially medically concerning in more severe forms, can be corrected with some of the techniques presented by the almond eye surgery process. If you’re suffering from ptosis, then looking into whether almond eye surgery could help you with your issue may benefit your situation.
Sometimes, almond eye surgery can be of use when a patient is born with medical conditions that affect the appearance of their eyes and cause them to droop. In this way, almond eye surgery extends beyond just aesthetic value and moves into being a more medically useful procedure. Almond eye surgery can also benefit individuals looking to have gender-affirming surgery, particularly for those transitioning from male to female.
Feeling and Looking as Good as You Can
An almond eye surgery might aid in emphasizing and highlighting an individual’s already attractive features. Many patients remark that following a successful almond eye surgery, they feel emotionally more satisfied with how they look.
There are numerous reasons for this. A double blepharoplasty can help patients realize their inner goals by assisting them in realizing aesthetic ideals that they may have been harboring for a considerable amount of time. This can then have a knock-on effect on other aspects of the patient’s life, creating a positive feedback loop that benefits many facets of the patient’s health.
Having a look that aligns with socially acceptable beauty standards also tends to boost self-esteem and confidence. For better or worse, one’s quality of life tends to rise when they meet these norms.
Is Almond Eye Surgery Painful?
During an almond eye surgery, a patient is placed under general anesthesia. This should prevent a patient from experiencing any pain at all during the procedure, as they will lose consciousness and experience numbness throughout the body.
There is some possibility that a patient will experience some small amount of pain after the procedure during their recovery period. This will be covered more in-depth in the following sections that describe the recovery period.
Am I a Good Candidate for Almond Eye Surgery?
Most patients who are interested in receiving almond eye surgery should find themselves qualified to receive treatment, as the surgery is relatively minimally invasive. Certain patients who suffer from chronic health issues may have to look further into whether or not they ultimately will qualify for almond eye surgery. Some of the following conditions may complicate your search for treatment:
- Heart disease
- Auto-immune issues
- Cancer
- Lung disease
- & more
You’ll be able to discuss whether or not these types of issues will get in the way of your own desire to receive treatment during a consultation with your physician prior to the surgery.
Preparing for Almond Eyelid Surgery
There are certain things to take into consideration when preparing for almond eyelid surgery. Recounting the following information to your physician prior to any work being done can save you and your doctor some stress in the operating room:
- Medications: Inform your physician of any medications you might be taking. There is a strong possibility that you may have to adjust your intake of such medications either before or after your procedure.
- Diet: Your physician may recommend that you modify your diet slightly prior to heading in for your procedure. In addition, it is recommended that you do not eat or drink anything prior to your operation.
- Smoking Cessation: It’s important to stop smoking or use any tobacco product for several weeks leading up to your procedure. In addition, modifying your alcohol intake may be requested as well.
Side Effects of Almond Eye Surgery
There are many possible side effects that come paired with almond eye surgery. Some of the following are commonly reported:
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Mild bleeding
- Nausea
- Inflammation
- Pain
Your physician may prescribe antibiotics and painkillers for you in order to better manage these side effects in the days and weeks following your procedure. Make sure that you closely follow whatever directions are given to you by your physician regarding these medications.
Almond Eye Surgery Recovery
Most patients can expect to experience at least some swelling and bruising for a few weeks after their initial procedure. This is considered quite normal. Most patients will find that their bruising subsides and that they are able to go out in public again within a couple of weeks.
Directly following your procedure, you’ll stay in the hospital for one night. For another couple of weeks, you’ll want to avoid engaging in any overly strenuous activities of any kind so as not to jeopardize the results of your surgery and bring cause to return to the operating room.
After this, a patient can expect to make a full recovery from their experience within 4-6 weeks. However, this does have some variability attached to it, as the experience depends somewhat on the unique physiological elements of the patient.
Due to the swelling that occurs during this procedure, it may take you a small amount of time before you can see the final results of your surgery. This should subdue itself within a couple of months.
How Much Time Do the Almond Eyelid Surgery Results Last?
Almond eye surgery is considered a permanent technique in technical terms, with effects that are essentially visible for the remainder of a person’s life.
But as the years go by, you could discover that you wish to see your surgeon again to refresh and update the outcomes of your procedure. This is due to the fact that several things may affect how your operation looks and how long its best effects last.
Among these variables are items such as:
- Age
- Lifestyle
- Alcohol consumption
- Tobacco use
- Diet
- Sun exposure
The outcomes and duration of your surgery may be significantly impacted by prolonged exposure to one or more of these outside variables.
Selecting an Eyelid Surgeon
In most cases, selecting a surgeon with expertise in almond eye surgery will result in a more seamless process. This oftentimes means finding an experienced oculofacial surgeon specialist.
This is due to the fact that an expert will always be more advantageous than a generalist when it comes to that specific tactic.
Furthermore, specialists have most likely executed the necessary treatment hundreds of times with success. Over time, this increases the practitioner’s level of proficiency.
This may help you unwind throughout the surgery, which, like any significant medical treatment, has some inherent risks.
Pick a Board-Certified Surgeon
The most important thing to do to be sure your doctor is qualified to conduct the surgery you want is to confirm that they have board certification.
Those who have obtained accreditation from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) are known as board-certified individuals. Medical professionals who fulfill these requirements must abide by a strict set of rules that guarantee their safe practice of medicine.
These specifications include, but are not limited to:
- Completed a three-year residency program in plastic surgery.
- Succeeding on several difficult written and oral tests
- Graduating from a university with accreditation in medicine.
- Fulfilling the annual CME obligations
- Offer evidence that they have a track record of effective methods.
Looking for these qualities will decrease your chance of encountering complications during your procedure.
The Best Eye Surgeon in Beverly Hills
Dr. Taban and the rest of the team at Taban MD are completely dedicated to offering the residents of Beverly Hills the best in eyelid surgeries. If you’re interested in getting an almond eye surgery, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Taban’s office today in order to schedule a consultation.