Droopy Eyelids Linked to Quality of Life

Researchers in Scotland say cosmetic surgery to repair droopy eyelids -- blepharophlasty -- boosted quality of life of patients.

Dr. Mrinal Supriya, Neil McCluney and Dr. Muhammad Shakeel, all of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Aberdeen Scotland, presented their findings at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, in San Diego.

The researchers administered a retrospective questionnaire survey to 26 adult patients undergoing bilateral upper and lower lid cosmetic blepharoplasty.

The patients reported the procedure has a positive impact for almost all the outcome measures used in the Glasgow Benefit Inventory -- a validated quality-of-life questionnaire. Patients undergoing surgery for non-cosmetic indications, or those who had additional cosmetic procedures performed, were excluded.

As people age, the eyelids stretch and lose elasticity, excess fat may gather causing sagging eyebrows, drooping upper lids and bags under the eyes. Besides making patients look older, severely sagging skin around the eyes can also impair vision, the researchers say.