What to check before an eyelid consultation for your parents

Many people look for a consultation because a parent's eyelids have drooped. Eyelid surgery later in life involves vision and general health as well as appearance, so it helps to prepare a few things in advance.

1. Health and medications

Check for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, thyroid disease and eye conditions (glaucoma, dry eye and so on). Blood-thinning medicines such as aspirin, blood-pressure medication and supplements must be mentioned before surgery. Don't stop any medication on your own — consult the prescribing doctor. All medications and supplements, including anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs, should be disclosed in advance, and with cardiovascular or other underlying conditions a note from the internal-medicine doctor may be requested. Pre-operative tests are done depending on age and health conditions.

2. What bothers them

Note the everyday difficulties: whether the lids block the view, whether they raise their brows to open their eyes, whether the lid skin gets irritated often.

3. How much change they want

Many in the parents' generation prefer to look naturally fresher rather than dramatically different. Talk about the look they want beforehand.

4. Recovery and a companion

It helps to have a companion on the day of surgery and during early recovery. There may be several follow-up visits, so consider how easy the trip to the clinic is. The address and directions are on the Location page.

5. Related procedures to check

Besides loose skin, weak lid opening, a low brow or under-eye changes are often present too, so everything is assessed together at the consultation.

Frequently asked questions

Is surgery possible at an older age? General health matters more than age itself. It is decided through the consultation and any necessary tests.