Rather controversial in its infancy because of its futile aspect, but also the risks that one could fear, keratopigmentation has nevertheless managed to create a clientele. To help us learn more about this still little-known operation, the Dr Alexandre Koutsomanisexplained to 20 minutes the whole process of this color change to immediate effect.
The course of the operation
It is an ophthalmologist surgeon who is qualified to carry out this intervention. Under local anesthesia, the professional will inject the dye predefined with his client. He will then create a sort of tunnel in the cornea using the femtosecond laser, a technology specific to this intervention.
This being done, it will suffice to inject the dye chosen just in front of the iris. The old color will then be hidden by the new pigment and this is how we can see the new shade. As a result, the change is instantaneous and surprisingly natural.
Obviously, you have to be rather sure of yourself before embarking on this adventure… The doctor Alexandre Koutsomanis nevertheless adds that it would be possible “in the near future for the operation to become reversible”. But beware, this is not the purpose of the intervention, so it is very important not to perform this cosmetic surgery operation on a whim.
An operation that is not without risk
“In its early days this operation was extremely decried but today, we are starting to take a step back even if we can never guarantee that there will be no risks”, explains the doctor. Indeed, zero risk never exists and even if this operation has no impact on the patient’s sight, there are however possibilities of post-operative inflammation or infection, as for any other operation.
To act as relative safety, we must still consider the twenty years of hindsight that medicine has behind it on this practice. And it should be noted that this surgical operation has also been validated in the United States by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), the authority in charge of clinical trials. It is therefore not strictly speaking more “dangerous” than the placement of breast implants, for example.
Alternatives to keratopigmentation
Unsurprisingly, the price is quite high. The range varies between 5,000 and 8,000 euros, even if we often approach the second price than the first.
Alternatives exist but they are often dangerous and therefore prohibited in most countries. Among them, we find silicone implants, banned in Europe, or kerato-depigmentation. This last operation consists in sending laser shots in order to depigment the iris. In addition to arriving at a more grayish result than natural, the risks of blindness are high, which makes this operation perilous.
The safest solution therefore remains the use of colored lenses. This recourse is certainly temporary but more reassuring because in the event of a change of mind, it suffices to withdraw them.