Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty

Your eyes are the windows to the soul, and source of our expression, telling others how we feel, what we are thinking, and if we're happy or sad. Sagging, droopy or baggy eyelids can make a healthy person look tired and older. Today, however, by performing a relatively safe and common surgical procedure, experienced surgeons can remove excess fat and skin around the upper or lower eyes and help patients achieve a more refreshed and youthful look. The skin around the eyes, which is the thinnest on the body, succumbs quickly to the ravages of time, sun exposure, and lifestyle. With age, the eyelids stretch, muscles weaken and excess fat accumulates over and under the eyelids. The results are eyebrows that sag, upper lids that droop and a bagginess below the eyes that robs us of our energetic, youthful look.

Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery, is conducted on an outpatient basis - sometimes in the physician's office. The operation involves making an incision in the crease on the upper lid, was well as in the lower lid, just below the lashes in the eye's natural crease. These hairline incisions soon fade. It is important to maintain the function of the eye. You want to preserve the character of the patient's eyes, but, at the same time, give that patient back his or her rested, fresh appearance. A typical candidate for the procedure is a man in his 40's or 50's. In men, their age first shows in their eyes and they begin to look older and tired. Sometimes this causes them to lose self-confidence around younger looking, eager colleagues. Middle aged women also become frustrated because they workout and take great care of themselves, yet they look tired because of their eyes. Other patients simply inherited the puffy look of their eyes and they want a change. While most patients in their 40's and beyond are candidates for blepharoplasty, patients should undergo a good medical exam before this type of surgery to detect certain health problems which might become worse with the surgery. Also, some patients may actually be reimbursed by their insurance companies for the procedure if their drooping eyelids affect their vision. The doctor says that, generally, patients who undergo eyelid surgery experience minimal pain and can go back to work in about a week, back to exercise in three weeks to a month, and can wear contact lenses again after about two weeks.

According to the most recent statistics released by the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, blepharoplasty was ranked the most commonly performed aesthetic procedure. The procedure is most often performed on patients between ages of 35 and 64, and 15% of eyelid surgery patients are men. While the benefits of eyelid surgery include emerging with a more refreshed appearance and less puffiness around the eyes, the procedure corrects only the lid areas. It will not take away crow's feet and other wrinkles around the eyes, unless the wrinkles are part of the skin being removed. Eyelid surgery will not lift droopy brows, smooth furrowed lines above the nose, or completely eliminate dark circles beneath the eyes. To accomplish these results, we can combine procedures. For instance, while operating on the lower lids, surgeons can insert cheek implants to create higher, more contoured cheekbones. Eyelid surgery can be done in conjunction with a brow or facelift to remove surrounding lines and excess skin. Chemical peels, such as TCA and phenol peels, can be done secondarily to improve fine wrinkling not improved by surgery.