Your eyes are your window to the world and the single most expressive part of your face. Eyes are typically the first thing people notice, so their appearance can speak volumes about your vitality, vigor, and mood. If those eyes are obscured by excess tissue, sagging skin, or wrinkles, you simply cannot communicate effectively with the people you care about. Bright eyes are the hallmark of youth, and reclaiming that glow is one of the simplest ways that you can bring your face back into balance. Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is a safe and effective way to improve the appearance of your eyes. Blepharoplasty removes the excess fat, muscle, and skin from both upper and lower lids, resulting in a refreshed appearance, with younger, firmer skin. The resulting changes are often astonishing, restoring a natural-looking energy and alertness to a face that appeared cloudy and fatigued. My patients who have undergone this speedy cosmetic plastic surgery often report instant changes in the way they are perceived by friends and strangers alike.
Blepharoplasty: The Process
Your process begins with a conversation. During this relaxed consultation, I conduct a simple exam and ask some basic questions about your vision, tear production, use of lenses, and goals for the surgery. I believe that managing expectations appropriately is the cornerstone of good medical care, so I always take the time to explain what you can expect from your eye lift surgery. Finally I take a complete medical history to ensure I have all the information I need for a seamless procedure, including age, skin type, ethnic background, and degree of vision obstruction.
The Eyelid Surgery
The blepharoplasty procedure covers both eyelids, so there are typically two parts. For the upper eyelids, a tiny incision is placed at the natural eyelid crease, where no scar can be seen. Excess skin, muscle and fat are then carefully removed, and fine sutures are used for closure. Because of the placement and size of this incision, it is almost invisible after surgery.
For the lower eyelid, I make an evaluation to choose the ideal procedure for your needs. The traditional approach places a tiny incision a few millimeters below the lower lashes, so that excess fat, muscle, and skin can be trimmed away before the incision is closed with absorbable sutures. A second method involves making an incision inside the eyelid, also known as a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. When these sutures close, they are invisible to the eye.
Blepharoplasty can take from one to two hours. If skin removal is required in a transconjunctival eyelid surgery, in some cases laser resurfacing or a chemical peel may be performed to tighten excess skin and decrease wrinkles.
After Your Eyelift Surgery
Healing from a blepharoplasty procedure is fairly quick and straightforward. I give you cold compresses to help diminish the swelling, and you may also receive an ointment to prevent dryness in the area. A certain degree of swelling and bruising is normal, and elevating your head while reclining can help to enhance healing and relieve discomfort. In the ten days following the procedure, you will need to gently clean the area and use eye drops as needed. The stitches usually come out just three to five days following the eyelid surgery, unless I have given you stitches that dissolve on their own. You will need to refrain from using contacts for a couple of weeks, but after that you can resume normal use.
Blepharoplasty is simple and relatively painless, and the results can be extraordinary. To learn more about how to begin this process, please don’t hesitate to contact us.