Seeing is believing in a more youthful appearance!
A skilled physicians can reverse the effects of aging and improve the appearance and elasticity of the upper and lower eyelids in a procedure called blepharoplasty. Removal of fatty tissue and excess skin allows the eyes to pop more, revealing an accurate expression of a person’s thoughts and feelings. After all, people talk with their eyes, shouldn’t their eyes be telling the truth?
Am I a good candidate for blepharoplasty?
One of the first things to recognize is that though blepharoplasty can change how your eyes appear in terms of looking awake and young, it will not make drastic changes of genetic proportion. For instance, patients of Asian roots can utilize the effects of blepharoplasty for adding an eyelid crease, but the eye will maintain physical signs of Asian heritage. Additionally, blepharoplasty will not lift eyebrows, remove crow’s feet and wrinkles or erase dark circles under the eyes. For these needs a patient should consider further procedures such as a facelift or browlift. Discuss your long term appearance goals with the doctor to create the plan that works best for you. Patients who ask for blepharoplasty are typically at least 35 years old, though if droopy eyelids run in the family patients can come in at a younger age. A firm grasp on the reality of expectations is important as well so that results match expectations. Be sure to discuss any medical problems you have prior to scheduling a surgery date. Patients with a history of hypothyroidism and Graves' disease, dry eye or lack of sufficient tears, high blood pressure or other circulatory disorders, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, detached retina or glaucoma might face a higher risk. When you come to your consultation bring any information from your most recent ophthalmology visit and contacts or glasses that you currently use and tell the doctor about any allergies you experience.
What happens during blepharoplasty?
Millions of men and women receive blepharoplasty each year under general anesthesia. Some physicians utilize localized anesthesia which provides a more relaxed and less tense experience for their patients. The procedure itself is rather simple, at least from the patient’s point of view. Instead of large scalpels, the doctor uses a fine blade to cut a very fine incision in the skin creases of the upper eyelid. Next a thin crescent of excess skin and muscle is removed followed by tiny sutures and dissolve over time. For the lower eyelids, similar tiny incisions are made inside the eyelids that allow the surgeon to remove small amounts of fatty deposits. Again, very fine sutures are used to close the wound. If necessary, a further incision can be made in the smile crease of next to the eye in order to remove excess fatty deposits or skin. Overall the procedure usually lasts between one and two hours.
What are the common side effects and risks of the blepharoplasty procedure?
Occasionally a patient will experience discomfort after the procedure. These sides might include temporary swelling or tiny whiteheads where the sutures are removed. The surgeon will remove these with a fine needle. Difficulty closing one’s eyes for sleeping might also occur as might a very rare condition called ectropion which is a downward pull of the lower eyelids. Additional surgery is then scheduled to correct this problem.
Recovery time is usually limited to a few days during which the eyes might feel tight or sore. Blurry vision might also occur but this is sub side. Contact your surgeon immediately if you feel any intense pain. Contact wearers will have to wait a couple of weeks before using contacts again and most people will return to work in a week to 10 days. Visible scars will slowly diminish over time, and should be gone entirely within a year. Most patients find that the procedure lasts for years and often the effects are permanent.
Bleph - Dallas
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