The eyes are the windows of the soul. But with age, eyelids stretch and the muscles supporting them weaken. In my practice, I often meet patients who come in for face rejuvenation that involves the eyes.
Drooping lids and bags under the eyes make the face appear tired, angry or sad. Apart from making you look older, sagging skin around your eyes can reduce your side vision (peripheral vision), particularly the upper and outer parts of your field of vision.
Are you considering eyelid surgery?
Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) is a popular procedure for both men and women. I mostly perform it on patients between the ages of 30 and 70 who have excess eyelid skin that causes a “tired” appearance. You are an ideal candidate for blepharoplasty if you are a healthy individual aged 30 years or older and have realistic expectations about eyelid surgery. Younger patients may undergo the procedure if they have a family history of baggy lower eyelids.
Before you can undergo blepharoplasty, you will need a consultation with a plastic surgeon. During the session, the surgeon will evaluate and discuss your expectations, goals and concerns. She will also take your medical history, examine your eyes and eyelids, and take you through the available surgical options, including their risks and complications.
Why should you undergo blepharoplasty?
Eyelid surgery is conducted on the upper or lower eyelids and involves an eyelid lift with selective fat removal. The surgery is performed under local or general anesthesia in an outpatient setting with no overnight hospital stay. The goal is to remove excess eyelid skin which can produce a “hooding” effect that may interfere with vision, address slight drooping of the eyelids, or treat bags and dark circles under the eyes.
With upper lid blepharoplasty, you can expect an incision just above your eyelashes, over the upper lid, and leaving a fold above the eye for an area to apply makeup. For the lower lids, the incision will be hidden underneath the eyelashes to provide a nice contour. The key to this surgery is being conservative and doing only what is necessary.
Although frequently done for aesthetic reasons, you can have the procedure for functional reasons. For instance, you might consider eyelid surgery if droopy eyelids are keeping your eyes from opening completely or pulling down your lower eyelids. Removing excess tissue in your upper eyelids can improve your vision and, at the same time, make your eyes look younger and more alert.
Blepharoplasty is for you if you have:
- Baggy or droopy upper eyelids
- Baggy or droopy brow (brow ptosis)
- Excess skin in the upper eyelids that interferes with peripheral vision
- Bags under your eyes
- Excess skin on the lower eyelids
Eyelid surgery can performed at the same time as another procedure, such as face-lift, brow-lift or skin re-surfacing.
What risks are involved?
Blepharoplasty is generally well tolerated by patients. Successful operations done by an experienced plastic surgeon will enhance the appearance of the eye area, producing a more youthful and rested look. However, it is considered a major surgery, so you should think carefully about your specific expectations and goals.
Complications are rare, but after the operation you can expect some swelling and bruising that lasts about 2 to 6 weeks. An over-resection of the upper eyelid skin can result in dry eye symptoms if the eyes do not close correctly. In some cases, over-resection of the lower eyelid skin occurs, leading to ectropion, an inversion of the lower lid that causes irritation. Also, undergoing both upper and lower eyelid surgery can cause unwanted changes in the lateral corners of the eyes.
Satisfying results
Blepharoplasty rejuvenates the upper and lower eyelids through the removal or repositioning of excess skin and fat. It gets rid of loose or sagging skin folds that create a heavy eyelid, eradicates excess fatty deposits, and eliminates the puffiness around the eyelids that create bags under the eyes. The final result is a more relaxed, refreshed and youthful appearance. When surgery is done for functional reasons, patients are usually able to see better when driving or reading at night.
You may schedule a consultation with me by calling (813) 542-2587. For more information on face rejuvenation, eyelid surgery and other plastic surgery procedures, visit the Politis Plastic Surgery website.
