Blepharoplasty It has been often said that the eyes are the “windows to the soul”. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery, eye lid lift) is one of the top facial cosmetic surgeries performed in patients 30-60 years old. While older patients often seek a solution to turn back the clock, younger patients may notice changes at an earlier age, often in their 30s and 40s, due to genetics. These changes can result in droopy lids and bags under the eyes.The eyes are often one of the first areas affected by aging. Sometimes aging affects the upper lids, the lower lids, and sometimes both are affected. The upper eyelids can start to have saggy skin, making them appear more droopy and heavy. Severe sagging of the upper eyelid skin can even affect peripheral vision, with the sagging skin blocking the eye’s visual field. The lower eyelids often start to look puffy, with the typical “bags under the eyes” appearance. This is caused by natural fat pads starting to bulge through the natural barriers that have become thin and weak with time. All these changes can make a person’s eyes give the appearance of being tired. Patients typically tell Dr. Maria that they are often asked if they are tired or they are sometimes told that they look tired. Dr. Maria, is in a unique position to provide expert Blepharoplasty treatment for you. She is a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, and is Fellowship trained in Facial Cosmetic Surgery. In upper eyelid surgery, the excess eyelid skin is simply removed. If needed, the muscle and fat pads underneath the skin can be shrunken or removed as well. The incision is placed within the natural crease of the eyelid to hide the scar. For the lower eyelid, the bulging fat pads are reduced from inside the lower eyelid - a scarless and invisible approach! After surgery, patients can expect to have swelling around the eyes and bruising for a few days before it starts to improve. Swelling can take 2-4 weeks to completely resolve. Following instructions after surgery is very important to minimize swelling and bruising, but also to have a speedy and uncomplicated recovery. For upper eyelid surgery, stitches are typically removed after one week. Patients can begin wearing make-up again after 1-2 weeks - depending on the speed of your recovery. Routine follow-ups with your surgeon will be scheduled for wound care, suture removal, and to evaluate progress. Most patients comfortably return to work 1-2 weeks after surgery. Blepharoplasty or Eyelid Lift may be combined with additional cosmetic procedures to provide a fully rejuvenated look. Additional procedures may include a brow lift to address sagging eyebrows, laser skin resurfacing to tighten the skin around the eyes, and fat grafting to address hollowing around the eyes. Dr. Maria, a Fellowship trained Facial Cosmetic Surgeon, will listen carefully to understand the areas of concern for you and discuss appropriate treatment options to give you the desired natural, rejuvenated look. |
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