Eyelid Surgery
Of all the facial features, the eyes have the most dramatic impact on appearance. They’re also often the first to show signs of aging. Heredity factors; sun and other environmental conditions; and the relative thinness of the skin and limited number oil glands around the eyes can eventually cause the upper lids to droop and puffy bags to form below the eyes. All of which can make you look tired, sad and years older than you really are or feel.
Blepharoplasty, or “lid lift” is a surgical procedure to remove excess fat, skin and muscle from the upper eyelids, lower eyelids or both. Surgery will not erase dark circles, “crow’s feet” and other wrinkles around the eyes; nor will it lift a sagging eyebrow or reshape basic eye structure to enhance symmetry. Blepharoplasty can, however, correct conditions that can sometimes interfere with normal vision; enhance self-image; and give you a noticeably healthier, more rested, wider-eyed and youthful appearance.
The Procedure
Blepharoplasty takes 1 to 3 hours, depending on the extent of surgical correction, and is performed on an outpatient basis under local or general anesthesia. Inconspicuous incisions follow the curvature of the eyes—along the natural crease of the upper lid and/or just underneath the lashes of the lower lid. Working through these incisions, your Doctor carefully removes the excess fat deposits responsible for bulging, then trims any loose skin and muscle.
Recovery
The few small sutures used to close the incisions are removed in 7 to 10 days; after which patients may resume wearing eye makeup. Artificial tears are helpful in controlling light sensitivity, dryness, and increased tearing of the eyes that often occurs during the first few weeks of recovery. Numbness around the incision lines and a slight pulling sensation when blinking are equally common and may last anywhere from a few days to several months. The degree of swelling and bruising that occurs depends on the extent of the operation and on your susceptibility, but usually disappears within two weeks of upper eyelid surgery and three weeks of lower eyelid surgery.
The discomfort associated with blepharoplasty is typically minimal and well-controlled with head elevation, cold compresses and pain medication. Most patients return to work and nonvigorous activity once the sutures have been removed; however, some do so in as little as two or three days. Strenuous activity which could cause the eyes to swell should be avoided for at least two weeks. The excellent blood supply to the face and strategic placement of the incisions typically results in virtually undetectable scarring. Nonetheless, it may be six months or longer before recovery is complete and you can see the final result.
As women and men age, they commonly experience drooping of their upper eyelids and bags of their lower eyelids, features that make you look older and more tired than you actually feel. Some of these changes are hereditary, some a result of aging. Upper eyelid surgery addresses the excess skin and soft tissue (muscle and fat) of the upper eyelids, while lower eyelid surgery addresses the excess skin, fat (bags), and rhytids of the lower eyelids. It does not address crow’s feet, dark circles, or sagging of the eyebrows. Many patients opt to have both upper and lower lids done at the same time; however, the option of separating upper and lower eyelids is always available.
While it can add an upper eyelid crease to Asian eyes, Dr. Malitz will not erase evidence of your ethnic or racial heritage. Blepharoplasty can be done alone or in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures such as a facelift or browlift in our state-of-the-art surgery center.
Sometimes, upper lid skin drooping is so excessive it affects your peripheral vision. We can take photos and perform a test called “visual field”. The heavy lids are commonly referred to as dermatochalasis or blepharochalasis. In these cases, as an ophthalmologist, we can perform testing, specifically an ‘untapped and taped visual fields exam’ to determine if you have enough excess skin affecting your visual fields that it may be covered by your insurance.
Cost of Cosmetic Upper Eye Lid Blepharoplasty: Even if your insurance does not cover the procedure, we can perform an upper lid blepharoplasty for $3900 complete (surgeon’s fee, anesthesia, and facility fee).
In an individual who has a previous history of ocular disease, like dry eyes, a detached retina or glaucoma, we can clear you for surgery for your plastic surgeon or we can care for you in our very own surgery center, Red Rock Surgery Center!