Has anyone asked you lately – are you OK? You look tired… BUT you feel fine?! This is the classic question for the patient who is nearing the time for eyelid surgery.
Here at Jefferson we can attest to how many late nights working, and early mornings rising, can have your body exhausted, mentally and physically. Hearing the comments “you look tired” seem to happen more and more as time goes on. Feeling fine is one thing, but the way you look to others is another story.
While cosmetic surgery should never be a solution for all of your problems, we are a firm believer in what we can do with your eye-lids.
Our eyelid surgery can make you appear more rested, alert and definitely more happy.
The procedure can be done on just the upper eyelids or both the upper and lower.
Let’s get into the basics. Eyelid surgery can be done with just the upper or lower, or both.
What is eyelid surgery?
Aesthetic (cosmetic) eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty, removes the excess fat and wrinkled, drooping skin of the upper eyelids that can result in tired or sad looking face. It also eliminates bags under the eyes and tightens the lower eyelid skin. Aesthetic eyelid surgery is performed to correct problems that are the results of aging as well as inherited traits that cause patients to seek treatment as early as their 20s or 30s. This is a very common procedure, especially for those that spend late nights working, waking up without resting well, and people that spend a lot to time in high anxiety situations.
Upper eyelid surgery is the least invasive, here’s why:
The particular technique the plastic surgeon recommends will depend on many factors, such as the amount of excess fat and skin in the eyelid areas, the position of the eyebrows, and the condition of the muscle around the eyelids. For upper eyelid surgery, generally an incision is hidden in the natural fold of the upper eyelid and extends slightly beyond the outer corner into the laugh lines or other existing creases. Through this incision, excess skin and fatty tissue are removed. Because the incision follows the natural contour of the upper eyelid, it will be well camouflaged when healed. Many patients have the upper eyelid procedure done under a minimal anesthesia, allowing them to recuperate faster and get back to work in under a week.
The lower eyelid area is something that needs more medical attention to correctly diagnose the problem– sometimes it is too much fat, too much skin, and perhaps not enough of either. For this reason, it is imperative to have a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon well skilled in these areas.
For lower eyelid surgery, often an incision is hidden just beneath the lower lashes. Through this incision, excess skin, muscle and fat are removed, or fat may be redistributed to eliminate puffiness and bulges. Other adjustments to correct special problems such as muscle laxity may be performed. As in upper eyelid surgery, the incision is well camouflaged by natural creases. In some cases, the best approach for removing excess fat is through an incision placed inside the lower eyelid. This technique requires no external incision, but it cannot be used to remove excess skin.
Our team at Jefferson would love to set up a consultation with you and talk about all the ways we can make you look more alert, happy, and ready for the new year!
We look forward to meeting with you soon!
