Looking Up, Looking Down: Eyelid Surgery Can Keep Things in Perspective

In folklore, anime, and velvet paintings, wide eyes are the symbol of youth, for men and women. They are both literally and figuratively what give the young their fresh and honest view of the world. If we want to look young, both to ourselves and to others, the eyes are the place to start.

Introduction to Blepharoplasty (Eyelid surgery)

Blepharoplasty, sometimes called an eyelid lift, is a delicate surgery that rejuvenates the appearance of skin and muscles around the eyes and can be performed on both the upper and the lower eyelids. It is used to correct:

· Sagging eyelids
· Drooping eyelids
· Narrowed eyes
· Bags under the eyes
· Tired appearance
· Sight obstruction

Because our eyes are a large part of our day-to-day interaction with others, some of these changes are more than simply cosmetic. For example, friends and loved ones might mistake our perennially tired appearance for boredom or loss of commitment to a relationship. Salespeople and brokers might find the sagging of their eyelids causes customers to find them less trustworthy. In these cases, looking better is not merely superficial it is at the heart of our livelihood and our lives.

How Blepharoplasty Works

There are two types of eyelid surgery: upper lid and lower lid. Consulting with an experienced plastic surgeon will help you determine which ones might be appropriate for you.

In Upper lid surgery, the surgeon makes a tiny incision along the crease of the upper eyelid to provide access. The surgeon removes excess fat and/or skin that is giving the eye a puffed appearance. Then the surgeon tightens the skin and seals the incision carefully with very fine sutures.

There are two types of lower lid blepharoplasty. Most often the surgeon will make an incision just below the lash line of the lower eyelid. Then, as in the upper eyelid surgery, the surgeon uses this incision to eliminate puffiness or bagginess by removing fatty tissue and/or skin and tightening the skin and muscles of the lower lid. The surgeon may opt for what is called a transconjunctival blepharoplasty (quite the mouthful), if you don’t need to have the skin or muscles of the lower lid trimmed. In this procedure, the incision is actually made inside the lower eyelid, so that any scarring from the procedure is completely invisible.

A Quick Procedure

Blepharoplasty, although a long word, is a short procedure, taking one to two hours to complete. The fine skin around the eyes and the tiny incisions used also make for a very quick recovery time. Most patients are able to get back to non-strenuous activity in a day or two, although it’s best to put aside unnecessary activities for maybe a week. The sutures used dissolve on their own, so there’s no need to go in to the doctor to have them removed. All in all, a relatively easy procedure, considering what it can do for you!

And because it’s a tightly targeted procedure, it can be combined with any number of surgical and non-surgical treatments such as a brow lift, face lift, the injection of filler materials or treatments.