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Home > Face Surgery > Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid Surgery, Eyelid Lift, Eye Lift (Blepharoplasty)
The effects of aging are commonly first noticed around the
eyes. With years, loose skin and protruding fat develop in both upper and lower eyelids
forming increased bulging and puffiness
above and below the eyes. These changes result in a
sad and tired look which can affect the way patients feel about
themselves and how others see them. Excess skin of the upper eyelids
can also
impair vision and thus blepharoplasty may be performed on a
functional basis. Through careful removal of extra skin
and fat from both upper and lower eyelids, blepharoplasty
(eyelid lift, eye lift, eyelid surgery) can reverse these changes
resulting in a refreshed, natural look.
Upper and lower eyelid corrections are most commonly done
together, frequently being combined with facial procedures
such as facelift, neck lift, rhinoplasty as well as other cosmetic
facial procedures.
Blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery, can achieve a dramatic
rejuvenating effect on the overall facial appearance. The
goal is to achieve natural looking, rested eyes while avoiding the "over-operated
appearance " with contour changes and hollowing.
Pre-Blepharoplasty/Eyelid Surgery Consultation
Our wish is to help you decide on the best treatment
program tailored to your individual needs.
During your consultation Dr. Zemplenyi will address your eyelid
cosmetic concerns and will advise you on the various blepharoplasty techniques available for their correction. While
Dr. Zemplenyi will provide you with his recommendation for your
treatment, you will be empowered to make an informed decision
about those procedures best for you. At times, the fullness in
the upper eyelids may be caused by gravity-induced descent of
the eyebrows, and thus a brow
lift may be needed to fully correct the upper eyelid
problem. Lower eyelid surgery addresses removal of the fatty
deposit and some of the skin excess. Other techniques such as
a chemical peel or laser resurfacing may be
recommended for treatment of more extensive lower eyelid
wrinkling and crow's feet. Non-invasive treatments with
fillers and Botox may be indicated in other
situations, either as the main treatment or as an adjunctive
(complementary) procedure. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Zemplenyi performs blepharoplasty at
our Bel-Red Center for Aesthetic Plastic Cosmetic Surgery.
What about Eye Lift Surgery & Anesthesia?
Our goal is to perform all surgeries without patient
recollection of the procedure and with the least amount of
discomfort or anesthetic side-effects. Dr.
Zemplenyi performs blepharoplasty most commonly under
"twilight sleep" sedation. Please refer to the section on
Anesthesia and Pre-Operative instructions for further
information. The technique of blepharoplasty used will be
decided by you and Dr. Zemplenyi in the pre-operative
consultation. We often combine blepharoplasty with other of the
many cosmetic procedures we offer.
The Blepharoplasty/Eyelid Surgery Procedure
Incisions for upper eyelid blepharoplasty are placed in the skin creases of
the upper eyelid
while for lower eyelid surgery incisions can be placed on the inside surface or under the eye lashes of the lower
eyelids, thus making them almost invisible following the
required healing time. Excess skin and fatty tissue are
then carefully and conservatively removed and the incisions
then closed. Special
techniques are available for to accommodate various needs: Asian patients requiring creation of a
"double break" upper eyelid crease (Asian
blepharoplasty), older patients with a droop of the
upper eyelid margin (ptosis, blepharoptosis) needing
raising of the lid margin, or
patients with a lower eyelid droop (ectropion). Following
blepharoplasty, patients are discharged home, accompanied by a
responsible adult, usually within 30 to 45 minutes following
completion of surgery.
After Your Eyelid Lift
Post-operative discomfort is quite easily controlled with
prescribed medications and many patients do not feel the need
to use the prescribed narcotic medications at all or beyond the
first 24 hours. Application of ice compresses and elevation of
the head tend to decrease on swelling and bruising. Application
of mild antibiotic ointment to the incisions increases comfort.
Artificial tears are sometimes used by patients to keep
their eyes refreshed. A check-up visit with Dr. Zemplenyi
occurs within three days and sutures from the upper eyelids are
removed in seven to eight days. While the amount of
bruising is minimized using our modern surgical techniques, the
actual amount varies depending on individual circumstances.
Most swelling and bruising resolve in ten to fourteen
days. Make-up can be applied after the first week with
many patients returning to work in less than one week using sun
glasses to camouflage post-operative changes. The final
cosmetic result may not be achieved for three to four months
when residual changes have resolved.
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