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Plastic Surgery
Procedures
Procedures>>Eyelid Surgery
- Phoenix & Scottsdale, Arizona
Eyelid Surgery
Expressive and delicate, the eyes often
reveal our secrets, but eyelid rejuvenation
surgery can help keep age from being one of
them. Eyelid rejuvenation can be performed on
the upper or lower eyelids, removing
wrinkles, bags, and sagging. Eyelid surgery
can treat your upper or lower eyelids or
both. Depending on your situation, some skin
may be removed along with fat and tissue. The
results of eyelid rejuvenation can be very
dramatic - smoother skin in the eye area,
less bags and bulges, and a more youthful,
energetic facial appearance. If you are
interested in learning more about eyelid
rejuvenation, please contact us today.
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Frequently Asked Questions |
Am I a good candidate for eyelid surgery?
Any one or combination of the following
conditions may indicate that you are a good
candidate for eyelid surgery:
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excess skin obscuring the natural fold
of the upper eyelids
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loose skin hanging down from the upper
eyelids, perhaps impairing vision
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a puffy appearance to the upper eyelids,
making the eyes look tired
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excess skin and fine, crêpe-like
wrinkles of the lower eyelids
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bags and dark circles under the eyes,
often with a depression along the bony
border of the lower eyelids
-
droopiness of the lower eyelids, showing
white below the iris
Aesthetic eyelid surgery can usually correct
these problems, though other treatments may
also need to be considered. For example, if
the upper eyelid condition is accompanied by
sagging of the eyebrows, then a forehead lift
may be recommended. Smoothing of crow's feet
may require chemical peeling or laser
resurfacing procedures. Circles beneath the
eyes caused by dark pigmentation may be
treated with a bleaching solution or chemical
peel. Your plastic surgeon can provide
further information if you have an interest
in any of these additional procedures.
How will my plastic surgeon evaluate me for
aesthetic eyelid surgery?
You should come to the consultation prepared
to discuss your medical history including
previous surgeries, past and present medical
conditions and current medications. It is
important for you to provide complete
information. High blood pressure, thyroid
problems or diabetes are among the medical
conditions that may increase the risks
associated with eyelid surgery.
Your plastic surgeon will want to know if you
have allergies, especially if they affect
your eyes. Your surgeon may ask whether you
have ever tried and were unable to wear
contact lenses, you should bring them with
you in case your surgeon wants to test your
vision.
It will be necessary for your surgeon to know
if you were ever told by an ophthalmologist
that you have a condition called "dry eye" or
if you have any other problems with your
eyes.
One of several surgical techniques may be
suggested to improve the appearance of your
eyelids. The particular technique that your
plastic surgeon recommends will depend on may
factors such as the amount of excess fat and
skin in the eyelid areas, the position of
your eyebrows, and the condition of muscles
around your eyelids.
How is my plastic surgeon able to improve the
appearance of my upper eyelids?
For upper eyelid surgery, generally, an
incision is hidden within the natural fold of
the upper eyelid and extends slightly beyond
the outside 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.
What is done to improve the appearance of my
lower eyelids?
For lower eyelid surgery, often an incision
is hidden just below the lower lashes.
Through this incision, excess skin, muscle
and fat are removed, or fat may be
redistributed to eliminate puffiness or
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, you and your surgeon may
decide that 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. A laser may
sometimes be used in conjunction with this
method to tighten the lower eyelid skin.
How should I prepare for surgery?
If you are a smoker, you will be asked to
stop smoking well in advance of surgery.
Aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs
can cause increased bleeding, so you should
avoid taking these medications for a period
of time before surgery. Your surgeon will
provide you with additional preoperative
instructions.
Aesthetic eyelid surgery is usually performed
on an outpatient basis. If this is the case,
be sure to arrange for someone to drive you
home after surgery and to stay with you at
least the first night following surgery.
How will I look and feel initially?
It is important to realize that the amount of
time it takes for recovery varies greatly
among individuals.
The first evening after surgery, you should
rest quietly with your head elevated. Your
surgeon may instruct you to apply cold
compresses to your eyelids. Remember, you
must not take aspirin or certain
anti-inflammatory medications.
Initially, you may feel a "tight" sensation
around the eyes and some mild discomfort that
can be controlled with oral medication.
During the first 48 hours following surgery,
patients experience varying degrees of
swelling and bruising. Some patients find
that mild swelling persist for several weeks,
while others may see swelling resolve in as
little as one week. Bruising typically
disappears within seven to ten days. Within
the first week you will be permitted to use
makeup, if desired, to conceal any
discoloration. Stitches are usually removed
within a week of surgery.
Your vision may continue to be somewhat
blurry for a few days or longer. Your eyes
may be temporarily sensitive to light, and
you may experience excess tearing or dryness.
Some plastic surgeons recommend eye
drops to help relieve any burning or
itching. You may want to wear dark sunglasses
for a couple of weeks to protect your eyes
from wind and sun irritation.
When can I resume my normal activities?
Straining, bending and lifting should be
avoided during the early postoperative
period. In many instances, you will be able
to resume most of your normal activities
within ten days or less. Although you might
feel like going back to work just a few days
after surgery, your vision may still be
slightly blurry which could make reading or
other paperwork more difficult. You should
not wear contact lenses for a week or two.
How long will the results last?
The results of aesthetic eyelid surgery are
long-lasting, but they may be affected by
your heredity and lifestyle factors.
Removal of fat from your eyelids, which is
usually the cause of puffiness and bags, is
permanent, and these conditions generally
will not recur. The skin continues to age,
however, and skin laxity along the fine
wrinkling of the eyelid area may, at some
point, return. Sometimes loss of tone in the
forehead causes additional sagging of the
eyebrows which mimics a recurrence of
drooping upper eyelids. if this happens,
correction may require a forehead lift or a
secondary eyelid procedure.
Even though the aging process continues,
patients are usually happy with their
appearance for many years following eyelid
surgery. Some patients find that they want to
make additional improvements at a later time.
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