If you’re struggling with loose skin either above or below your eyes, you may be interested in blepharoplasty, AKA eyelid surgery. Whether excess skin is impairing your vision or an aesthetic concern, it can be an incredibly frustrating thing to deal with. Luckily, this surgery can tighten the skin, helping patients look younger, have smoother skin around the eyes, and see better. To learn more about how this procedure, offered here at the Institute of Aesthetic Surgery in Celebration, FL, could change your life for the better, read on.
What Is a Good Age for Blepharoplasty?
Incredibly, this procedure can be performed at any age, as the concerns this treatment can remedy can occur in anyone. In general, people are most commonly interested in having this surgery for aesthetic purposes and to improve the appearance of their upper eyelids. Typically these conditions will become more pronounced with age due to factors such as gravity, sun exposure, and genetics. Treatment may be right for you if you are motivated by a desire to look and feel better about your appearance.
If someone has had a previous injury or trauma to the eye area, this can cause scarring that can lead to the formation of excess skin. Many patients have visual impairments due to skin, muscle, or bone abnormalities around the eyes. Additionally, certain medical conditions like thyroid disorders or diabetes can also result in changes to the eyelids. Ultimately, several factors will influence the timing of surgery, including the patient’s medical history, current health status, lifestyle habits such as smoking or alcohol consumption, and individual cosmetic goals.
So What Exactly Is Blepharoplasty?
This surgery is one of the most common cosmetic surgeries in the United States. It can be performed on both the upper and lower eyelids to remove excess skin, tighten loose muscles and tissue, or reshape the eyebrow bone. There are two main types of treatment: open and closed. Closed simply involves making an incision along the natural crease surrounding your eye. Open, meanwhile, refers to making an incision that runs along the length of your eyelid and then lifts the tissue to reveal underlying muscle, fat, and bone.
What Will the Treatment Process Be Like?
First Step: Your Consultation
An initial consultation is a meeting between you and your surgeon – a member of the Institute of Aesthetic Surgery team – to discuss the possibility of having surgery. During this consultation, your surgeon will assess your medical history and conduct a physical examination to make sure you’re a healthy candidate. They will also discuss your goals for surgery and ensure that this is the right treatment to adequately address them. After all this, you and your surgeon will decide whether this surgery is right for you.
Preparing for Treatment
There are a few things you should do before undergoing surgery. It is important to stop smoking and using all tobacco products at least two weeks prior to the surgery, as smoking can interfere with healing after surgery. You should also avoid taking any medications or supplements that may thin your blood, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, as these can increase bleeding during and after surgery. Be sure to follow all of your surgeon’s pre-operative instructions carefully in order to ensure a successful outcome.
The Surgery Itself
On the day of your surgery, you will need to arrive at the surgical facility ahead of time. This will give you time to check in and get ready for your procedure. You will then be taken into the operating room and positioned on the operating table. The surgeon will make incisions in the skin around your eyes, taking care to place them in inconspicuous locations. They will then separate the skin from the underlying tissue and remove any excess fat, skin, or muscle that is present.
After your surgery is complete, you will be taken to a recovery area where you will be monitored until the effects of any sedatives or anesthetics have worn off. Once you are awake and alert, you may have a final chat with your surgeon, and then you will be able to go home. It is important to have someone drive you home as you will not be able to see clearly immediately following your surgery.
Will There Be a Long Recovery Period Needed Afterward?
Most people report excellent recoveries following blepharoplasty, though it is important to keep in mind that each individual heals at their own rate. Most swelling usually resolves within the first two weeks. Recovery times will also vary depending on the extent of surgery performed. For example, more extensive procedures such as an upper eyelid lift with browlift may take longer to recover from than a more limited procedure such as a lower eyelid lift.
Downtime following treatment is typically pretty minimal. Most people only need to spend a few days resting, then feel well enough to return to their normal activities. There will be some simple instructions guiding you on how to quickly heal afterward, including avoiding strenuous activity or rubbing the eyes for the first week or two. Additionally, patients should sleep with their heads elevated for the first week or two to help minimize swelling. You will likely be given medication and ointment following treatment to aid in the healing process.
How Long Will the Results Last?
The results of this treatment can, amazingly, last for several years. The exact duration will depend on a number of factors, including your age, skin type, and lifestyle habits. With time, the skin will naturally sag and wrinkle again, as this is a normal part of aging. This process can be accelerated, however, by certain lifestyle choices, such as smoking and spending a lot of time in the sun, and can mean your results may not last as long as someone who doesn’t have these habits.
Who Is a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
A good candidate for this surgery is someone who has excess skin or fatty tissue in the upper or lower eyelids that causes functional problems or cosmetic concerns. It can improve visual field obstructions and help with mobility of the eyelids. It can also create a more youthful appearance by reducing wrinkles and “bags” under the eyes. Since it is a surgical procedure, candidates should be willing to take time off work or life for a few days after treatment to rest and recover.
Patients who have good skin elasticity and do not smoke are typically the best candidates for treatment. The surgery is not recommended for patients with dry eyes, severe vision problems, or active eye conditions such as glaucoma or cataracts. It is also important that patients have realistic expectations about the results of the surgery, and should understand that to maintain optimal, lasting results from treatment, they should look after their skin and eyes in the years following.
What Are Some Non-Surgical Options for Eye Rejuvenation?
Botox
If you’ve found that your main aesthetic concern with your eyes is wrinkles, especially the wrinkles that become more noticeable when you squint and move your face, you may be interested in Botox. This is a product that, when injected into the face, relaxes the muscles under the skin so that they can no longer contract. The skin on top now stays smooth and uncreased! Botox lasts for 3-4 months and patients can simply get another treatment when the results start to wear off.
Dermal Fillers
If it’s sagging skin that’s your concern, dermal fillers could be the right option for you. These injectables lift the skin by filling them with new volume, smoothing out wrinkles, and giving patients’ skin a youthful, supple appearance. They’re particularly effective on under-eye bags and sunken temples. Dermal fillers can last anywhere from 6 months to up to 2 years with the proper maintenance, and you won’t need to take any time off after treatment to heal. We offer a variety of fillers, including Juvederm, Restylane, and Radiesse.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
If you’re done being frustrated with sagging skin that stops you from feeling good about the way you look, or even impairs your vision, it might be time to take action. Blepharoplasty can completely rejuvenate the area around your eyes, however you might need it, and offer permanent results with the right maintenance. If you’re ready to get started on your journey, we’re ready to help. Schedule your consultation with Aesthetic Surgery in Celebration, FL, today.