When making a first impression, you want it to be a positive one. Drooping, puffy eyelids can give you a tired, angry appearance. Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, can eliminate your eyelids’ drooping skin and excess fat, helping you look more alert, rested and youthful.
The world-class plastic surgeons at Legacy Plastic Surgery can relieve you of tired-looking eyes and sagging skin. Find out how we can help you by calling 610-756-1789 to discuss your eyelid surgery options. We proudly serve patients from in and around Exton, Paoli, the Main Line, Chester County, Philadelphia, Eastern Pennsylvania and other communities throughout the state as well as Delaware and surrounding areas.
WHAT IS BLEPHAROPLASTY?
Blepharoplasty is a facial plastic surgery procedure designed to rejuvenate the appearance of the eyelids. Fat deposits that cause bags and puffiness are eliminated or repositioned and excess skin that causes sagging, wrinkles and fine lines is removed. By tightening underlying muscles and other tissues, our skilled surgeons can help restore a refreshed and invigorated appearance.
This procedure serves both cosmetic and functional purposes, often at the same time. For example, in addition to being aesthetically problematic, drooping eyelids (ptosis) can also cause headaches because the muscle used to raise them (frontalis) is overactive.
In other cases, where functionality takes a back seat to more aesthetic concerns, upper blepharoplasty may be used to create a rejuvenated and alert appearance while also creating a more pronounced skin crease.
REASONS TO GET BLEPHAROPLASTY
Given the variety of ways in which blepharoplasty can present, which varies on a case-by-case basis, patients cite a variety of reasons for seeking out the procedure.
- Visual impairment: In severe enough cases, where the tissue has drooped low enough to partially obscure vision, patients often have to adapt by constantly raising the eyebrows. As mentioned, this adaptation can cause headaches, aside from being an annoying inconvenience and a safety hazard when driving or performing other activities.
- Skin irritation: Too much tissue in the small space surrounding the upper eyelid can cause excessive friction due to constant skin-on-skin contact. Oftentimes, this friction can cause acute skin irritation, including dermatitis and other problematic reactions.
- Cosmetic: Excess skin of the upper eyelid can cause a person to look lethargic and/or indifferent, which can have negative social ramifications over long periods of time, not to mention the impact on self-esteem.
In many cases, patients cite more than one of the above reasons for considering blepharoplasty. As such, it often serves both functional and aesthetic purposes.
HOW THE PROCEDURE WORKS
During the pre-operative assessment phase of treatment, your surgeon will perform several measurements and assessments to determine if you are a fit candidate. Additionally, assessments will help the surgeon to formulate an individualized approach based on the issues you’re presenting. For example, patients who have floppy eyelid syndrome (also known as tarsal laxity) may need to have a structure of the eyelids called the tarsal plate shortened.
As for the steps of the procedure itself, upper blepharoplasty is individualized to each patient, since the amount, nature, and distribution of the unwanted tissue is unique to each patient. However, there is a general blueprint that the majority of blepharoplasty procedures follow.
First and foremost, after the consultation and planning phase is complete and the procedure begins, the surgeon will make a mark where your new eyelid crease will be. Then, they will anesthetize the area. In the majority of cases, this procedure is performed under local anesthesia or conscious sedation.
After anesthetizing the area, the surgeon will make all required incisions. At this point, they will remove, redistribute, and recontour various tissues in the area, including the orbicularis muscle and fatty tissue. This is the step of the procedure that can be most individualized; the extent and nature of fat removal and repositioning dramatically influence your results, both functionally and cosmetically speaking.
After the procedure, patients are instructed in suture care, and are typically provided ointments or other topical agents to manage sutures. Anticoagulant medication may be recommended for a certain period of time following your procedure, along with ice to manage swelling. Artificial tears may also be necessary to lubricate the eyes in the days following treatment.
How can eyelid lift surgery help you?
- Look younger: Wrinkles, fine lines and sagging skin around your eyes can make you look older than you feel. An eyelid lift produces a smooth, vibrant, youthful-looking appearance by removing excess skin and tightening the tissue around your eyes.
- Brighten tired eyes: When loose skin and deposits of fat weigh down your eyelids, you may look fatigued even when you are well rested. Unwanted fat deposits can also create bags and puffiness around your eyes, making you look tired. Blepharoplasty removes excess fat and skin around your eyes, providing you with a more alert and rested appearance.
- Restore impaired vision: If your upper eyelids suffer from sagging skin and excessive fatty deposits, they will likely hang and impair your full range of vision. With upper eyelid surgery, our skilled plastic surgeons can remove this excess fat and skin so you can see clearly without drooping eyelids blocking your vision.
AM I A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR EYELID SURGERY?
Eyelid surgery can be performed on men and women of any age who want to rejuvenate their appearance. Generally speaking, if you are in good overall health and want to improve the appearance of drooping, tired-looking eyes, blepharoplasty may be your ideal solution. Certain medical conditions such as glaucoma, detached retina, thyroid problems or abnormally dry eyes can affect your eyelids and will need to be taken into consideration if you are planning on undergoing eyelid surgery.
EYELID SURGERY RECOVERY
Blepharoplasty is a quick and convenient procedure that can be performed under local anesthesia in less than half an hour, and is accompanied by equally minimalistic downtime and recovery requirements.
While every patient responds slightly differently to blepharoplasty, most patients will see bruising in the treated area for roughly 5 days after the procedure. As for hard downtime, patients rarely have to take more than two or three days off of work (keep in mind that bruising will likely still be present during this time).
Our team of expert surgeons at Legacy Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics has performed thousands of blepharoplasty procedures, and have seen everything when it comes to the recovery process. As your partners throughout the entire process, we’re here to answer any and every question you have during recovery.
HOW TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL PROCEDURE
As with any surgical or non-surgical procedure, there are two crucial steps that any patient can take to ensure a successful procedure and long-lasting results: prep and aftercare.
Upper Blepharoplasty Prep Best Practices
Once again, this process is individualized to an extent based on each patient’s needs and presentation, but there are several universally applicable prep guidelines that your surgeon is likely to give you. These include, but are not limited to avoiding smoking and avoiding taking certain medications, especially blood thinners, as directed by your surgeon.
In the window of time immediately preceding your treatment (24-48) hours, additional prep guidelines may apply, including avoiding caffeine, wearing comfortable clothes to your procedure, avoiding food or drink after midnight on the day of surgery, and any other recommendations provided by your surgeon.
Upper Blepharoplasty Aftercare Best Practices
Your surgeon will provide you with a set of instructions to best manage post-operative bruising, welling, pain, dryness, and other common side effects of the procedure. As mentioned, they may also provide you with topical agents and prescription medications to reduce discomfort, clotting risk, and so on.
Immediately following your procedure, you will likely be recommended to ice the area, and may be provided protective eyewear. It’s also important to take care of the incisions, keeping them dry and clean and inspecting the stitches regularly. Heavy activities like lifting weights and moving furniture are typically discouraged for at least 2-3 weeks following your procedure, as is eye makeup.
Finally, blepharoplasty patients are usually required to sleep with their head elevated for several weeks following treatment. This is an important step for reducing swelling and facilitating a faster and more effective recovery. Some patients find it most comfortable to sleep in a recliner during this period.
PROCEDURES THAT PAIR WELL WITH BLEPHAROPLASTY
As a minimally invasive and widely well-tolerated procedure, blepharoplasty is often paired with other procedures to enhance the overall cosmetic and/or functional impact. Three procedures commonly paired with blepharoplasty include brow lift, facelift, and skin resurfacing.
- Brow Lift + Blepharoplasty: While blepharoplasty alone can create a more alert and rejuvenated appearance for people with excess tissue in the upper eyelid area, combining this with a brow lift when indicated can significantly augment this effect. Brow lifts address the area above the brow line,
- Facelift + Blepharoplasty: When combined, the skin-tightening effects of a facelift, which can rejuvenate sagging skin affecting the lower and mid-face areas, and blepharoplasty produces much more comprehensive results for a fully refreshed appearance.
- Skin Resurfacing + Blepharoplasty: A powerful anti-aging combination, the ability of skin resurfacing treatment to address multiple aesthetic concerns (acne scars, uneven skin texture, fine lines, etc.) in multiple areas of the face alongside blepharoplasty allows for enhanced results.
It’s important to note that each of these additional procedures comes with its own set of indications, risks, and side effects. Even though they pair well with blepharoplasty in many cases, it’s still necessary to carefully assess your fitment for each procedure with a licensed professional.
PROS AND CONS OF BLEPHAROPLASTY
No procedure comes without potential risks and downsides. Weighing and balancing these cons against the pros is a key component of making a well-informed decision on your treatment. Some patients are less averse to certain risks and downsides than others, so in providing this breakdown of blepharoplasty pros and cons, we invite you to consider the information for how it will impact your unique situation.
Blepharoplasty Pros
Minimal discomfort and recovery time: In the majority of cases, patients can enjoy a swift and comfortable recovery period following blepharoplasty procedure. Bruising lasts less than a week, and prescription-strength painkillers are rarely required to manage post-operative discomfort.
Natural-looking results: When performed by an experienced professional, blepharoplasty creates results that blend in seamlessly with your natural aesthetic and facial geometry. You don’t have to worry about looking like you’ve had work done.
Vision improvement: Especially for patients who have been struggling to see for an extended period of time due to excess tissue blocking their vision, blepharoplasty can make a dramatic impact on vision and, by extension, overall quality of life.
Reduced puffiness: Vital to the refreshed, more awake appearance that blepharoplasty provides is the significant reduction in eyelid puffiness. Patients with severe puffiness prior to the procedure experience a dramatic rejuvenation effect.
Blepharoplasty Cons
Surgical procedure: Blepharoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure, but it is still a surgical procedure requiring anesthesia, incisions, and some downtime. Some patients prefer to avoid even minimally invasive surgeries whenever possible.
Scarring: Well after the discomfort and bruising subsides, scars from the incisions take considerably longer to fade. A well-experienced provider will conceal scars using the natural angles and contours of the treatment area as much as possible.
Dry eyes: Most patients experience dry and/or itchy eyes following blepharoplasty procedure. Your provider will typically provide artificial tears to alleviate this uncomfortable issue.
Other side effects and risks: In addition to the more common side effects of bruising, dryness, and discomfort, blepharoplasty patients may also experience impaired eyelid sensation, corneal tearing (due to dryness), and asymmetrical eyelid creases.
Two key practices make a significant difference when it comes to maximizing the pros and minimizing the cons: diligently following all pre- and post-operative recommendations and choosing a reputable blepharoplasty expert for your procedure. At Legacy Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics, we apply our extensive experience with this procedure to make the process as safe and seamless for all patients.
BLEPHAROPLASTY FAQ
Does insurance cover blepharoplasty?
Whether or not any given insurance carrier offers coverage for blepharoplasty surgery depends largely on medical necessity. If your upper eyelid issues are purely aesthetic, not impeding with your vision, the procedure is less likely to be covered. However, if you can make a case for visual impairment or another functionally limiting issues, part or all of the procedure may be covered. It’s important to provide all necessary documentation and follow your carrier’s requirements (like achieving pre-authorization) prior to undergoing the procedure.
Is blepharoplasty painful?
Both during and after blepharoplasty, the vast majority of patients report little to no pain. Local anesthesia is sufficient to mask the pain while the procedure is underway, and basic (if any) over-the-counter pain medications are all that is needed for the majority of patients to have a comfortable recovery period.
Why can’t I watch TV after blepharoplasty?
Most blepharoplasty patients are recommended to avoid watching TV for at least 2-3 days following their procedure because TV watching may cause your eyes to tire out more quickly due to increased strain. Instead, relaxing with your eyes closed and listening to music, audiobooks, or other content is recommended to make this initial period more comfortable.
When will I see results from my blepharoplasty?
While you may notice some initial results within a week or two following the procedure, the full results typically take between 2-3 months to appear. This is due to the time required for the incisions to heal, and for the swelling to be resolved.
What is the success rate for blepharoplasty?
The success rate for blepharoplasty is right around 90%. Even when unintended complications do occur, they can often be resolved with touch-up work or minor follow-up procedures. Factors that may increase the risk of complication include performing a combined upper and lower blepharoplasty and being of hispanic ethnicity.
SCHEDULE YOUR EYELID LIFT CONSULTATION TODAY
If you are considering eyelid surgery, please contact Legacy Plastic Surgery today online or at 610-756-1789 to schedule a personal consultation with one of our experienced plastic surgeons. As members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Kim and Dr. Wingate are trusted throughout the region as expert providers. Our Exton office welcomes patients from Paoli, the Main Line, Chester County, Philadelphia, Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and other areas.
