Eyelid Rejuvenation (Blepharoplasty)

Each year thousands of women and men choose eyelid surgery to help restore a more energetic and youthful appearance.  Eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty can correct sagging eyelids, remove fatty pouches beneath the eyes and remove excess skin from the upper eyelids.  Blepharoplasty can be done alone or in conjunction with other procedures such as a facelift, a brow lift or laser skin resurfacing.

The Procedure

Blepharoplasty is generally performed under local anesthesia in our office.  Dr. Shumway places fine incisions in the crease above each eye to correct problems of the upper eyelids.  Then a thin crescent of excess skin and muscle is removed.  The incisions are closed with very fine sutures.  To remove the fatty deposits beneath the eyes, the incisions are place just inside the lower eyelid.  After the fat is removed, the incisions may be closed with absorbable sutures or may be left to heal naturally.  When excess skin and muscle needs to be removed from the lowers lids, the incisions are placed I the natural smile crease below the lashline.  The procedure can take between one and two hours, depending on the extent of the surgery.

Recovery

After the surgery, the area around the eye will be bruised and swollen for about two weeks.  Patients should keep their heads up and place cold compresses on their eyes periodically.  Antibiotic eye drops or ointment may be prescribed.  Patients can’t wear contact lenses for about two weeks, since the eyelids may be stiff and sore.  Make-up may be worn after about ten days.  The resulting hairline scars which follow the natural contour of the eyelids tend to fade in about two months.

After cosmetic surgery, our patients have a softer, more youthful look to their faces.  Many seem to have a new spring in their step after facing fresher reflection in the mirror.

Eyelid 'Rejuventation' surgery can be perfomed very effectively, and is a relatively simple procedure than removes excess skin, muscle, and fatty tissue. Blepharoplasty surgery is often combined with other facial plastic surgery procedures such as browlift, facelfit, or skin resurfacing to further augment the overall result of the surgery.   

Did you know...

Eyelid Surgery is the second most common cosmetic surgery procedure currently being perfomed today!