Eyelid Surgery | Eyelid Lift | Blepharoplasty
The eyes are the first thing we notice when we meet someone new. Beautiful eyes can make up for other features that are less than ideal. Likewise, eyes that are tired, droopy, or swollen may not reflect a vibrant inner self. It is often said that the earliest signs of aging are around the eyes. You may feel that the eyes looking back at you in the mirror every morning are old and tired looking, or maybe people are always questioning whether or not you had a good night’s sleep because your eyes are swollen with bags. Fortunately, Dr. Sangeeta Logani can give you dramatically younger eyes through “eyelid lifts”, also known as blepharoplasty.
A primary reason for droopy eyes is simply due to age. As everything droops, so do the eyebrows. As the outer parts of the eyebrows droop, the skin of the upper eyelids will look saggy, as if you had developed extra skin that was not there several years before. Trimming this “extra” skin can drastically improve that droopy look.
The Surgery
Dr. Logani performs the blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) under local injections of anesthesia with or without sedation, or in some cases general anesthesia can be used. In upper eyelid blepharoplasty, a fine incision is made with the laser in the pre-existing crease above each eye. A crescent of excess skin and muscle is removed, as well as excess fat (puffiness) that is present. The incisions are then closed with fine stitches which are removed within one week. In the lower lids, the fatty deposits are typically removed from the inside of the lid so that no external incision is made. In some instances, when there is excess skin and muscle that needs to be removed, an incision can be placed under the lashes so as to avoid a conspicuous scar. As with the upper lids, fine stitches are used to close the incision.
The Recovery
Dr. Logani indicates that the typical post-operative recovery period (the time necessary for bruising and swelling to resolve) after cosmetic eyelid surgery is 7 to 14 days. It is important to avoid strenuous activity for the first week after surgery, but one can return to work during this time if desired. Dr. Logani will often prescribe an antibiotic eye ointment for several days after surgery. Also, patients cannot wear contact lenses for approximately two weeks after surgery, as the eyelids may be stiff and sore. Makeup can be worn after 10-14 days, and the resultant hairline scars which follow the natural contour of the eyelids tend to fade in about 2 months.
Endoscopic Brow Lift (Small Incision Brow Elevation)
The eyebrows play a vital role in an individual’s appearance. The descent of the eyebrow in youth or as one ages produces a tired look and causes a fullness to the upper eyelids. Physicians have devised many procedures to elevate the eyebrows in order to improve one’s appearance and possibly alleviate the need to perform upper eyelid surgery. Cosmetic eyebrow lift procedures have traditionally involved large incisions, usually from ear to ear, with extensive surgery and post-operative rehabilitation. While excellent results have been obtained with this technique, patients may develop redness, irritation, itching, and loss of hair along the large incision site. In addition, significant, although temporary, loss of sensation to the forehead and scalp may occur. Endoscopic brow elevation is the most current and state-of-the-art method of forehead and eyebrow lifting. The procedure, which is minimally invasive when compared to traditional surgery, involves making very small incisions behind the hairline and using a specialized lighting system and camera to perform surgery. With this technique, post-operative rehabilitation is simpler, and the time necessary to get back to normal daily activities is greatly reduced. Most importantly, surgical results have been extremely successful and patient satisfaction has been very high. In some patients a temporal lift can be done to stabilize the lateral brow alone. If the eyes you see in the mirror are not bright and alert we recommend you contact our office to set up an appointment with Dr. Logani, she can determine if you are a good candidate for an eyelid lift. Call our office today (818) 477-0560