06 Feb You Don’t Need to Wait for an Eyelid Lift
What’s the ideal age for an upper or lower eyelid lift, also known as blepharoplasty? There is no perfect age and you certainly don’t need to wait until the sagging skin is “bad enough” to consider eyelid surgery. At RefinedMD, Dr. Sudeep Roy is a renowned facial plastic surgeon who works with patients of all ages to achieve their goals. Eyelids are especially known for showing early signs of aging including wrinkling, sagging, and puffiness. This delicate skin is always on the go from actions like blinking, squinting, and smiling, and is already very thin and regularly exposed to UV damage—which means the eyelids are the ideal area for the very first signs of aging to show.
Unfortunately, lines, wrinkles, sagging, and puffiness aren’t just considered unattractive around the eyelids. They can also make you look sad, tired, or angry when you aren’t. If the eyes are the windows to the soul, what are yours saying about you? You might be sending the wrong message without even realizing it. Eyelid surgery instantly helps you look younger and rejuvenated, and the downtime is surprisingly minimal.
What to Expect with Eyelid Surgery
Many patients opt for both upper and lower eyelid surgery in a single appointment. The procedure is quick, and the incisions are minimal. Upper eyelid surgery often involves blending the incisions into the natural creases of the eyelid. Lower eyelid surgery hides incisions either along the lash line or even inside the eyelid. Nobody will be able to see any incision marks or scars.
Some minor swelling and redness are expected immediately after eyelid surgery, and this usually subsides entirely 1 – 3 weeks after the surgery. Most patients return fully to work 10 – 14 days after their surgery, although this will vary based on the kind of work you do and how quickly you heal.
Full results are revealed 1 – 3 months after your surgery, but you’ll be able to see a “preview” in just a couple of weeks after the surgery. Eyelid surgery works by removing excess skin (and sometimes fat) from the area. Sometimes dermal fillers are recommended in conjunction with lower eyelid surgery if you lack volume in the under-eye area or struggle with dark circles.
Do You Have Ptosis? If So, Insurance Might Cover Upper Eyelid Surgery
Lower eyelid surgery is always considered cosmetic. However, there’s a medical condition called ptosis that commonly affects the upper eyelids. If the sagging of the upper eyelid is so severe that it impacts your vision, you might be diagnosed with eye ptosis—and if you are, your insurance might cover all or part of your upper eyelid surgery.
Getting diagnosed with ptosis is relatively simple. Dr. Roy will conduct a fast, non-invasive test during your consultation to see if eyelid sagging is affecting your vision and to what degree. Once you’re diagnosed with ptosis, you need to work with your insurance provider to see if upper blepharoplasty can be covered and to what extent. The RefinedMD team will help you work with your provider if necessary.
Bright Eyes for Life
A lot of people understandably wait for more invasive cosmetic surgeries because they only want to undergo them once. However, eyelid surgery is relatively non-invasive compared to more in-depth procedures. Plus, since eyelids show signs of aging much earlier than other parts of the face, it just makes sense to consider eyelid surgery when the sagging, laxity, and wrinkles begin to bother you.
The fact that eyelids are so delicate means that, depending on your age and your skin laxity, the full results may not last forever. Your skin will continue to age and lose elasticity, so it’s possible that a patient in their 30s may again opt for eyelid surgery in their 60s. However, considering how minimal the incisions are, how fast the surgery is, and how quickly you heal from eyelid surgery, it’s perfectly safe to have more than one blepharoplasty surgery in your life.
Are you ready to get back the natural-looking, alert, bright eyes of your youth? Call Dr. Sudeep Roy at RefinedMD today at (408) 688-2082 to schedule your consultation.