08 Nov Everything You Need to Know about Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, can dramatically improve the appearance of your eyes—and in some cases, your vision! RefinedMD’s Dr. Sudeep Roy is committed to helping every patient look and feel their best. “Eyelid surgery” can include upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery, or both. Both procedures are for patients with loose skin around the eyes and/or extra pockets of fat. Beyond aesthetics, one of the most common complaints that brings patients to an eyelid surgeon is a feeling of “eyelid heaviness” at the end of the day or impaired vision. In cases where the upper eyelids impair vision, upper eyelid surgery may be covered by your insurance.
The Facts You Should Know About Blepharoplasty
There is no ideal age to have eyelid surgery. Some patients opt for blepharoplasty in their late teens or twenties, especially when skin or fat pockets impede vision. However, the most common age to pursue blepharoplasty is the forties when the first real signs of aging appear. The eyes are one of the first places to show aging thanks to thin skin, sun damage, and nearly constant movement. There’s another “surge” of popularity for this service among people in their 50s and 60s, often in conjunction with a facelift or brow lift.
One of the first questions a potential client asks is where the incision marks will be hidden. For upper eyelid surgery, incisions are small and easily hidden in the eyelid’s natural creases. Lower eyelid surgery might include incision scars that are hidden along the lashline or sometimes inside the eyelid. Patients are often pleasantly surprised to find that the eye area heals quickly—even for incisions inside the eyelid. Any surgery will leave a scar, but the eyelids have a knack for healing better than nearly any other part of the body (thin skin naturally heals well and quickly).
For a lot of patients, they’ve been thinking about eyelid surgery or some type of facial surgery for a long time before scheduling a consultation. How can you tell if you’d benefit from eyelid surgery, anyway? The only way to determine if eyelid surgery is the best solution for your goals is with a consultation. For those who are wondering if upper eyelid surgery may be covered by insurance, your surgeon can perform a quick test to gauge whether the droopiness of your eyelid interferes with your vision. A consultation is also where you’ll work with a leading expert to figure out the best approach—or approaches.
Combine Eyelid Surgery
It’s very common to combine blepharoplasty with other surgeries. Blepharoplasty takes less than one hour to complete, and is also a surgery with minimal risks. In the vast majority of cases, general anesthesia is not required for eyelid surgery. Patients are awake but feel nothing beyond pressure during the blepharoplasty surgery. In the cases of nerves or extreme stress related to surgery, your surgeon may recommend more advanced anesthesia options. The most popular procedures to pair with eyelid surgery include a browlift, facelift, rhinoplasty, chin implant, fat transfer, and dermal fillers. Dermal fillers can be particularly helpful to fill out the hollow area beneath the eyes. Sagging skin alone is not indicative of age. Instead, looking older can be due to losing certain facial fat that makes you look young.
Upper blepharoplasty can be optimized with the use of Botox injections and fillers to address crow’s feet and hollow areas. Your dermatologist can also recommend medical-grade ointments and creams to help sustain results. For example, retinoids and vitamin C cream can be fantastic additions to your at-home regimen. Just like any other cosmetic surgery, the results of blepharoplasty can be long-lasting but they aren’t technically “permanent.” Of course, the fat and skin removed during the procedure will not come back, but skin will continue to age and lose elasticity throughout the years. Additional fat loss can occur in unwanted areas, which can exacerbate lax skin and wrinkles. However, a blepharoplasty “touch up” is more common in future years rather than a completely new blepharoplasty. A great facial plastic surgeon will take a modest approach to your procedure, since they know that you can always remove more skin and fat, but you can’t restore it once it’s gone. Blepharoplasty that is too aggressive can lead to issues such as dry eyes and issues closing the eyelids. The best surgeons provide results that are beautiful, natural, and safe.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
Are you interested in learning more about blepharoplasty or other procedures offered by Dr. Roy? Call RefinedMD at (408) 688-2082 to schedule your consultation today.