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After a certain point, the dark circles and puffiness under your eyes reveal more about your age than the amount of restful sleep you got the night before. The eyes may be the window to the soul, but unfortunately for many of us, they are also one of the first places to display visible signs of aging. The skin around the eyes is extremely thin and delicate, making it particularly vulnerable to breaking-down at much faster rates than anywhere else on the body. This results in those early and unwelcome signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles, drooping eyelids and pesky dark circles that no amount of anti-aging creams or serums can reverse.
Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty or an “eye lift,” is a minimally-invasive surgical procedure that aims to improve the appearance of the upper eyelids, lower eyelids or both to restore a more youthful and energized appearance to the eyes for years to come. Besides aging your appearance prematurely, excess sagging skin around the eyes can impair or obstruct your field of vision and take an adverse toll on your overall quality of life. If you are tired of looking tired all the time or merely wish to improve upon your line vision, eyelid surgery at South Shore Plastic Surgery with Dr. V can be a safe and highly-effective solution.
Lift Your Upper Eyelids
After reaching a certain age, your heavy-lidded eyes can become a real nuisance both to your overall appearance as well as your line of sight. Patients who are bothered with the appearance of their upper eyelids are often plagued by excessive, sagging skin that obscures the natural crease of their eyelids or has begun to spill over their top lash line. This sagging skin may also interfere with your field of vision, particularly your peripheral vision or side vision.
Upper eyelid surgery works to improve the contour and shape of the upper lid by excising or rearranging loose skin, weakened muscle and pockets of fat from the area. During your upper eyelid surgery at South Shore Plastic Surgery, board-certified Dr. V will make a small, discreet incision that follows the natural line of your upper lid and extends slightly beyond the outside corner of the eye into your laugh lines or other existing creases. The subtle placement of this incision allows for inconspicuous scarring as you heal from your procedure. Once excess tissues have been removed or repositioned, the remaining skin on your upper lid will be lifted and tightened for a more rested and younger-looking appearance.
Smooth Your Lower Eyelids
Gravity is never kind to the appearance of the skin, especially the fragile skin of the lower eyelids. The gradual breakdown of collagen and elastin paired with weakened eye muscles over time can result in permanent under eye bags, wrinkles or even stretched skin that exposes the whites of your eyes. Puffy, bulging fat pads beneath the eyes may also cause patients to look older, more tired or more stressed than they actually feel.
Similar to upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery seeks to rejuvenate the area beneath the eyes by eliminating extra skin and fatty deposits from the region. The incision for this procedure is typically placed and obscured just below the lower lash line through which skin, muscle and fat will be removed or reshaped to eliminate under-eye puffiness. If excess skin is not a problem for you, but you still wish to treat the under eye region, Dr. V can perform a transconjunctival approach to reposition the fat pads beneath the lower lids. This method would place the incision on the inner side of the lower eyelid to avoid visible scarring on the outer region of the eyes. The remaining skin will be draped over the refined under eye contour to eliminate fine lines, wrinkles and puffiness.
Improve Functionality
While most health insurance providers consider cosmetic procedures to be elective or medically unnecessary, you may be eligible for partial or full coverage for your eyelid surgery if your eyelid skin is interfering with your line of sight or quality of life. To determine your eligibility for medical coverage, you will first have to schedule an exam with an optometrist to assess how much of your vision is obstructed. If hanging skin obscures enough of your vision, a functional blepharoplasty can be performed to improve your vision as well as your appearance in one procedure.
Manageable Downtime
Eyelid surgery is generally performed on an outpatient basis, and will typically only take about two hours to complete, provided it is the only cosmetic procedure being performed. As a minimally-invasive procedure, your eyelid surgery will likely just involve local anesthesia with sedation to ensure your comfort throughout the operation, which carries less risk and recovery time than procedures requiring general anesthesia. After your procedure, you will be able to return to the comfort of your own home to recuperate.
While some patients experience some mild discomfort during the first few days of their recovery, this pain is usually easily tolerated with the help of over-the-counter medications. Bruising, swelling and redness are some of the more common side effects patients will endure after their eyelid surgery. However, they are also considered to be temporary. For most, all adverse side effects should disperse in about 10 to 14 days after their surgery, at which point you will likely feel comfortable returning to work and resuming your day-to-day activities. The scars from your procedure may take several months before they completely fade; however, they will be virtually undetectable during your recovery process due to their discreetly hidden placement on the eyes.
If you are ready to bring youth and energy back into your appearance, look no further than an upper or lower eyelid surgery at South Shore Plastic Surgery. Dr. V will work with you directly to design a customized surgical plan that naturally restores the appearance and functionality of your eyes as well as your self-confidence. Contact our office today at 856-784-2639 to schedule your free consultation.
