Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure that is designed to help improve the appearance of the eyelids. This surgery can be performed on the upper, lower, or both eyelids. While many patients consult with our offices for elective surgeries, some patients also have issues where the eyelids can obstruct their vision, and there is a medical need for the operation.

Benefits of Eyelid Surgery

Many patients consider eyelid surgery because they are wanting to improve their appearance. Eyelid surgery can improve your appearance in a variety of ways.

• Eliminate or reduce loose and sagging skin around the eyes. This skin can also impair the patient’s vision.

• Remove fatty deposits around the eye that creates the appearance of puffiness.

• Remove bags under the eyes.

• Help the appearance of a drooping lower eyelid that exposes the white part of the eye around the iris.

• Reduce or eliminate fine lines and wrinkles.
  
  

Who Can Benefit from Eyelid Surgery?

If you have been considering eyelid surgery, it is important to see if you would be a good candidate for the process. Typically, your surgeon will review your medical history to ensure that you are generally healthy and don’t have any issues that may impair your body’s ability to heal.

Patients who don’t smoke also have a better chance at a speedy and uncomplicated healing process. Surgeons may also consider patients goals to ensure they are realistic and that there is an actual need for the surgery.

When you call our offices to schedule a consultation, your doctor will be looking for certain things. In addition to your medical history review, they will also look at your facial structure in order to identify the best approach for you. Sometimes patients have issues with the appearance of drooping eyelids that are actually caused by a relaxation in the forehead and eyebrow. While there are options to correct this, eyelid surgery would not be the best solution.

Eyelid Surgery and Insurance Coverage

While many health insurances will not cover cosmetic surgeries, eyelid surgery may be an exception in certain cases. Patients who have a medical need to help restore their vision or ability to complete certain tasks (driving or job-related issues) may qualify under certain insurance providers. If you are considering a medically necessary procedure, you should contact your insurer ahead of time to see about their coverage.

The Process

Understanding how the entire process will work can help many patients feel more confident about their decision and ensure that they ask the right questions at their consultation.

Patients will be completely sedated during the procedure but may be administered anesthesia either intravenously or as a general anesthetic. You should work with your doctor to identify which option is best for you.

Once the patient is completely sedated, an incision is made in the eyelid. This incision is generally hidden within the natural features of the eye. This ensures that any scarring isn’t visible and does not have an effect on the final appearance of the eyelid. Once the appropriate incisions have been made, your surgeon will conduct the appropriate surgery to correct the patient’s specific issues. This can involve tightening the muscles, removing or redepositing fatty tissue, or removing excess skin.

The surgeon will then close the incisions with small sutures or special medical glue. If sutures are placed, they are generally removed after one week.

In addition to the actual surgery, many surgeons also offer laser or chemical peels to help reduce the discoloration of eyelids. This will likely be completed after the initial surgery has been completed, and the incisions have properly healed.

Over the next month, you and your surgeon will continue to monitor your progress. This means that if there are any issues that you should contact your doctor immediately, and attend your regularly scheduled follow up appointments. Most patients have completely healed and recognized the differences in their appearance after a month.

Overview

Eyelid surgery is a commonly completed procedure that helps to restore the patient’s appearance and can improve their vision. If you have been considering eyelid surgery, contact our offices today to schedule your consultation. Take the first step in achieving the appearance that you deserve now!

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