Archive for the ‘Blepharoplasty’ Category

Facial aging around the eyes starts to develop early in the mid- to late thirties with excess skin, crow’s feet, and lower eyelid bags for some. It only worsens through the 40s and 50s. This process makes the focal point of the face appear tired.Correction of those tired eyes through blepharoplasty (eyelid) surgery is a very common plastic surgery procedure. Not looking so tired is the main reason why everyone considers blepharoplasty surgery.

Blepharoplasty (eyelid tucks) can make the greatest difference in reversing that tired aged appearance since it is the focal point of many human interactions. Removing a little excess skin and fat can really clean up your eyes and make you look less tired and more vibrant. This is why I always call blepharoplasty the best value of all the facial aging procedures. It causes the greatest positive change in your appearance.

One of the more interesting things about blepharoplasty is that it is painless to go through for most patients. Yes, there is some noticeable swelling and bruising around the eyes but remarkably, there is usually no pain. You look ‘beat up’ but you don’t feel so. Recovery from blepharoplasty is what I call social recovery. When you feel comfortable again going out in public is what makes up blepharoplasty recovery. For some patients, they are not concerned about their appearance and they are out in public again in 3 to 5 days. Most patients do care, however, so their full return to the public eye may be closer to 7 to 10 days.

Blepharoplasty is one plastic surgery where what you do before and after the procedure can make a big difference in the amount of bruising and swelling that occurs. Stopping any aspirin and non-steroidal medications 3 weeks before surgery is the first step. Taking arnica tablets beginning one week before and after surgery is the next step. Keep your head and your eyes iced for the first 24 hours after surgery. I also place an Actipatch Eye Recovery mask immediately after surgery and onto this is where you place the ice. ActiPatch emits pulsed electromagnetic waves which help reduce swelling on the traumatized eyelids. After the first day after surgery, your main efforts are over other than keeping your eyelids moist with a light coating of antibiotic ointment. (this keeps the sutures soft so that they are easier to remove)

In 10 – 14 days, you will look ‘non-operated’, even though there is still some small amount of swelling and perhaps some line of bruising along the lower eyelid. By 3 weeks after surgery, you will be able to enjoy the full benefits of your blepharoplasty surgery! You will looke more refreshed and that will undoubtably be noticed…even though most will never figure that it was due to eyelid surgery. (unless you told them!)

Dr Barry Eppley, board-certified plastic surgeon of Indianapolis, operates his private practice at Clarian North and West Medical cenetrs in suburban Indianapolis. He writes a daily blogs on topics and trends in plastic surgery at http://www.exploreplasticsurgery.com.

The eyes, as they say are the windows to the soul. They are also the areas the show the early signs of aging. When ever you consider any form of facial rejuvenation you must make yourself a student of aging. You must understand what features make a person look old and how have these developed. Most importantly the method to restore the face must place the soft tissue back into a more youthful position. An eyelid lift otherwise known as blepharoplasty, focuses on the eyes and the peri-orbital zone. There are many factors that contribute to aging in this area. This includes both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Age, sun exposure and hereditary factors all contribute to wrinkles, deep lines and puffiness around the eyes.

The aging process stops for no man or woman. Time can cause unwanted changes in expression displaying moods that are not present internally. An eyelid lift is designed to restore a more youthful appearance to your eyes. It may involve the upper lids, the lower lids, or both. Plastic surgeons approach to eyelid surgery has certainly changed over the past 5 to 10 years. The traditional approach involved only the removing of tissues such as skin, fat and muscle. Current techniques are focused on volumization of the peri-orbital area, restoring a youthful fullness.

For the lower eyelids an incision is made just below the lash line. The skin and muscle of the lower lid are elevated to reveal the underlying fat pads. Traditionally these fat pads were simply removed. Modern techniques however preserve this fat and use it to splay out over the bony prominences of the upper facial skeleton. This has a tremendous softening effect in this area. It is this volumization that creates a softness and youthful contour.

The lower eyelid surgery can done under local anesthesia if desired. It is done as an outpatient in most cases. Icing of the area after surgery along with restriction of aspirin and aspirin containing products will help decrease bruising and swelling. The sutures will be removed in 3 – 5 days. Recovery is generally uneventful. Make up can be reapplied when the sutures are removed. The tricks to make up are that purple covers yellow, yellow covers purple and green covers pink. Selecting the appropriate foundation will help most female patients get back to normal.

For more information about facial rejuvenation in Atlanta Georgia

http://www.primacenter.com

The Procedure

Normally, the procedure will last one to three hours, depending upon the extent of the surgery. The number of eyelids, and removal of excess skin and muscle are some of the factors that influence the timeframe.

The surgeon will estimate how much fat, skin, and muscle will need to be removed, and will usually draw a pattern to follow onto the eyelids. At this point, anesthetics are administered.

The surgeon will then make incisions, using either a scalpel or a laser, along the natural lines of the eyelid, in order to help hide any scarring that may develop. For the upper eyelids, the incisions are usually made in the creases on the surface of the eyelid.

Standard blepharoplasty procedures typically have the incisions just below the eyelashes on the lower eyelids. However, transconjuctival blepharoplasties call for the incisions to be made on the back of the eyelids, completely hiding any visible scarring.

After making the necessary incisions, the skin is separated from the underlying fatty tissue and muscle in order to remove the fat.

Any excess skin or muscle left from sagging eyelids is then trimmed and removed and the incisions are sutured together. The surgeon may lubricate the eyes, and apply any necessary bandages for protection.

After The Surgery

After the procedure, your eyelids may be sore, or feel tight as the anesthetic wears off. You may feel discomfort for a few days after the surgery, and the surgeon will usually prescribe a pain reliever to ease any pain.

Your eyesight will most likely be blurry for a few days. After two to three days, your eyesight should be good enough to read a book or watch television.

The surgeon will give you some directions to follow to ensure a successful recovery. Some things your doctor may tell you to do are to keep your head elevated for a few days, use cold compresses to reduce any swelling or bruising, and to keep the eyes clean.

The stitches will be removed two days to one week after the initial procedure. Most people report feeling back to normal in about seven to ten days after their surgery.

In addition to blurred or double vision, you may experience excessive tearing or sensitivity to light. These side effects of the surgery should normally dissipate a few days after the procedure.

Temporary bruising and swelling of the eyelids and surrounding areas may last for two full weeks.

In addition to your choice of surgeon, the results of your eyelid surgery are affected by several factors of your unique self. Age, skin quality and elasticity, anatomy of eyelids, and the adjacent bony and soft tissue will all be factors that will have an effect on the outcome.

Dr. Terry Whipple is one of the main partners with AmericanSelf. American Self focuses on non invasion plastic cosmetic surgery in Richmond Virginia

Blepharoplasty is generally considered a cosmetic procedure that most insurance companies will not pay for the procedure, however, if your eyelids are encroaching upon your field of vision, the procedure may be covered as “medically necessary” surgery. This surgery requires approximately 1 week of recovery time before normal daily activities can be resumed, and because this is a surgical procedure, it is important that patients be in good health and free of any infections prior to undergoing this procedure. The difference between before-and-after photos can be quite dramatic, and people generally appear much younger and more refreshed after surgery.

Blepharoplasty procedures are performed by surgeons with specialized training in plastic and reconstructive surgery, and they are most commonly performed in outpatient facilities or in private professional offices. The surgery helps restore a more energetic and youthful appearance, and is an excellent procedure under local injections of anesthesia with or without sedation, or in some cases general anesthesia can be used. This is a very safe surgery, and complications are rare, there is however a small risk of infection or bleeding with any surgery.

Although blepharoplasty will not stop your eyes from aging, the procedure is usually very long lasting. This surgery is designed to correct this condition and to restore the youthful, alert appearance of your eyes and can be done alone, or in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures such as a facelift or browlift.

After surgery, patients may experience a tight or sore feeling in the eyelids, and medication can help to manage any discomfort. The stitches are removed in three to five days and patients who have a natural tendency to bruise easily will experience slightly more bruising in the initial recovery period. Patients may also experience some other temporary symptoms including itching, dryness, burning, tearing, blurred or double vision, or sensitivity to light.

AARON H PRATHER owns and operates http://www.blepharoplasty411.com an informative site on the different types of eyelid surgery. Blepharoplasty

Towards a More Younger Looking You

Age no doubt brings wisdom but it also affects health and changes the way one looks. The condition of droopy eyelids is quite common among older people. Youngsters may also be affected by the problem, also called ptosis, due to body chemistry or genetic reasons. Are your drooping eyelids not only obstructing your vision but also making you look more aged than you actually are? Do you often feel that your eye area could do with some enhancement? If yes, chances are that blepharoplasty would give you exactly what you’re looking for.

Goodbye to Drooping Eyelids

Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) is surgery done to get rid of the surplus skin, muscle or fat in the upper and lower eyelids. In this procedure, incisions are made along the natural lines of the eyelids, the folds of the upper lids and in the area below the lower lid eyelashes. Blepharoplasty doesn’t just involve removing what’s not wanted; the surrounding tendons and muscles would also be reinforced, and the drooping eyebrow repositioned. Vision that was earlier distorted because of the sagging eyelids will be improved following the surgery. Eyelid surgery can also make right:

• Dark shadows
• Fat bags below the eyes

Aesthetic and Functional Benefits

Blepharoplasty can meet the needs of the patient well, irrespective of whether his/her needs are aesthetic or functional. How effective the eyelid surgery is in lifting the drooping eyelids would depend on factors such as eyelid anatomy, the adjacent soft and bony tissue, and the age and skin quality of the patient.

Provided that you’re well aware of the risks, eyelid surgery has much to offer in terms of returning lost youthful contour to your face and giving you a more animated look.

Manhattan Blepharoplasty – Dr. Spero Theodorou is a talented plastic surgeon in New York City who has years of experience in blepharoplasty. Dr Spero Theodorou specializes in Manhattan eyelid surgery.