Open Your Eyes With Blepharoplasty

Posted February 26, 2016 in Blepharoplasty

Droopy upper eyelids and puffy lower eyelids can make a person appear tired, worn out, and a lot older than they truly are. In addition, droopy upper eyelids can obstruct a person’s vision.  

Over time, stress, genetics, and age can cause the eyelid skin to sag and fatty pouches to appear. Unfortunately, there are no creams or miracle at-home cures to reverse these signs of aging. No matter how much sleep a person gets or how many anti-aging products a person uses, the excess skin and fat won’t go away.

Often, the only way to make the eyes look more refreshed and “open” is to undergo eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). Blepharoplasty is performed to remove excess fat and skin from the upper and lower eyelids. The good news is that this is a fairly quick procedure and can be performed under local anesthesia in about an hour!

Blepharoplasty Can Correct the Following:

• Excess skin obscuring the natural fold of the upper eyes
• Loose or drooping upper eyelid skin that impairs vision
• Puffiness of the upper eyelids
• Excess skin and fine wrinkles under the lower eyelids
• Bags and dark circles under the eyes

What Are My Options?

Depending on the severity of the loose and sagging skin, upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery, or a combination of the two will be performed.

• Upper Eyelid Surgery: Dr. Taylor places an incision along the natural eyelid crease and excises or removes excess skin and fat. The surgery is done with lasers to reduce bruising and swelling. Patients will experience minimal scarring that will be well-hidden within the crease of the eyelids.

• Lower Eyelid Surgery: Dr. Taylor places an incision just below the lower eyelashes and removes excess skin and either removes or repositions the excess fat. Because Dr. Taylor places the incisions in an inconspicuous area along the lash line, scarring is minimal and will not be noticeable.

Patients always worry about visible scarring around their eyes, but they are assured that these scars heal virtually invisibly with any skin type. After surgery, patients can expect a week or two of downtime. The recovery is purely cosmetic, meaning they don’t look too good the first week with bruising and swelling, but they feel great as the post-op recovery is painless. The first few days after surgery, patients should plan to stay home, relax, and use cold compresses. Swelling, bruising, numbness, and light sensitivity may occur temporarily. Incisions will be red and visible at first but will fade over time. Pain is minimal, and over-the-counter pain medication such as TYLENOL® will alleviate any mild discomfort.

Patients who have undergone eyelid surgery will have a refreshed, more vibrant facial appearance. They feel as if their eyes appear more open, alert, and awake. Their world seems brighter and cheerier as their visual impairment is corrected.  

To find out how eyelid surgery could help you, schedule your personal consultation with Dr. Taylor by calling his office at (626) 577-7730 or by filling out our online contact form.