Eyelid surgery, also known as eye lift or blepharoplasty, mitigates the appearance of bags from the lower lids and eliminates excess skin from the upper eyelids.
In general, this procedure is undertaken for aesthetic reasons. However, it can also help improve vision in older people who experience upper eyelid sagginess leading to vision obstructions.
A blepharoplasty will not remove dark circles beneath the eyes, crow’s feet, other facial lines. It is usually done along with other procedures such as dermal fillers, laser resurfacing, or forehead lifts.
Oculoplastic surgeon Dr. Jennifer Hui provides eyelid lift surgery to patients in Palm Springs, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Coachella Valley, Riverside, Redlands, Yucaipa, Loma Linda, and surrounding locations.
The Process of Eyelid Aging
The skin slowly loses its elasticity as it ages. This elasticity loss along with the pull from gravitational forces causes excess skin to accumulate on the upper and lower lids.
Extra skin on the lower lids leads to bulges and wrinkles while the excess skin on the upper eyelids may hang over the eyelashes causing vision problems.
Furthermore, the fat that cushions the eyeball from the skull can also lead to bulges in the upper and lower lids. The thin membrane that holds the fat in place becomes weaker with age allowing the fat to come forward into the lids, similar to a hernia.
Who Is an Ideal Candidate For Eyelid Surgery?
Ideal candidates for blepharoplasty are individuals who are in good overall health and have reasonable expectations. A majority of the candidates are 35 years or older in age. However, if baggy or droopy lids run in their family, they may require this procedure sooner.
Eyelid surgery can improve the patient’s appearance and enhance their confidence. But it may not offer them their desired appearance or change their facial structure. It is important for patients to evaluate their goals and discuss these with their eyelid surgeon.
How Is Blepharoplasty Performed?
The time taken to perform an eyelid surgery on both the upper and lower lids is around two hours. The surgeon will likely use local anesthesia with oral sedation. If the patient undergoes the procedure at a surgical center or a hospital, they might receive intravenous sedation.
If the patient is having both the upper and lower lids operated, the plastic surgeon will likely work on the upper eyelids initially. They will typically place incisions along the natural lines of the eyelids.
The surgeon will use these incisions to separate the skin from the underlying tissue and eliminate the excess skin and fat (and muscle if necessary). After that, the plastic surgeon will seal those incisions with very tiny sutures.
The sutures in upper eyelids will remain for three to six days. The lower eyelids may or may not need sutures, depending on the technique employed.
There are various techniques for performing blepharoplasty on the lower eyelids. One technique involves the surgeon placing an incision within the lower lid to eliminate fat. That incision will not be conspicuous. The surgeon can subsequently soften fine lines in the skin using a laser.
In another method, the surgeon places an incision along the lash margin. Through that incision, the surgeon can eliminate loose muscle, excess skin, and fat. The incision line fades away after a short duration.
If you are looking for more information about cosmetic eyelid surgery and non-surgical eyelid treatments and procedures performed by Oculoplastic Eyelid Surgeon Dr. Jennifer Hui and live in or around Palm Springs, La Quinta, Coachella Valley, Palm Desert, Riverside, Redlands, Yucaipa, Loma Linda California, Rancho Mirage call 760 610 2677 or click here to contact us.
