Blepharoplasty

The area around the eyes is particularly susceptible to age-related changes. By age 35, most people notice that the delicate skin above and below their eyes has started to sag. As the aging process continues, folds above the eyes and bags below the eyes become more pronounced. The eyelids themselves can also droop significantly, altering the shape of the eyes and even affecting your vision.

Though injectable treatments, like Botox® and fillers, can reduce the number of wrinkles around the eyes, they can’t treat all the visible signs of eyelid aging. To correct eyelid sagging and eye bags, Dr. Wilson uses a cosmetic surgery procedure called blepharoplasty.

It’s called an upper blepharoplasty for surgery addressing the upper eyelids and lower blepharoplasty for surgery on the lower eyelids.

It reduces wrinkles around the eyes, restores youthful eye contours, and eliminates puffiness under the eyes. Patients who have eyelid surgery look refreshed and alert after their procedure rather than appearing fatigued. This can lead to more positive interactions, especially in situations where appearing engaged is important (e.g., in the workplace).

Blepharoplasty improves quality of life in other ways too. Eyelid sagging (known as ptosis) frequently leads to ocular discomfort by making the eyes either chronically dry or watery. This, in turn, tends to increase problems with eye strain, especially when the affected individual is using a backlit device. Severely droopy eyes can even reduce a person’s peripheral vision, making driving much more difficult.

Blepharoplasty patients must be in good overall health and be current nonsmokers. Because droopy eyelids can be caused by certain medical conditions, it’s important to visit your doctor if your upper and/or lower eyelids droop prematurely, suddenly, or unevenly. Medications can also play a role in worsening eyelid ptosis.

When you visit Dr. Wilson for a consultation, he will review your medical history in order to rule out the presence of an underlying condition and ensure that you’re a good candidate for this procedure.

Blepharoplasty can be performed on the upper eyelid, the lower eyelid, or both. Though blepharoplasty is sometimes referred to as being an “eyelid lift,” the upper and lower eyelids are not actually raised during this procedure. Instead, Dr. Wilson will carefully remove excess eyelid skin and excess fat where necessary. Sometimes, a small portion of the levator muscle in the eyelid is also removed if the muscle has stretched due to aging.

During upper eyelid surgery, an incision is made along the exterior of the upper eyelid, permitting Dr. Wilson to remove tissue and contour the eyelid. Because this incision is hidden in the natural crease of the eyelid, it does not typically produce visible scarring. Note that upper eyelid surgery can also be used to create a crease in naturally hooded upper lids, even in younger patients who do not exhibit signs of ptosis. Some patients elect to do this because it makes applying cosmetics easier and creates a more defined contour to the eyelids.

With lower eyelid surgery, lower eyelid incisions, by contrast, can be made on the interior or the exterior of the eyelid, depending on the patient’s preferences and anatomy. Fat is then removed from the area under the eyes, eliminating the patient’s eye bags. In both forms of blepharoplasty, incisions are closed with sutures following the completion of surgery.

Though blepharoplasty is not a particularly invasive operation, it requires extreme precision. Only the most highly trained and experienced surgeons can create results that are completely symmetrical and natural-looking. As one of New Hampshire’s leading experts on eyelid surgery, Harvard-educated board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Wilson has the training and expertise required to restore both the form and the function of the eyelids.

If you’re looking for total eyelid rejuvenation, blepharoplasty, and a brow lift can be performed at the same time. On top of the benefits of eyelid surgery, a brow lift can smooth out the forehead and lift the brow and lids, giving you a youthful and more refreshed appearance. Dr. Wilson will help you determine whether the coronal or pretrichial brow lift is right for your needs.

Eyelid surgery, when it’s performed on its own, has a fairly brief recovery time. Most patients experience some bruising and swelling following their procedure, but after about 48 hours, these symptoms noticeably subside. Gently applying a cool compress to the eyelid area several times per day for at least three days after surgery will minimize bruising and swelling and improve your comfort.

After having eyelid surgery, you will need to avoid engaging in any kind of heavy activity. Patients generally need to take between seven to ten days off work while their incisions heal. Your incisions will be covered with thin bandages for about three days. Throughout the rest of the healing period, they will be closed with stitches.

Dr. Wilson will also provide you with pain medication and lubricating eye drops to improve your comfort (temporary eye dryness sometimes occurs after eyelid surgery). You will also be given detailed aftercare instructions prior to your procedure.

Do people often mention that you look tired or upset because of your eyes? Puffy under-eye bags, excess skin in the upper eyelids, and folds above your eyes can make you look tired and older than you are. You can address all those issues and more with eyelid surgery at AW Plastic Surgery. Schedule a consultation today by calling our Portsmouth, NH office or using our online contact form.