When is the right time for eyelid surgery?

Do you feel that your eyes have started appear tired or sad, regardless of how well rested you are or how happy you feel? Does this perception become amplified by questions or commentary of well-meaning friends and family? If any of this sounds familiar, then you may be a candidate for eyelid surgery. Many of the patients I see for blepharoplasty have looked to their family physician or the internet for help in understanding if they are a candidate for eyelid surgery. Regretfully, such efforts can lead to mixed messages and a misunderstanding that only those with a visual impairment are candidates for surgery.

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure in which excess skin and fat are removed from the upper and lower eyelids. It is the third most popular cosmetic procedure with more than 147,500 performed last year. The procedure is performed in an outpatient setting and is customized to each individual’s specific needs. Modern advances in the understanding of facial aging have helped to further refine this elegant procedure. Today we are more meticulous and take additional efforts to transpose and reposition the orbital fat than in the past. Surgical incisions and exacting suture placement are performed to recreate the natural lines of the eyelids and to prevent any visible scarring. Complementary treatments of the lower eyelid tissues, including laser resurfacing and chemical treatments, can also be performed at the same time. We also specifically address facial volume as it relates to the lower lid and cheek junction (tear trough). Sutures are removed after one week and the majority of healing is completed by this time as well. The end surgical result is an appearance that is more refreshed, rested and youthful.

In the end, there are many personal reasons why people have eyelid surgery. Some people want their eyes to convey youth and energy while others simply want to look 10 years younger. Regardless of the reasons that lead to the decision of surgery, it is important to remember that reliable and natural appearing results are available to you at the Larrabee Center for Plastic Surgery.