Eyelid Surgery
Dr. Shaun Parson Plastic Surgery & Skin Center specializes in eyelid surgery. Also known as blepharoplasty (blef-r-o-plasty), eyelid surgery can be performed on the upper lids, lower lids, or both. Doing both the upper lids and lower lids at the same time is often referred to as a “quad bleph” or quad blepharoplasty. Often times this procedure provides the most dramatic results and can help patients look several years younger. Blepharoplasty is also a fantastic preventative surgery. Please note that eyelid surgery does not address crow’s feet lines, dark pigmentation of lower eyelids or drooping eyebrow skin.
Eyelid surgery is frequently done at the same time as other facial procedures, such as a facelift or brow lift, and can be combined with laser or chemical resurfacing to smooth skin wrinkles.
How Skin Laxity Around the Eye is Unique
Upper blepharoplasty and lower blepharoplasty address two very different areas and concerns. The most common reason patients are interested in an upper bleph is due to sagging and skin laxity. If you notice that your eyelid creases aren’t as sharp as they used to be or if the skin seems to fold and sag, you might be a good candidate for an upper blepharoplasty regardless of age.
Oftentimes, age isn’t the only factor that causes sagging around the eyes. Therefore, any healthy adult could possibly reap the benefits from having a blepharoplasty depending on their specific concern.
Every person will experience skin sagging and laxity around the eyes as they grow older. The technical term for upper eyelid sagging is ptosis.
Ptosis can be caused from lost collagen due to age, from the levator muscle wearing out, or from trauma that may have damaged the muscles. There are tiny muscles in charge of lifting the eyelid, and just like any other muscle that is used non-stop, they can get tired and weak over time.
Sometimes the trauma to this area is acute. For instance, there are some cases where aggressive eye-rubbing has caused ptosis. While this isn’t the norm, as eyelid sagging is usually partially age-related and partially genetic, it is something to keep in mind.
Patients are always pleasantly surprised at just how quick blepharoplasty surgery is and how swift the recovery period tends to be. Incisions are very tiny and easily hidden in the creases of the eyelid. You might experience some swelling and light bruising after a blepharoplasty procedure, but that goes away on its own usually 1 – 2 weeks post-surgery. The results are immediate, except for any swelling, and help you look not only younger but healthier, happier, and more alert while still maintaining a natural look.
Lower Blepharoplasty
Lower eyelids present their own kinds of problems. This is usually where one might first notice fine lines and wrinkles, and these imperfections will just get deeper and more severe with age and sun damage. Wrinkling below the eyelids can make a person look much older, and even keep them from smiling in photos and fully enjoying life. Wrinkling is typically due to lost collagen and sun damage, but can be exacerbated by innocent trauma such as eye-rubbing.
Bags, dark circles, and fat pockets are additional common issues in the lower eyelid. Everyone loses “good fat” in their face as they age, and this loss is rarely completely symmetrical. You might have bags from fat pockets, skin laxity, or both. Bags can also cause or worsen undereye circles. These circles might be caused by shadows, or could be more prominent now that fat has been lost from this critical area.
A lower blepharoplasty lifts and tightens the skin in this area. In some cases, the lower lid itself is tightened at the outer corner of the eye socket to correct laxity of the tone of the lower eyelid (canthoplasty). Complementary procedures include fat removal if pockets exist or a fat transfer in order to restore fat to the area to fill in hollowed areas and dramatically reduce circles. There are two incision locations possible for a lower bleph, either along the lower lashline or inside the eyelid. Both are very discrete, and the location is determined based on your unique lower blepharoplasty.
Lower Blepharoplasty
Lower eyelids present their own kinds of problems. This is usually where one might first notice fine lines and wrinkles, and these imperfections will just get deeper and more severe with age and sun damage. Wrinkling below the eyelids can make a person look much older, and even keep them from smiling in photos and fully enjoying life. Wrinkling is typically due to lost collagen and sun damage, but can be exacerbated by innocent trauma such as eye-rubbing.
Bags, dark circles, and fat pockets are additional common issues in the lower eyelid. Everyone loses “good fat” in their face as they age, and this loss is rarely completely symmetrical. You might have bags from fat pockets, skin laxity, or both. Bags can also cause or worsen undereye circles. These circles might be caused by shadows, or could be more prominent now that fat has been lost from this critical area.
A lower blepharoplasty lifts and tightens the skin in this area. In some cases, the lower lid itself is tightened at the outer corner of the eye socket to correct laxity of the tone of the lower eyelid (canthoplasty). Complementary procedures include fat removal if pockets exist or a fat transfer in order to restore fat to the area to fill in hollowed areas and dramatically reduce circles. There are two incision locations possible for a lower bleph, either along the lower lashline or inside the eyelid. Both are very discrete, and the location is determined based on your unique lower blepharoplasty.
Take a Look
Featured Eyelid Videos
Video: Blepharoplasty-The Prescription for Resetting the Clock
Video FAQ: Blepharoplasty Recovery Time
Video: Browlift vs. Blepharoplasty
Is an Eyelid Lift for You?
Whether you’ve just started to notice signs of aging around the eyes or you’ve been struggling for some time with laxity, bags, or circles, a blepharoplasty procedure is a relatively quick procedure with very little downtime. It is also a great complement to other surgeries such as facelifts, browlifts, fat transfer or dermal fillers. The latter can be injected in many parts of the face for a more youthful appearance. Getting back the eyes you love starts with a consultation. Dr. Parson will work with you to determine your needs by developing a customized plan just for you.