Blepharoplasty To Fight The Signs Of Aging - By: Dave Stringham

The eyes are a vital part of facial expression. They reflect how we feel emotionally and physically. Unfortunately, other factors may greatly affect the appearance of the eyes.

In aging, the eyelid skin may sag or droop producing puffiness or bags. These conditions are corrected by eyelid surgery to regenerate and improve the appearance of the eyes.

The evaluation begins with a medical history and state of health. This includes a history of vision problems. The physical exam will focus on eyelid position, excess skin, and the presence of fat.

Eyelid surgery requires an individualized approach. During the initial evaluation, your plastic surgeon will consider the presence of excess skin, drooping eyelids and bags. Your surgeon will make recommendations on whether other techniques of facial rejuvenation should be combined with the eyelid surgery.

The presence of a lower eyebrow will necessitate the need for a brow lift. Sagging of the upper eyelid, or excess upper eyelid skin is treated by removal of excess skin. The incision is placed in the natural crease of the upper eyelid producing a more youthful contour and eyelid appearance.

The lower eyelid skin excess is treated by skin excision and the repositioning of the eyelid fat. In your youthful lower eyelid, it may be unnecessary to excise skin and the trans-conjunctival technique can be used to remove or reposition fat without incising skin.

The procedures are performed in the operating room with local anesthesia, with or without sedation, but can be used or the procedure may be done under general anesthesia.

The upper and lower eyelids may be done as separate or combined procedures. The procedure usually takes 1-2 hours. Eyelid surgery also can be combined with facelift.

Following surgery, iced gauze is placed on the eyelids to reduce swelling. No fixed dressing is used and patients are able to open their eyes as needed. It is important to have assistance the first night of surgery. No heavy activity should be planned. Ice packs are continued for 24 hours.

The sutures usually fall out on their own within a week and the swelling will take 1-3 months to resolve. Return to work is possible within one week of no heavy activity is planned.

The most important part of the evaluation is the presence of high blood pressure and the use of anti-inflammatories, aspirin, Motrin, or Ibuprofen. These medications and health risks contribute to bleeding. Bleeding is the most significant complication from blepharoplasty both upper and lower.

Risks include ectropion, a condition where the lower eyelids is pulled down due to scarring or if too much skin is removed. In the upper eyelids, lagophthalmos. Of course, the amount of resulting scarring is very individual and it is possible to have hypertrophic scarring.

About the Author

Dave Stringham, the President of LookingYourBest.com writes about plastic surgery in Okemos, Michigan and cosmetic surgery procedures such as okemos blepharoplasty , breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, liposuction, and arm lift.

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