It is often stated that the eyes are the windows to your soul. Captivating and attractive, they receive a great deal of attention as the center point of your face. In fact, the eyes can reveal much of one’s thoughts, emotions and expressions. But as we age, changes begin to take place that quite often don’t help to express the true nature of how we may feel. After a great night’s sleep you might feel completely refreshed, but your eyes may tell a different story. What can you do to help reverse the effects of these predisposed genetics that can appear in all age groups, both young and old?
Great News for Saggy, Baggy Eyes
Technically referred to as blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery is the common approach to help fix saggy, baggy eyes. This type of surgical rejuvenation can address the upper and lower eyelids separately or together depending upon the circumstances of each individual case. Typically, lower eyelid surgery is performed on younger patients (mid-thirties to mid-forties) to help address a puffy, tired looking eye. And the most common reason for an upper eyelid blepharoplasty is to correct a hooded tired looking appearance for slightly older patients (the 40’s age range for women and 50’s for men). Simply opening the eyes as little as 3-4 millimeters can help make you look a lot more rested.
Blepharoplasty: What’s Your Approach?
If you are thinking of a lower eyelid surgery, there are a number of different approaches to be considered. The plastic surgeons of Sunset Cosmetic Surgery can help guide and inform you as to whether or not the incision should be made on the inside of the eyelid or on the outside, directly underneath the lashes. Some removal of skin and re-contouring of fat deposits may be found necessary and it is possible for a combination of both inside and outside incisions to be performed at the same time. Just remember ultimate goal of a lower eyelid blepharoplasty operation is to remove or reposition the excess fat, tighten the muscle layer and remove or tighten the extra skin.
With the upper eyelids, pre-op considerations may involve thinking about removing any fat as well as skin and/or muscle. This surgery requires precise placement of incisions within the crease of the eyelid to help prevent potential problems such as “lateral hooding.” Each person’s creases, lines and amount of excess skin to be removed are unique and Drs. Steven Svhelak and Daniel Yamini will bring the necessary experience, careful mark and artistic vision to help place scars in such a way that they are not noticeable.
Recovering from Blepharoplasty Surgery
Recovery from blepharoplasty is generally very rapid and without complication. The skin of the eyelid is the thinnest anywhere in the body, and thus tends to heal remarkably well. When incisions are placed correctly, the blepharoplasty surgery enhances your natural beauty and is virtually undetectable. Following surgery, normal activities typically can be resumed within 3 to 4 days with removal of stitches taking place within 5 to 7 days. Overall patients have expressed minimal pain, but bruising and swelling may be experienced for up 7 to 10 days. Though this type of surgery is not any more difficult for older patients, healing and recovering time may be a little bit slower.
Is Blepharoplasty Surgery Worth it?
Costs associated with an eyelid surgery may include surgeon, anesthesia and operating room fees. When upper and lower eyelids surgeries are performed together, some costs may be shared or combined and expense is decreased significantly. When a patient’s surgery is deemed as “functional” blepharoplasty, meaning the saggy eyelids are impacting a patient’s daily vision and the surgery is needed for medical reasons, insurance companies may get involved to help cover the expense. After special submissions and insurance approval is obtained the surgery can be performed. Sunset Cosmetic Surgery also offers a flexible payment option, specifically designed for healthcare so that patients might seek and receive the treatment they may need.
There are reasons the number of blepharoplasties performed annually in the US has more than doubled over the years. Well-performed surgeries return a natural-appearing enhancement of one’s most important feature on the face – your eyes! Recovery times are minimal and relatively painless, while surgery costs won’t break the bank. In the hands of the skilled plastic surgeons of Sunset Cosmetic Surgery, blepharoplasty is quite safe and the improvements are long-lasting.
Credentials Matter, Experience Counts.
The double-board certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Svehlak and Dr. Yamini perform eyelid surgeries on a regular basis. Upper eyelid surgery can sometimes be done in-office using local anesthetic. Sometimes, these are combined with other procedures such as face lift, fat injections or laser skin resurfacing. Some patients need only the upper or lower eyelid improved, but many have problems in both areas. In other cases, patients have learned their problems would be better addressed with additional procedures to help restore lost facial volume.
The surgeons and staff of Sunset Cosmetic Surgery serve patients from all over Southern California and believe the highest possible quality of care is what matters. Call and schedule your consultation today at 310-858-9100 or visit sunsetcosmeticsurgery.com for more information about having blepharoplasty surgery in Los Angeles. You can also view a variety of eyelid surgery before and after photos in an online image gallery.
