An Open Window Policy - Eyelid Surgery Can Keep your Outlook Bright

In the blink of an eye, that’s how they say time moves. Blink. Blink. There it goes, again and again and again. And if the blinking of your eye measures the passage of time, it’s no wonder if your eyes show the passage of time more than the rest of your body. For some of us, all the work we do to maintain a youthful appearance through exercise and diet and the general care and maintenance of our bodies is betrayed by the seemingly inevitable changes that take place around our eyes.

The eyes are the windows to the soul. They are where people look to see if we love them, or if they can trust us. In folklore, anime, and velvet paintings, wide eyes are the symbol of youth. If we want to look young, both to others and to ourselves in the mirror, the eyes are the place to start.

Introduction to Blepharoplasty (Eyelid surgery)

Sometimes called an eyelid lift, blepharoplasty (a mouthful, to say the least!) is a delicate surgery that rejuvenates the skin and muscles around the eyes and can be performed on both the upper and the lower eyelids. It can be used to correct:

· Drooping eyelids
· Sagging eyelids
· Bags under the eyes
· Narrowed eyes
· Tired appearance
· Sight obstruction

Because our eyes are so much a part of our day-to-day interaction with others, some of these changes can be more than simply cosmetic. For example, salespeople might find the sagging of their eyelids causes customers to find them less trustworthy. Friends and loved ones might mistake our perennially tired appearance for boredom or loss of commitment to a relationship. In these cases, looking better is not merely superficial—it runs right to the heart of our livelihood and our lives.

How Blepharoplasty Works

There are two types of blepharoplasty: upper lid and lower lid. Consulting with an experienced plastic surgeon will help you determine which ones are appropriate for you.

In Upper lid blepharoplasty, the surgeon makes a tiny incision along the crease of the upper eyelid to provide access. Then the surgeon is able to remove excess fat and/or skin that is giving the eye a puffed appearance. The surgeon tightens the skin and seals the incision carefully with very fine sutures.

There are two types of lower lid blepharoplasty. Most often the surgeon makes an incision just below the lash line of the lower eyelid, using this incision to remove fatty tissue and/or skin and tighten the skin and muscles of the lower lid to eliminate puffiness or bagginess. If you don’t need to have the skin or muscles of the lower lid trimmed, the surgeon may opt for what is called a transconjunctival blepharoplasty (two mouthfuls, whew!). In this procedure, the incision is actually made inside the lower eyelid. In this case, any scarring from the procedure is completely invisible.

A Quick Procedure

Blepharoplasty, although a long word, is a relatively short procedure, taking only one to two hours to complete. Not only that, but the fine skin around the eyes and the tiny incisions used make for a very quick recovery time. Most patients are able to get back to non-strenuous activity in a day or two, although it’s best to put aside unnecessary activities for a week or so. The sutures used dissolve on their own, so there’s no need to go in to the doctor to have them removed. All in all, a relatively easy procedure, considering what it can do for you!

And because it’s a tightly targeted procedure, it can be combined with any number of surgical and non-surgical treatments such as a face lift, a brow lift, the injection of filler materials or Botox treatments.

If you’d like to know more about blepharoplasty, please visit the website of Bray Plastic Surgery, serving the cosmetic surgery demands of the Greater Los Angeles area.


By Patricia Woloch