Do Your Have Excess Skin Around Your Eyes?

Eyelid lift is also known as blepharoplasty. This is cosmetic surgery done on the eyelids to remove excess skin or fat and improve the surrounding area. Professional plastic surgeons like Dr. Bloch from Body by Bloch in Chicago can do the procedure for you. The doctor also performs many other cosmetic procedures. You can check them out at www.bodybybloch.com.

Who qualifies for an eyelid lift?

Dr. Bloch carries out blepharoplasty for adult men and women with healthy facial muscle or tissues and have a positive outlook and realistic goals for their eyelid improvement after understanding the risks involved with the surgery. You will be a good blepharoplasty candidate if:

• You have general good health and free from health conditions that might slow down healing.
• Don’t smoke or willing to quit smoking two weeks before surgery and two weeks after surgery.
• Have no serious eye conditions.
• Your upper eyelids have excess hanging skin that covers the natural crease.
• Have loose skin on your upper eyelids hanging over your eyelashes.
• Have puffy upper or lower eyelids.

Your eyelid surgery consultation.

During your eyelid surgery consultation be prepared to discuss:

• • Your surgical goals
  • Medical conditions, drug allergies, and previous medical treatments and specifically any problems you have had with your eyes
  • Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use
  • Previous surgeries

Your surgeon will also:

• • Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
  • Take photographs
  • Discuss your eyelid surgery options
  • Recommend a course of treatment
  • Discuss likely outcomes of eyelid surgery and any potential risks
  • Discuss the type of anesthesia that will be used

Be sure to ask questions. It’s very important to ask your plastic surgeon questions about your eyelid surgery. To help, we have prepared a checklist of questions to ask your surgeon that you can take with you to your consultation.

It’s natural to feel some anxiety, whether it’s excitement for your anticipated new look or a bit of preoperative stress. Don’t be shy about discussing these feelings with your plastic surgeon.

Eyelid lift Procedure

Dr. Bloch will choose the ideal procedure for you based on your anatomy as well as aesthetic concerns. The doctor will also help you choose between intravenous sedation and general anesthesia to help you stay comfortable throughout the surgery.

Upper eyelids

Upper blepharoplasty involves making of an incision on the eye’s natural crease through which excess fat, muscle and skin are removed. A tiny stitch is then used to close skin and create a more natural looking crease. Lasers may be used to minimize bruising or swelling and even help in eliminating excess tissue. Read more about the cosmetic laser technology at www.bodybybloch.com.

Lower eyelids

There are a number of options for performing lower eyelid surgery:

• • The traditional approach places the incision just below the eyelashes, trimming and/or repositioning excess skin and fat, and tightening the lower eyelid muscle.
  • In the transconjunctival approach, effective in improving lower eyelid bags and puffiness, your surgeon places the incision inside the eyelid.
  • Your surgeon can remove excess fat through a transconjunctival incision, but not excess skin.
  • The ‘skin pinch’ blepharoplasty removes only a bit of skin. This is effective if you have strong lower eyelid support and only a little extra skin. In some patients laser resurfacing can both tighten excess skin and remove wrinkles.

The use of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers is a nonsurgical alternative for the lower eyelids. Restylane, Juvéderm, and other soft tissue fillers can be injected into the tear trough (crescent-shaped under-eye area) to rejuvenate the appearance of the under-eye area. Results are varied and last approximately six months.

Recovering From Eyelid Lift

Immediately after an eyelid surgery, you will experience numbness, swelling and bruising which may continue for a week or more. Poor vision may also be experienced. Dr. Bloch may recommend using cold compresses on your eyes to reduce swelling. Ointment will lubricate your incisions and eye drops will moisturize the eyes. Incisions and stitches will be visible and some pain may be felt. Your surgeon will prescribe specific pain killers and caution you against using herbal supplements and other medications that may cause bleeding. Stitches will be removed after 3 to 7 days. Persistent swelling or pain should be immediately reported. Eyelid lift recovery timeframe varies among individuals. You will be advised to sleep with head elevated and avoid strenuous activities for 14 days. Sunglasses are ideal to guard against sun and wind. After 2 weeks you can resume work and you will be advised to take more naps, minimize too much reading, watching TV or staring at the computer for better healing.