Eyelid Surgery Archives

How Do You Know If You’re a Good Fit For Eyelid Surgery?

Paul Stubenbordt on May 5, 2022

Eyelid surgery is a popular cosmetic surgery as it can reduce the appearance of sagging eyelids and skin and make you look younger. It can also have medical benefits by improving your vision, especially if you have ptosis.

To have eyelid surgery to treat low-lying eyelids or extra skin on your eyelids, you will first have to qualify as a candidate. The only way to know if you’re a candidate is to have a consultation with your eye doctor.

Keep reading to learn if you may be a good fit for eyelid surgery!

Ptosis and Drooping Eyelids

Ptosis is an eye condition that causes the eyelids to droop. Often, this is due to muscle weakness and lack of muscle elasticity.

It can affect anyone of any age. When the upper eyelid droops, it can affect a person’s vision, limiting their visual field since the drooping skin is in the way.

In these instances, surgery may be deemed medically necessary to fully restore a person’s vision. Sometimes the eyelids droop not because of loss of muscle elasticity but simply as a side effect of aging.

As we get older, our skin and muscles lose elasticity. When our skin loses elasticity, it can cause wrinkles and sag in the skin, including the eyelids.

Both the lower and upper eyelids may droop, causing vision problems or baggy eyes that may make you appear tired. Eyelid surgery can tighten droopy eyelids whether you have ptosis or droopy eyes due to aging.

Even when not deemed medically necessary, eyelid surgery can make you appear less tired and more youthful by reducing the appearance of these symptoms.

Blepharoplasty

To improve the symptoms of ptosis and sagging eyelids, eye doctors perform a procedure called a blepharoplasty. The procedure is often an outpatient surgery, meaning you can go home the same day they have surgery.

During surgery, your oculoplastic surgeon will tighten the muscles in the eyelids or remove excess skin to prevent drooping. In order to hide scarring, your eye doctor will make the incisions in the eyelids along natural creases.

Next, they will then remove excess tissue or tighten the eyelid muscles. Your eye surgeon can perform the blepharoplasty procedure on the lower and upper eyelids.

This procedure is low-risk. Many people are good candidates for the procedure, but there are some things that may disqualify you.

Blepharoplasty Candidates

To have a blepharoplasty, you should be in good general health. Your eye surgeon may not qualify you as a candidate for the procedure if you have hypertension, thyroid disease, or dry eye syndrome.

You also should have reasonable expectations for the procedure. Keep in mind that a blepharoplasty doesn’t get rid of dark circles, but it will significantly reduce the appearance of drooping or saggy eyelids.

During your consultation, your eye doctor will thoroughly examine your eyes. Your eye doctor will also discuss the procedure and will want to know your goals for the procedure.

Your eye doctor may ask you to perform a visual field test to determine if the drooping of your eyelids is interfering with your vision.

Are you interested in determining if you are a good candidate for eyelid surgery? Schedule a consultation at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Burbank, CA, today!

Is Blepharoplasty The Answer For Saggy Eyelids?

Paul Stubenbordt on January 22, 2021

Saggy eyelids can happen for many reasons. While they are often due to getting older, they can also be because of ptosis.

This occurs when the upper eyelid becomes droopy. They can also be due to trauma or an underlying condition. But whatever the cause, they can be a little frustrating.

Cosmetically, they may make you look or even feel older and more tired than you are. They can also limit your field of vision.

Luckily, there is something you can do about saggy eyelids. Keep reading to find out if you should get a blepharoplasty!

Reasons to Get a Blepharoplasty

A blepharoplasty is a minor cosmetic surgery that fixes saggy eyelids. This is usually by removing excess tissue.

The procedure can be done to correct droopy upper or lower eyelids. While the procedure is often seen as being solely for cosmetic purposes, it has others.

It can actually repair your vision by fixing droopy upper eyelids limiting your visual field. But helping you look and feel younger and more confident is a legitimate reason to get a blepharoplasty.

The Procedure

A blepharoplasty is an outpatient procedure, meaning you get to go home the day of the procedure and don’t need to stay at the hospital during recovery. In fact, the procedure is often performed at an ophthalmology center.

Unless the procedure is paired with a more intensive cosmetic surgery, it’s also performed without general anesthesia. Your surgeon will simply inject a numbing agent into the skin and administer medication to help you relax.

During the procedure, the surgeon can work on both the upper and lower eyelids. They’ll start with the upper eyelids, making an incision and removing excess tissue before closing the incision.

They’ll then do the same with the lower eyelid. You can have blepharoplasty on both eyelids during the procedure, but you may only need one or the other.

Either way, after your blepharoplasty is over, you’ll spend some time in a recovery room. After a short period of time, you’ll be able to leave with whoever you’ve arranged to drive you home.

Expectations and Risk

Before deciding to have any surgery, it’s important to know the risks involved and make sure you have the right expectations going in. After surgery, there will be a recovery period.

During that time, your eyes may appear bruised and feel uncomfortable. Proper care will ensure an easy healing process, provided you follow your doctor’s instructions.

This will likely involve regularly using ice packs on your eyes and eye drops and ointments to promote healing. There are risks involved in any surgery, and blepharoplasty is no exception.

You can reduce these risks with proper preoperative screening and post-operative care. Before you can have the procedure, your doctor will assess you thoroughly to ensure it will be as safe as possible.

They may find that blepharoplasty isn’t for you, although if you’re in good health, you’ll probably be a good candidate for surgery. If you are a good candidate, be sure to discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor before deciding to have surgery.

Sick and tired of looking older than you are? A blepharoplasty may be able to help! Schedule an appointment at Berg Feinfield Vision in Burbank, CA to learn more!