Are you dissatisfied with the appearance of your eyelids? Do you feel like your eyes are obscured by dropping or sagging lids? Upper and lower blepharoplasty is a procedure designed to correct sagging skin on the upper and lower eyelids, restoring a youthful appearance and offering a long-term solution to this common sign of aging. At Reflections Skin & Laser Center in Cartersville, GA, we can help you achieve your ideal image.
What Is Upper and Lower Blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty, which is sometimes called an eyelid lift, is a cosmetic surgery that removes excess skin and fat and tightens muscles that cause sagging eyelids. Upper and lower blepharoplasty can revitalize both the upper and lower eyelids, offering you a complete transformation in one simple procedure.
Like the popular facelift, the eyelid lift creates a more youthful appearance and can help you gain confidence as you create your ideal image. Like any surgery, this procedure requires patients to be in generally good health and to be free from any eye or skin conditions in the target area that may interact negatively with the procedure.
However, it is considered safe and effective for the majority of patients. The surgery takes just 1-2 hours to complete and involves a simple recovery period for most patients. With this one small surgical correction, you could completely transform your appearance and turn back the hands of time.
What Causes Drooping Lids?
While sagging eyelids could be caused by genetics, they are more often linked to aging. Patients between the ages of 35-50 may begin to notice their eyelids beginning to droop. This is caused by a combination of factors. First, skin laxity in the area can cause the lids to droop. This is a normal side effect of aging caused by collagen and elastin breakdown in the skin.
Once these essential structural proteins begin to deteriorate, lines and wrinkles begin to form and skin in various parts of the body begins to sag. In addition, the eyelids are supported by individual muscles. These muscles control movement, blinking, and expression. However, as you grow older, the muscles may lose their original strength and begin to extend.
This could make your eyelids droop as the muscles lose their tension. It may also cause small pockets of skin and fat to develop on your upper and lower lids, which adds to their weight and pulls them downward. As the condition worsens, your drooping lids could affect your appearance, vision, and self-esteem.
How Do I Know If I Need Surgery?
When you look at your eyes in the mirror, you should notice where your lids are when your eyes are open. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Do you see any rolls or pockets of fat or excess skin on the upper lid above the lashes?
- Do you notice the lower lid drooping to reveal the pink interior?
- Do you have bags under your eyes that grow larger with time?
- Are there folds of excess skin at the corners of your eyes?
- Is your peripheral vision impacted by obstructive lids?
- Do sagging lids make you look tired all the time?
- Do people believe that you’re older than you actually are?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may benefit from this procedure. While many patients pursue just upper or lower blepharoplasty, it’s possible to have upper and lower blepharoplasty performed at the same time.
This combination is ideal for patients who experience symptoms of drooping eyelids in both the upper and lower lids and who wish to see these concerns corrected. Our doctor can examine your areas of concern and make a professional recommendation for the procedure combination that’s best for you during an initial consultation.
How Long Do Results Last?
While some cosmetic treatments can improve drooping eyelids, there is no effective way to permanently correct this condition other than an eyelid lift. This surgery allows our doctor to remove extra fat and skin and tighten the muscles, which creates smoother eyelids and a more youthful expression.
Depending on your areas of concern, an upper and lower blepharoplasty may be the best way to address your drooping lids. Every patient’s experience and results are unique. However, most patients achieve results that last at least 7-10 years. Many patients enjoy their results for longer, and some even experience lifelong results.
If you’re interested in pursuing this procedure, our doctor can give you a basic idea of how long your results may last based on your age and your areas of concern.
Am I an Ideal Candidate?
If you’re an adult man or woman who is concerned about the appearance of your upper or lower eyelids, you could be an ideal candidate for this procedure. Many of our patients are over 50, but younger patients can also benefit from this procedure and enjoy long-lasting results.
In general, candidates should be healthy and free from any serious medical conditions that may disqualify them from having surgery. They should also have realistic expectations about this procedure and the results they may achieve. This surgery may not be ideal for patients with significant eye conditions.
It is not ideal for patients who are habitual smokers and unwilling to quit this habit in preparation for this procedure. It is also not ideal for patients who have known allergies to general anesthesia. If you’re unsure whether this procedure is the right choice for you, our doctor can help you make an educated decision based on your goals during your initial consultation.
What Should I Expect?
Consultation
Your consultation is one of the most important steps in your journey to younger-looking eyes. During this appointment, you’ll meet with our doctor and discuss your cosmetic goals. Our doctor will examine your eyelids to determine whether an upper and lower blepharoplasty can correct your concerns.
They will also review your medical history to ensure that you are fit for surgery. If you are approved for this procedure, they may take pictures of your eyelids so that you can compare before-and-after images once your recovery is complete.
Preparation
Part of your preparation for surgery may include examinations for general health and eyesight. This helps ensure that you are in good health and measures your current vision limitations so that you can compare them to your results after surgery. In order to effectively prepare for surgery, our doctor will instruct you to stop taking certain blood-thinning medications, herbal remedies, and supplements.
You will also need to stop smoking at least 1 month before surgery and should consider quitting smoking permanently for your general health and wellbeing. In the week before your surgery, you should prepare your home for your recovery period. This includes taking time off work, planning for meals for at least 1 week after the procedure, paying bills, filling prescriptions, and arranging for childcare and pet care.
You should ask a friend or family member to drive you to your appointment and stay with you for 24 hours to monitor your recovery. You may also want to have some forms of entertainment available, including podcasts and recorded books to listen to while your eyes recover.
Procedure
On the day of your surgery, you will be able to speak with our doctor and ask any last-minute questions before the procedure begins. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing and skipping makeup application, especially in the eye area. Once you are ready, our doctor will administer anesthetic to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure.
They will then begin trimming away fat under the skin of the eyelids, tightening the muscles, and closing the skin to create a smooth surface. During an upper and lower blepharoplasty, this will be performed on the upper and lower eyelids.
Once the surgery is complete, you will be moved to a recovery room, where you will be monitored closely. Our doctor will release you to return home once they are satisfied with your recovery progress. You will be given instructions for recovery and should plan to rest at home for the next several days.
Recovery
During recovery, you should apply a soothing ointment to your eyelids and use ice packs as needed, especially during the first 24 hours. Otherwise, you should not touch your eyes or eyelids while the area heals. You must avoid any strenuous physical activity for 1 week, but you can take short, gentle walks several times a day to stimulate blood flow.
You should not smoke or take any medications not approved by our doctor until you receive permission to do so. If you wear contact lenses, you will need to wait at least 2 weeks before inserting them. We recommend that our patients wear sunglasses when they go outdoors if they find that they are sensitive to the light.
Some patients find that sleeping upright is more comfortable for the first week after surgery. Within the first week of surgery, you will return to our office so that our doctor can check on your recovery progress. They will give you permission to return to your normal activities based on where you are in the healing process. Most patients are able to return to work within 1 week, while others need 1-2 weeks to recover completely.
Results
Thanks to its relatively short recovery time, you could begin to see results from this procedure within 1 week of surgery. For most patients, the healing process is complete within 1 month. Incision sites, which are strategically placed in the folds of the upper lid and in the interior of the lower lid to minimize visible scars, typically fade within 1 year.
Once your final results are visible, you should notice that your eyelids are flatter and smoother than before. There should be minimal skin folds and fat pockets that create a sagging effect. In addition, the muscles should be tighter, giving the eyes a more lifted appearance.
Any vision issues caused by excess skin should be eliminated, and you should be able to enjoy an overall younger and more alert appearance for at least 7-10 years. As time passes, you can revisit our office to address any additional aging-related concerns as needed.
Contact Us to Learn More!
They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, so why let yours be overshadowed by drooping lids? Regain your confidence in your appearance and correct sagging lids with an upper and lower blepharoplasty henderson! To learn more about this procedure, contact our team of experts at Reflections Skin & Laser Center in Cartersville, GA, to schedule an initial consultation today! We look forward to helping you reach your cosmetic goals!