Upper & Lower Eyelid Surgery
Do your eyes look tired? Do you have droopy upper lids and baggy/puffy lower lids that make your look angry or sad all the time? Our physicians at Plastic Surgery Center of the South can rejuvenate your eyes to give you a more youthful, rested appearance. Atlanta eyelid surgery is one of the most requested cosmetic surgeries. If you are considering eyelid surgery, you need to call us today at 770-421-1242. We can help answer all your questions.
Bleparoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is a procedure to remove excess fat, muscle, and skin from the upper and lower eyelids. Blepharoplasty cosmetic surgery can help loose baggy skin under the eyes, improve drooping of upper eyelids. If the excess skin is hanging over your eyelid margin, the procedure will also improve your field of vision. The procedure can also correct a medical condition called ptosis (drooping eyelid) which is caused by poor muscle tone or nerve damage. Ptosis causes the eyelid to hang very low and block vision. You may only need the upper eyelids treated for a great result or benefit from both upper and lower eyelids being done simultaneous. Eyelid surgery can be done by itself or in conjunction with other procedures. You may benefit from a brow lift to correct droopy eyebrows, crow’s feet or facial sagging. Raising the brow can also have a dramatic affect on the appearance of the eyelids.
About the Procedure
Blepharoplasty is usually performed on an outpatient basis. The operation may be performed under local anesthesia with sedation or under general anesthesia. The time required for the procedure on both upper and lower eyelids is one to three hours depending on the extent of the surgery. In a typical procedure, incisions will be made following the natural lines of your eyelids; in the creases of your upper lids, and just below the lashes in the lower lids. The excisions may extend into the crow’s feet or laugh lines at the outer corners of you eyes. Your surgeon will separate the skin from underlying fatty tissue and muscle, removing excess fat, and often trimming sagging skin and muscle. Fine sutures are placed to close the incisions. Occasionally, if only fat needs to be removed from the lower eyelids and no skin, a transconjunctival blepharoplasty will be performed. In this procedure the incision will be made inside the lid leaving no visible scar. This is normally done of the younger patients with thicker, more elastic skin.
Recovering from Eyelid Surgery
After the surgery, there are varying amounts of swelling and bruising about the eyes. Cold compresses on the eyes are used for the first day or two. Fortunately, the post-operative discomfort is usually minimal and easily controlled with medication. You will be instructed to keep you head elevated for several days to help control the swelling. You will be instructed on the cleaning of your eyes, which may be gummy for a few days. Your physician may recommend eyedrops to be used to help relieve any dry or itchy feeling you may experience. You may also experience excessive tearing, blurring of vision or sensitivity to light. These are all normal and nothing to be concerned about. The sutures are removed within the first week. You will be able to watch television or read after two or three days. If you wear contacts, you will not be able to wear them for about two weeks. Most patients return to work in a week depending upon the extent of the bruising and swelling. It is important that for the first few weeks you avoid activities that raise your blood pressure, including bending, lifting and rigorous sports. Your physician will inform you when you are able to return to normal activities. Healing is a gradual process, your scars may remain pink for six months or more. Eventually, they will fade to a thin, nearly invisible white line.
Complications following blepharoplasty surgery are infrequent and usually minor when using a board certified plastic surgeon. Nevertheless, there is always a possibility of a complication that may include infection, asymmetry, scarring and difficulty closing the eyelids completely. Rarely ectropion, or a pulling down of the lower eyelids, may occur and further surgery may be necessary.
Atlanta eyelid surgery is a favorite procedure among both patients and plastic surgeons because of the improved appearance of the eyes and the ease of recovery. There is a very high satisfaction rate with this operation. Patients enjoy their more youthful, alert, and rested look. Friends and family that don’t know that you had surgery will notice something new about you, but won’t know what it is. They will ask if you are wearing a different hairstyle or if you have lost weight. Your new look will be one that you will enjoy for several years.
As with any surgery, a thorough consultation with your surgeon is vital. He will go over in detail the procedure, benefits and risks, and your options. Be very frank with your doctor and don’t be afraid to ask questions. A complete medical examination and medical history will help your surgeon provide you with the information needed to make the decision that is right for you. If you are tired of looking older than what you really feel, call us today at 770-421-1242. Our board certified plastic surgeons at Plastic Surgery Center of the South are ready to answer all your questions. We treat patients from all over the state of Georgia as well as the country and internationally. We are conveniently located in Marietta just outside of Atlanta. Don’t wait; call us today to schedule your consultation.
