If all you can see are tired, drooping eyes staring back at you when you look in the mirror, it’s time to give your lids a lift.
With a blepharoplasty near Fruit Cove, you don’t have to settle for a reflection you aren’t happy with. A blepharoplasty is a procedure that removes excess fat and tissue around the eyes for a more youthful, refreshed look.
Blepharoplasties are one of the most common facial rejuvenation procedures performed at Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates. Our triple board-certified surgeons are blepharoplasty experts, helping you lift years off of your eye and eyelid areas.
Keep reading this blog to learn more about this age-defying eyelid procedure. Think a blepharoplasty might be right for you? Visit our website to schedule a consultation with one of highly trained surgeons.
What Happens to Aging Eyelids
As we get older, the skin around our eyelids can become thin and stretched out for a variety of reasons.
Collagen is the protein that provides structure to your body’s skin, muscles, and other connective tissues. With age, our body produces less collagen and breaks existing collagen down at a faster rate.
This decrease in collagen production causes the skin to lose its elasticity, giving it a saggy and wrinkled appearance.
The eyelids are already made of the thinnest skin throughout the body, leaving it susceptible to stretching with time and gravity. Additionally, this thin skin around the eyelids can become worn out by constant movement and sunlight exposure.
Because of a collagen decrease and thinning skin, excess fat collects in the upper and lower eyelids, resulting in a tired, aged look.
What is a blepharoplasty?
A blepharoplasty is a procedure that improves the appearance of the area above and below your eyes. Often referred to as eyelid surgery or an eye lift, this procedure removes excess skin and fat around the eyes.
Blepharoplasties can address the following issues and areas:
- Baggy or droopy upper eyelids
- Excess skin on the upper eyelids that obstructs vision
- Bags under the eyes
- Excess skin on the lower eyelids
Though blepharoplasties are primarily performed for cosmetic purposes, they can also improve vision problems caused by sagging skin.
Excess skin around the eyelids can obstruct your peripheral vision, making it more difficult to see things out of the corner of your eye. To qualify for a blepharoplasty for optical improvement, you will have to undergo an optical assessment to verify that surgery would be the best solution.
It’s important to note that a blepharoplasty near Fruit Cove does not eliminate dark circles, crow’s feet, or other facial wrinkles. These conditions can be addressed with non-surgical procedures like Botox, fillers, and RF microneedling.
Types of Blepharoplasty
A blepharoplasty can target the upper and lower eyelids together or separately. This depends entirely on the plan you and your surgeon create to address your cosmetic needs.
Upper Blepharoplasty
An upper blepharoplasty targets only the drooping skin and excess fat in the upper eyelids. Your surgeon may also repair the muscles that help open your eyes if you need a blepharoplasty to correct vision obstructions.
During this procedure, your surgeon will make incisions in the natural crease of your upper eyelid. This will allow them to remove the excess skin and fat before closing the incision.
The placement of these incisions follows the shape of the upper eyelid, staying hidden while your eyes are open.
Lower Blepharoplasty
A lower blepharoplasty removes the fat pads underneath the eyes that create bags and circles. This procedure also removes excess skin and strengthens muscles and tendons underneath the eyes.
During this procedure, your surgeon will make an incision just below your lower eyelash line to remove the excess tissue. Similar to an upper blepharoplasty, this incision will not be visible while the eye is open.
The Blepharoplasty Process
Here’s what you can expect from a blepharoplasty procedure at Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates.
Pre-Operation
Your journey to rejuvenated eyes will begin with a consultation with one of our expert facial surgeons. Here, you will have the opportunity to discuss the areas you would like to target and ask questions about the procedure.
Your surgeon will also ask about your medical history and previous procedures during your consultation. Be sure to notify your surgeon if you have the following conditions:
- Dry eyes
- Glaucoma
- Allergies
- Circulatory problems
- Thyroid problems
- Diabetes
From there, you and your surgeon will create a plan that best addresses what you want out of surgery.
During Surgery
Your blepharoplasty near Fruit Cove will typically take about an hour to complete. You will be given local or IV sedation to minimize pain and discomfort throughout your procedure.
If you are having both an upper and lower blepharoplasty done, your surgeon will likely start with the upper eyelids first. A blepharoplasty uses fine sutures to close the incision site, which will stay in for 3 to 6 days.
Post-Procedure
Following your procedure for a blepharoplasty near Fruit Cove, your eyes will likely be puffy and numb. You will most likely experience bruising and swelling around the eyes as well.
You will need to arrange for another person to drive you home after your procedure. We also recommend having someone stay with you on the night of your procedure to ensure no complications arise.
Downtime from a blepharoplasty near Fruit Cove can last for 2 to 4 days following your procedure. During this time, we recommend taking time off from work and limiting activities while your eyelid area continues to heal.
Do not rub your eyes or wear contact lenses for about 2 weeks following your procedure.
The recovery period from a blepharoplasty can last anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks after your procedure. During your recovery, we recommend having the following items on hand:
- Ice cubes
- An ice pack
- Small gauze pads
- Eye drops or artificial tears
- Clean washcloths and towels
- Over-the-counter painkillers
Your CSA surgeon will give you a detailed post-operation guide with additional recovery instructions. From there, we will schedule your follow-up appointment, where we’ll check in on your healing progress.
Why Choose Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates for Your Blepharoplasty Procedure?
At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, our surgeons are triple board-certified facial surgery experts. We have years of experience in facial procedures, with blepharoplasties being one of the many we perform on a regular basis.
We also don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to surgery. We’re here to listen to your concerns and create a procedure plan customized to your unique needs.
Whether that means only targeting the upper eyelids or combining your blepharoplasty with other procedures, we have the tools and education to address each patient’s needs.
Safety, education, and compassion are the values our practice was founded on, shaping every aspect of our day-to-day work. From always upholding our empathetic healthcare approach to maintaining the highest cosmetic medicine standards, you can trust you’re in good hands at Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blepharoplasties
Here are some more details to inform your decision about a blepharoplasty near Fruit Cove.
Who is a good candidate for a blepharoplasty?
Healthy individuals over the age of 30 with excess skin around the eyes are good candidates for a blepharoplasty.
If you are interested in a blepharoplasty but have been diagnosed with an eye condition, surgery is still an option! We recommend meeting with your ophthalmologists to determine if you would be a good blepharoplasty candidate.
Can a blepharoplasty cause blindness?
A blepharoplasty does not put your vision at risk. This procedure only targets the areas of skin and fat around the eye, not the eye itself.
We also use a protective shield during your procedure to ensure that your vision is not impaired.
How long do blepharoplasty results last?
A blepharoplasty is a permanent procedure that lasts a lifetime. That being said, a blepharoplasty cannot stop your eyes from aging.
Patients who want to maintain the results from their blepharoplasty typically schedule additional procedures every 5 to 7 years.
What procedures can a blepharoplasty be combined with?
A blepharoplasty can be done at the same time as a variety of other surgical and non-surgical procedures. These include the following:
- Brow lift
- Facelift
- Cheek lift
- Neck lift
- Botox
- Dermal filler
- Emface
- RF microneedling
At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, we can perform a blepharoplasty at the same time as a cheek lift and facelift. This combination gives the entire upper profile a refreshed, more youthful appearance.
Schedule Your Blepharoplasty Appointment
When sagging skin and excess fat make you look tired, irritated, and aged, a surgical solution can help you look—and feel—more like yourself again. We can perform a blepharoplasty near Fruit Cove to tighten the skin around the eyes for a more alert look.
Think a blepharoplasty is the holy grail you’ve been searching for? See the world through refreshed eyes by visiting our website and booking your consultation.
Interested in other facial procedures, like double chin and buccal fat removal? Check out our latest blog posts to learn more about these revolutionary cosmetic procedures.
