The skin around your eyes is very thin, meaning it can begin to show signs of aging faster than the other skin on your face. The loss of collagen, sun damage, facial expressions, and other environmental factors can have a significant impact on the skin around your eyes.
Aged skin around the eyes can make you look tired, sad, and much older than you feel, but eyelid surgery can make you look more alert and youthful. Sagging eyelid skin can also obstruct your range of vision, making everyday activities like reading or driving difficult. Blepharoplasty can help address these issues.
Upper Blepharoplasty
As you age, the skin and tissues of the upper eyelids begin to sag, making you look older and possibly even obscuring your field of vision. Upper eyelid surgery involves the removal of excess skin and tissue to give the eyes a more open appearance. An incision is made within the crease of the eyelid, and excess fat and skin are removed. The incisions are then closed with sutures.
Lower Blepharoplasty
During lower blepharoplasty, an incision is placed along the lower lash line or within creases in the lower eyelid. Excess skin and fat are removed, and some fat may be redistributed to prevent a hollow appearance under the eyes. The incisions are closed with fine sutures or surgical adhesives.
What to Expect After Eyelid Surgery
Most patients are able to return to their normal activities in 10 to 14 days after surgery. During your recovery period, you will likely experience swelling, bruising, dry eyes, and soreness. These symptoms can be remedied with eyedrops and over-the-counter pain medications. You should wear dark sunglasses and avoid sunny and windy environments for at least the first two weeks. Strenuous activities and exercise should also be avoided for about two weeks.
Although you cannot stop the natural aging process, you can expect the results of your surgery to be long lasting. Other cosmetic procedures, such as laser treatments, can be performed down the line if necessary.
What If I Am Not Ready for Surgery?
If you are concerned about signs of aging around your eyes but feel you are not ready for surgery, there are non-surgical options. Dr. D’Souza may recommend dermal fillers or fat grafting instead. Fat grafting involves removing fat from one area of the body and transferring it to areas of the face that lack volume, such as the under-eye area. Dermal fillers can be used in a similar fashion, as well as being used to fill in wrinkles and fine lines.
To find out more about blepharoplasty, contact Iconic Plastic Surgery today by calling 760.637.5288 or filling out our online contact form to schedule a consultation.
