What is Blepharoplasty?
Aesthetic eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, offers a variety of procedures to create younger, more alert looking eyes. It can soften conditions that give an individual a tired appearance, such as wrinkled folds of skin on upper eyelids, bags under the eyes and sagging eyebrows. Often the expression looks happier.
In younger individuals, blepharoplasty usually is performed to remove fatty tissue only. These incisions can be placed inside the lower eyelid with no external or visible scar. In older patients, loss of skin tone will require excision of redundant skin and often tightening of the muscle. In many instances, blepharoplasty is accompanied by a browlift.
All of these changes can be addressed during a single operation. The planning of the procedure is determined by the changes desired and the individual starting anatomy.
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What Can Blepharoplasty Correct?
Loose or sagging skin that creates folds or disturbs the natural contour of the upper eyelid, sometimes impairing vision.
Is eyelid surgery safe? What are the risks involved?
Eyelid surgery with Dr. Walker is a very safe, satisfying procedure, but it still is surgery. There is the possibility of excessive bleeding, infection, and poor incision healing, just as with any surgery.
Complications specific to eyelid surgery are:
- Inability to fully close the eyelid
- Eyelid infection
- Double vision
- Noticeable scarring
- Malpositioned eyelids
- Undercorrection
- Overcorrection
- Numbness of the eyelids
These complications are quite rare.
Benefits of a Blepharoplasty
Most people say the first thing they notice when they are meeting someone for the first time is the person’s eyes. What are your eyes saying about you? Unfortunately, the skin on our eyelids and around our eyes is among the thinnest on the entire body. Sun damage and sagging can make a person appear tired and much older.
Cosmetic eyelid surgery with Dr. Walker takes about 10 years off the facial age of the patient. Plus, those improvements are permanent.
Another benefit of eyelid surgery is that the results it delivers are subtle. People will think you somehow look younger and revitalized, but they’ll have no idea why or how you did it. That can be your little secret.
Who is an ideal candidate for eyelid surgery?
Eyelid surgery is one of the top five most performed cosmetic surgeries every year for a simple reason — it delivers dramatic, but subtle, improvements to the patient’s facial age. Eyes that were tired now look refreshed. The person looks more alert. Blepharoplasty is also popular with both women and men, as eyelid aging shows no preference to gender.
Most people over the age of 40 could benefit from eyelid surgery. This is especially true in sunny Dallas, where those UV rays are a constant source of skin aging. If you’ve spent a good deal of time outdoors, it’s likely that eyelid surgery would be a good procedure to reverse the effects of the sun on your eyelids. Other people have a genetic disposition toward forming under eye bags.
Why do you add laser skin resurfacing below the eyes?
To help with the rejuvenation of their eyes, we add fractional laser skin resurfacing to the lower eye areas after surgery is complete. Dr. Walker feels this adds another level of skin tightening to complement what she has achieved with the eyelids.
The Blepharoplasty Procedure
- Preformed under anesthesia
- Surgical Time: 1 hour
- Minimal Postoperative Pain
- Bruising depends from patient to patient and can last 1-2 weeks
- Avoid strenuous activity or exercise for the first 3 weeks.
In both the upper and lower eyelids, underlying compartments of fat may be removed. Incisions in the upper and lower eyelids are made following natural lines and creases, and may extend into adjacent fine lines, (“crows feet”), at the eye’s outer edge. Working through the incisions, the skin and muscle are separated from underlying fatty tissue. Excessive fat and skin are removed and if indicated, the underlying orbicularis muscle may be tightened. Current trends involve much more conservative fat removal since muscle tightening often reduces the bags and avoids hollowing of the lower eyelid.
Will I have visible scarring after eyelid surgery?
In the upper eyelid, the incision is made in the natural crease of the eye, so it is virtually invisible. In the lower eyelid, she usually makes the incision within the lower eyelid, so there is no scarring.
Upper Blepharoplasty – Before & After Photos
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Patient Testimonial
"I cannot even put into words how amazing Dr. Walker and her staff are. From the moment I walked into the door, everyone was professional, friendly & very helpful. The office is beautiful & clean. It’s obvious they take such pride in what they do. Dr. Walker made me feel so comfortable from the first appointment upon meeting her. Every question that I had was answered & she put me at ease. I’m so happy I chose Dr Walker. I recommend her to anyone wanting to elevate their beauty!! She is truly a one of a kind Doctor!"
What will my recovery be like after blepharoplasty?
After your procedure, you’ll return home with a cold compress that we provide and some lubricating eye drops. If you’re diligent with the application of your cold compress you can minimize swelling and bruising.
This is not a painful recovery, either. Pain is usually manageable with over-the-counter medication.
After one week, Dr. Walker will remove your stitches, and your recovery is usually mostly complete. You may have some light swelling, but this resolves in a few weeks. You can usually return to work in just 3-5 days.
How long results may last?
While the changes made in your surgery with Dr. Walker are permanent, of course they won’t stop the march of time. Your eyes will continue to age, and tissues will sag to a degree. But they will begin aging from a much younger starting point. The excess skin removed and the tightening of the muscles involved will deliver results that last the rest of your life. Your eyelid skin will never again sag to the degree that prompted you to have this procedure.
Schedule a Blepharoplasty Consultation
To learn more about Eyelid Surgery and other cosmetic surgery options offered by Dr. Walker, please call us at 972-661-5077. Our practice serves Dallas, TX.
