Blepharoplasty: Correcting the Tired Look

By Eric Desman, MD

Virginia Center For Plastic Surgery

. http://www.vcps.com

More Beauty Skin Care & Gorgeous Smiles Articles

Blepharoplasty: Correcting the Tired Look

Bright, vibrant eyes and smooth skin are some of the top features associated with youth. But unfortunately, the skin surrounding the eyes is often one of the first places to show age, resulting in sagging eyelids or puffy under eyes from muscle atrophy and accumulations of fat.

While these cosmetic concerns can be minor, in some cases, drooping or excess skin may eventually affect vision. These cosmetic changes may also cause you to look tired, even with a full night’s sleep. If you frequently get comments like, “You look tired,” that is a tell-tale sign that your eyes are giving you an overall tired or aged look.

Blepharoplasty, sometimes referred to as an eye lift, is a surgical procedure that removes the excess fatty tissue or skin from the eyelids. This outpatient procedure sometimes can even be performed in the office. If only fatty tissue needs to be removed, incisions can be placed on the inside of the eyelid, avoiding any external scar.

If extra skin needs to be removed, the scar is well hidden underneath the eyelashes on the lower lids and in the natural crease in the upper lids. In some cases the eyelid lift surgery may be performed in combination with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as a brow lift, facelift or non-surgical rejuvenation through Botox or dermal fillers.

Ideal Candidates for
Eyelid Surgery Blepharoplasty

Ideal candidates for blepharoplasty include people who are in good physical and psychological health and are unhappy with drooping eyelids or puffy under-eye bags. The majority of blepharoplasty patients are in their mid-forties and older, but if sagging eyelids tend to run in your family, you may consider getting an eye lift as young as 35.

If a person seeking blepharoplasty happens to have hyperthyroidism or myxedema, they are not a good candidate for this procedure, because an eye lift will never be able to reduce edema in the eye area caused by these conditions. Likewise, if you have any eye issues like glaucoma or detached retina, you should get clearance from your ophthalmologist before seeking blepharoplasty.

3 Myths About Blepharoplasty

Treatment makes you look surprised. With expert surgical care, you will look naturally rejuvenated, as opposed to having eyes that appear too-open or too-wide.

Lower blepharoplasty corrects dark circles.  A lower eyelid lift is perfect for removing baggy tissue below the eyes. Dark circles may require other treatments

Recovery is long. Recovering from an eyelid lift can be as short as five days to a week.