Fort Worth Eyelid Surgery and Eyelid Surgery Dallas

• Introduction
• Is cosmetic eyelid surgery right for me?
• What should I expect from the consultation?
• How is cosmetic eyelid surgery performed?
• How will I learn about the safety of cosmetic eyelid surgery?
• What can I do to prepare for my surgery?
• How will I be cared for on the day of surgery?
• How will I look and feel right after surgery?
• What should I know about my results?
• How long will I continue to see my plastic surgeon?
• Choosing a plastic surgeon
• It's advisable to consider the following points before scheduling a consultation
• Ask about the surgeon's hospital privileges

Introduction

More than any other facial feature, you eyes reveal the most about how you feel. When your eyes are bright and alert, you appear energized, well-rested, and in control. However, if you have lower eyelid puffiness, dark circles or drooping upper lids, others may assume that you are fatigued, angry or unhappy.

If you believe that your eyes are making you look tired, sad, or older than you really feel, cosmetic eyelid surgery (also called blepharoplasty) may be the right choice for you. Eyelid surgery can remove the excess fat and drooping skin of the upper eyelids, minimize bags under the eyes and tighten the lower eyelid skin. The result is a more alert and rested appearance.

You'll find basic information about eyelid surgery in this brochure. However, the best way to get complete answers to specific questions that relate to your individual needs is to have a personal consultation with a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Is cosmetic eyelid surgery right for me?

Eyelid surgery is performed on men and women of all ages who want to improve their self-image. Most people have eyelid surgery to minimize the effects of aging. However, many people in their 20s or 30s may also benefit from the procedure.

Eyelid puffiness, drooping upper lids
or fine wrinkles around the eyelids can
make people appear tired, sad, or older
than they feel.

You may be a good candidate for eyelid surgery if you have any of the following conditions:

Upper eyelids

• Excess skin that hides the natural fold of the upper eyelids
• Loose skin that hangs down from the upper eyelids
• Puffiness in the upper eyelids that creates a tired look

Lower eyelids

• Excess skin and fine wrinkles of the lower eyelids
• Puffy "bags" and, in some cases, dark circles

Eyelid surgery needs to be approached with extra caution if you have any of the following medical conditions:

• Thyroid problems, such as hypothyroidism or Graves' disease
• Lower eyelids that droop significantly and reveal the white beneath the iris (the eye's colored portion)
• Eye problems, such as "dry eye," a detached retina or glaucoma
• High blood pressure or other circulatory disorders
• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes

It's important to let your plastic surgeon know if you have any of these problems.

What should I expect from the consultation?

A personal consultation is the first step for every patient considering eyelid surgery. During this meeting, your plastic surgeon will assess your physical and emotional health and discuss your specific cosmetic goals for surgery.

You should arrive at the consultation prepared to provide complete information about:

• Previous surgeries
• Past and current medical conditions
• Medications you are taking, including herbal remedies and nutritional supplements
• Allergies, especially those that affect your eyes

As part of the consultation, your surgeon will assess the amount of excess fat and skin in your eyelid areas, the position of your eyebrows, and the condition of the muscles around your eyelids.

Your plastic surgeon may suggest other cosmetic treatments to meet your appearance goals. For example:

• A sagging brow can be tightened and smoothed with a forehead lift
• Crow's feet near the eyes can be minimized with a chemical peel or laser resurfacing
• Dark circles beneath the eyes that can't be helped by blepharoplasty can be treated with a bleaching medication, chemical peel or laser treatment
• Lower-eyelid muscle tone can be improved with additional eyelid surgery

How is cosmetic eyelid surgery performed?

The specific method used for your eyelid surgery will be determined by your features and your surgeon's preferences.

Upper eyelids

Typically, the incision begins within the natural crease of the eye's inside corner and extends slightly beyond the outside corner into the crow's feet or laugh lines. Through this incision, excess skin and fatty tissue are removed. The incision line follows the natural contour of the upper eyelid, and is camouflaged when healed.

Lower eyelids

Usually the incision is concealed just below the lower lashes. Through this incision, excess skin, muscle and fat are removed. Your surgeon may also make special adjustments. For example, the fat beneath the eye can be redistributed to eliminate puffiness or bulges. In some patients, the underlying muscle will be tightened.

Your surgeon may decide that the best approach for removing fat from the lower eyelid is with a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. In this procedure, an incision is placed inside the lower eyelid. This technique requires no external incision, but it cannot be used to remove excess skin. Laser resurfacing or chemical peel is sometimes used in conjunction with this procedure to minimize fine wrinkles near the eyes.

How will I learn about the safety of cosmetic eyelid surgery?

Each year thousands of people undergo cosmetic eyelid surgery and experience no major complications. However, you must fully understand the risks as well as the benefits of the procedure.

One of the most important parts of your consultation is the discussion that you and your surgeon will have about the possible complications of eyelid surgery. In additional to listening carefully to what your surgeon tells you, be sure to raise any questions or concerns that you may have about the safety of the procedure.

By carefully following your surgeon's advice and instructions—both before and after surgery—you can do your part to minimize some of the risks.

What can I do to prepare for my surgery?

When the date for your procedure has been set, your plastic surgeon will provide you with specific instructions for the days immediately before and after surgery. A number of points may be covered including:

• Avoiding certain medications that may complicate surgery or recovery
• Stopping smoking for a period of time before and after surgery
• Arranging for help and special care following surgery

How will I be cared for on the day of my surgery?

Cosmetic eyelid surgery may be performed in a hospital, an outpatient surgery center or an office-based surgical suite.

Frequently, local anesthesia and intravenous sedation are used for patients undergoing eyelid surgery. However, for some patients, general anesthesia may be the best choice. With either type, you'll remain very comfortable throughout the procedure. Your plastic surgeon will monitor your physical status throughout the operation and during your recovery.

How will I look and feel after surgery?

When surgery is complete, you will be taken to a recovery area. You may experience any of the following:

Blurred vision- This temporary condition is caused by the ointment that may have been applied to lubricate and protect the eyes.

Tightness around the eyes- This sensation will diminish once the swelling goes down.

Discomfort- some discomfort is common after any type of operation. It can be controlled with pain medication prescribed by your physician.

Bruising and swelling- The amount and duration of swelling and bruising varies greatly among individuals.

Although everyone heals at a different rate, you can expect that your recovery will follow this general time line:

The first day

• In this earliest stage of healing, it's important to rest with your head elevated.
• Cold compresses on the eyes reduce swelling.

Within the first week

• Bruising around the eyes will reach its peak and then begin to fade
• Healing may be accompanied by mildly blurred vision, excess tearing or dryness, light sensitivity or itching
• You can begin to use makeup to conceal any discoloration
• Stitches will dissolve or be removed
• You may resume most of your normal (non-strenuous) activities

After several weeks

• Most of the swelling will subside and you'll begin to see the final result
• Any vision-related symptoms will disappear
• You may resume vigorous exercise, including bending and lifting
• You may resume wearing contact lenses

What should I know about my results?

If you're like most people who have the procedure, you'll be very pleased with your new refreshed and alert appearance. You may find that you feel more confident in business and social situations. Friends and colleagues may tell you that you appear happier or more rested, without realizing that you had eyelid surgery.

Most traces of surgery will disappear after several weeks. However, the skin around your eyes must be treated with extra care for several months. When you go out during the day, you should wear sunblock on your eyelids and darkly tinted sunglasses to protect your eyes from wind and sun irritation.

The results of cosmetic eyelid surgery are long lasting. However, keep in mind that your face will continue to age. Your surgeon can advise you about the best way to maintain your results.

How long will I continue to see my plastic surgeon?

After the initial healing period, you will return to your plastic surgeon's office for a postoperative follow-up visit so that your progress can be evaluated. In the following months, your surgeon may ask you to return for periodic checkups. It's important to return for these checkups so that your surgeon can assess your long-term results and address any questions or concerns you may have.

Choosing a plastic surgeon

No matter what type of plastic surgery you're considering, one of the most important factors in its success is the surgeon you choose. Although it may seem hard to believe, some of the physicians who are performing cosmetic surgery today have had no formal surgical training at all.

It's advisable to consider the following points before scheduling a consultation:

Find out if your doctor is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Surgeons with this certification have completed a minimum of five years of surgical training following medical school, including a plastic surgery residency program. During this intensive program, surgeons learn to perform surgical procedures for the entire body and face. At the same time, they develop their technical skill and aesthetic judgment. After training, a surgeon must pass comprehensive oral and written exams before being granted certification.

The two organizations that have prepared this brochure, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, require their members to be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Plastic surgeons with this certification have completed approved training and examinations in plastic surgery including both cosmetic and reconstructive procedures.

Ask about the surgeon's hospital privileges

Even if you are planning to have your surgery in your doctor's office or at a surgery center, it is important to find out if your surgeon has operating privileges in an accredited hospital for the same procedure that you would like to have performed. Before granting privileges, hospital review committees evaluate a surgeon's training and competency for specific procedures.

To find out more, click on Making Sense of Certification.

For more information about eyelid surgery:

• Link to Frequently Asked Questions about Eyelid Rejuvenation
• Link to Eyelid Lift Before and After Photos
• Contact us for additional information or to schedule a consultation

       

STEVEN J WHITE, MD
PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL OF DALLAS
PROFESSIONAL BUILDING 3, SUITE 814
8230 WALNUT HILL, DALLAS, TEXAS 75231

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