Plastic Surgery Doctor MD

Brow Lift

There are a few different types of cosmetic lid surgery that remedy dropping eye lids or excess skin. For sagging upper eyelids and /or sagging eye brows, a brow lift may be the perfect procedure for you. If your eyes feel “heavy” like you want to lift them up permanently then this is exactly what you need. A brow lift is frequently used for cosmetic purposes to bring out your eyes. However, when there is lost peripheral vision from a severely sagging eyebrow, the brow lift can be covered on a medically necessary basis by insurance carriers. A brow lift is a straight forward procedure that addresses the following problems:

–          Reduce sagging skin of the upper eyelid

–          Make your eyes look naturally larger and dynamic

–          Soften frown wrinkles between the eyes or across the top of the nose, creating a smooth forehead

–          Create a more symmetrical look to your eyes and eyebrows

–          Correct abnormalities of eyebrow shape or position

The brow lift is performed under an anesthetic that will prevent you from feeling any pain. The surgeon will make tiny incisions on your scalp just above your eyebrow or beside your temples and in the scalp where your hair will hide the minimal scars. Your surgeon will then lift your skin to eliminate sagging, remove wrinkles, or change the shape of your brows. A brow lift is done on an outpatient basis, so you can go home shortly after and shower the next day. It is very safe and also a commonly performed procedure. Recovery from this procedure is fast, and discomfort is usually minimal. You may experience some minor swelling, bruising, or pain, but discoloration can be covered with makeup. You will also receive a prescription for pain medication in case you need it. Sutures are removed 6-8 days after surgery.

Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty

Unlike a brow lift, the upper eyelid blepharoplasty is more specific and focuses specifically on your upper eyelids. If your upper eyelids are dropping, puffy, or have excessive skin you could be a great candidate for upper eyelid surgery. Full upper eyelids can make you look tires and a lot older than you actually are. They also can cause excessive wrinkles from subconsciously trying to raise or open your eyes fully.  If your upper eyelids are causing problems such as visual obstruction, you could be a candidate for Functional Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty, a type of reconstructive surgery covered by health insurance.  If your drooping lid is the result of a weakened muscle in the eyelid, called Ptosis, Ptosis Repair Surgery is also available and is also a type of reconstructive surgery.

The blepharoplasty is one of the most frequently performed surgeries today, so reassure that technology and technique is at its finest. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia with a sedative to help relax you so you may be able to sleep during the surgery. You generally do not experience any significant pain and a short general anesthetic can be given to patients who are having bigger or multiple procedures and for those who cannot tolerate a local anesthetic. The incision is made in the grease of your upper eyelid so that the tiny scar is hidden. Depending on what the cause of the dropping eye lids are, fat pockets or excess skin are eliminated to create a normal symmetrical eyelid. Your surgeon will also ensure to optimize symmetry so that your eyes match as closely as possible. Since you will be sedated during the procedure, you will need to have someone available to drive you home. Your sutures will be removed after 6-8 days, although dissolving sutures are used in some situations. Some bruising, swelling, and soreness may develop after the anesthetic wears off. You can take pain medication, if necessary, and you will be asked to sleep with your head elevated and apply ice packs to your eyes periodically to keep inflammation down. You may also be given eye drops or ointments to apply for one to two weeks. The bruising usually lasts no more than two weeks, but sometimes, it can last a bit longer. You should be able to return to work after a week to ten days, at which time you can cover any remaining bruises with makeup.

Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty

The lower eyelid blepharoplasty is similar to the upper eyelid blepharoplasty except it treats the lower eyelid instead of the upper. If aging has taken a toll on your eyes and you have been experiencing unsightly eye bags in your lower eyelid area, then the lower eyelid blepharoplasty could be perfect to bring out your eyes.

Similar to the upper eyelid surgery, the lower eyelid blepharoplasty is also an outpatient procedure during which you are under sedation along with a local anesthetic. You will begin to feel sleepy afterward, so it is very important to have someone accompany you to drive you home. The procedure can take 1-3 hours depending on each specific case. Based on your anatomy, your surgeon will make a careful incision inside the lower lid or just below your lower eyelashes so any scarring will not be visible after the healing process is complete. Sometimes your surgeon may need to remove excess skin that is causing the bags or have to remove fat or reposition fat to smooth the lower lids. The lower eyelid blepharoplasty is more challenging than an upper eyelid surgery because the area surrounding the lower lids is more sensitive to surgical disturbance, and the aging effects here are more difficult to correct. During recovery, most people experience some tightness, bruising, swelling, and discomfort for a couple of days after the procedure. For the majority of patients, the discomfort is very minimal and short-lived, but you can take pain medication, if necessary. Most patients are prescribed eye drops and a medicated ointment to relieve any burning or itching that may occur in the first days after the procedure. Ice packs or cold compresses should be used for the first few days to keep swelling down, and it is important to keep your head elevated for a day or two. You will probably be asked to return to the doctor’s office in about a week to have sutures removed and to check on your progress.  If laser skin resurfacing or a chemical peel has also been performed, a follow-up visit will generally be necessary after 1-2 days. While the length of time for full healing varies from person to person, most people are able to return to work within 10-14 days, although complete healing may take up to 3 months. You can usually use makeup to cover up any discoloration within 10-14 days of your procedure.

If you have multiple problems with your eyes, such as vision impairment from dropping upper eyelids and lower lid bags, you can opt in to combine surgeries to save time and money. It is also always important to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon if you are planning to have a blepharoplasty procedure done.