■ EYELID SURGERY - (BLEPHAROPLASTY OR EYELID LIFT)

Eyelid surgery, or Blepharoplasty, is one of the most common procedures performed for men and women looking to retain their youthful appearance.

It seems that the first thing you notice in the mirror is that you do not look rested in the morning; that the appearance of being tired begins too soon and lasts too long, sometimes throughout the day. Although common with age, in some cases, sagging or puffy eyelids develop early on.

The goal of eyelid surgery is to remove excess skin and fat, correcting sagging eyelids, diminishing fatty pouches beneath the eyes and removing excess skin from upper eyelids. An eyebrow lift is often performed simultaneously, as eyebrows often droop at the same time as the eyelids begin to change. Some patients opt to have a facelift or laser skin resurfacing with their eyelift, depending on what they want to achieve. At Skin & Vein, we work with you to be sure you know all of the options available to realize your greatest result.

Preparation:
Photos will be taken before your treatment to document your results.

Procedure:
Eyelid lifts are generally performed under local anesthesia.

For problems of the upper eye, Dr. Seiger places fine incisions in the crease above each eye and removes a thin crescent of excess skin and muscle. The incisions are then closed with very fine sutures.

To remove the fatty deposits under the eyes, Dr. Seiger places fine incisions just inside the lower eyelid and the fat is then excised.

Incisions are strategically placed in the natural folds and creases of the upper and/or lower eyelids and will become invisible or camouflaged over time.

You may require only upper or lower eyelid surgery. Some people benefit by having both procedures performed at the same time. Depending upon the extent of the procedure, surgery can take from 1 to 2 hours.

Aftercare:
After an eyelid lift, you will be instructed to keep your head elevated to minimize bruising and swelling. Cold compresses periodically placed on the eyes will also be helpful in alleviating swelling and discomfort. After about 7 days, make-up may be worn, if desired.

Results:
The more youthful, softer appearance you wished to see in the mirror returns. The hairline scars disappear. Friends and family are wondering where you went for vacation. You may even enjoy a wider field of vision if you had excessive skin that could have been blocking your view removed.