It is a consequence of aging too often experienced. The presence of drooping eyelids, puffy bags, and sagging skin suggesting the tired look of growing older. With most, it is a natural effect of a maturing face, with others, an unfair result of heredity. Whatever the case, it is not a pleasing appearance, but it is one with a solution.
Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is designed to rejuvenate the areas adjacent to your eyes by removing excess fatty tissue and skin which cause eyelids to droop and sag. People who seek blepharoplasty complain about a sad, tired, or older facial appearance. Because the skin is delicate, the signs of aging can be quite distinctive.
Blepharoplasty can improve your facial appearance by reducing puffy, baggy and excess eyelid tissue. Because eyelid issues are unique to each patient, there are different methods of eyelid surgery. Dr. Langdon specializes in facial plastic surgery and will choose the surgical technique best suited for the patient and their desired outcome. Here are some options he has at his disposal for optimal aesthetic and functional results.
Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery
Cosmetic blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure which has no medical need and is performed solely for aesthetic improvement. It is performed to reduce unsightly bags under the eyes and drooping eyelids. Cosmetic blepharoplasty is designed to turn back the clock on facial aging leaving a more youthful, energetic appearance.
As we age, fat pockets become more prominent, muscles weaken, and eyelid skin stretches. These factors may detract from your facial appearance leaving you with an older or worn-out appearance.
Functional Eyelid Surgery
Functional blepharoplasty is performed to improve the patient’s eyesight that has been impaired by the loose skin of the upper eyelid and is considered a medical procedure. Another problem it resolves is difficulty wearing contact lenses or glasses because of baggy upper or lower eyelids.
Other functional issues which require eyelid surgery include discomfort from strained muscles which struggle to lift sagging eyelid skin and eyelid skin irritation from excess skin numbing during eyelid movement.
Upper Blepharoplasty
Upper blepharoplasty involves removing excess fat, muscle, and skin which can make the eye look droopy, heavy, or hooded. During surgery, an incision is made in the upper eyelid crease. Also known as an upper eyelid lift, upper blepharoplasty helps patients look more rested, more alert, and younger.
Upper Blepharoplasty Options
Although a traditional upper eyelid surgery is used in most cases, some patients require a more specialized procedure. Patients who suffer from dermatochalasis (excess eyelid skin) require a procedure which removes only excess skin. Other patients may suffer from bulging fat pads which can be removed without skin removal. Still, other times a thin strip of muscle called the orbicularis oculi is removed to eliminate bulk in the eyelid.
Excess skin on the upper eyelid can cause straining, leading to the patient’s eyelids to work harder than normal to remain open. In these cases, upper-eyelid surgery used to optimize the field of vision by removing this excess skin is covered under healthcare insurance.
Lower Blepharoplasty
Also known as lower eyelid surgery, it involves removing excess fat deposits, muscle, and skin, which may create wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness, or bags. This procedure can also reposition and tighten the eyelid or create a well-contoured transition from the bottom eyelid to the midface. A lower blepharoplasty requires a small incision along the lower eyelids, either outside the lash line or inside each lid, to gain access to the area below each eye. Then excess tissue and fat deposits are removed or repositioned to rejuvenate and refresh your eye appearance.
Hidden Incision for Lower Blepharoplasty
This form of lower eyelid surgery eliminates fat deposits from the lower eyelid through a well-hidden incision inside the eyelid. A second incision through the excess skin may be used to remove excess skin and tighten the eyelid.
Eyelid Incision Blepharoplasty
Eyelid incision blepharoplasty removes protruding fat, muscle and excess skin through an obscure incision below the bottom eyelash line to create a smooth transition between the cheek and eyelid.
These different times of blepharoplasty may be used as a stand-alone procedure or done concurrently to provide the cosmetic or functional results needed.
For more information about eyelid surgery please contact us in Memphis at The Langsdon Clinic or call 1-888-816-FACE.