Lower eyelid lift

YOU MIGHT BENEFIT IF:

If you have excess lower eyelid skin and/or bulging bags of fat that makes you appear older and tired.

If you have bulges of muscle involving the lower eyelids.

SURGICAL GOALS:

A more youthful and rested appearance of the eyes.

An eyelid lift will not remove or erase all wrinkle lines. It will soften them.

THE PROCEDURE:

We usually perform the operation on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia with or without IV sedation. Selected patients can use general anesthesia.

We place the incisions where natural creases occur. We remove the excess skin and fat.

If needed, we also tighten up the muscle and/or the eyelid itself.

If the patient's problem consists only of bulging fat at the lower lids, the fat may be removed through an incision inside the lower eyelids with no external incision or scar (transconjunctival blepharplasty)

POST-OP HEALING:

We ask the patient to use ice packs and head elevation for the first 48 hours after surgery.

All sutures are usually removed within 3-7 days.

Initial mild discomfort is controlled with oral medication.

Bruising and sensitivity to light last a week or two. Swelling progressively disappears over several weeks.

Eye makeup can be used shortly after sutures are removed.

Contact lenses can be worn when comfortable---usually within 7-10 days.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES:

Additional procedures that would enhance the result are: Forehead Lift, Face Lift, Chemical Peel, Laser Skin Resurfacing or Microdermabrasion.

INSURANCE?

This procedure is considered cosmetic and therefore is not covered by insurance. The patient is responsible for payment.

NOTE

The suitability of an upper eyelid lift for an individual is determined during the office consultation. All procedures have risks. Minor complications occur occasionally. Major complications are quite unusual.