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The ancient
proverb - "eyes are the windows to our soul", can take on a new
meaning as our eyes reflect our inner most feelings and attitudes. Most of
our human interaction is non-verbal in nature and eye contact is what we
use to communicate our needs, wants and desires. This famous quote
does emphasize the importance of our eye’s appearance. The eyelids
frame and highlight the appearance of our eyes - which become an
essential component to our facial appearance.
It is hard to
be misread when our eyes are revealing something else, simply because
age is showing being stressed out, tired or sad. Most people want
their eyes to reflect what we are inside as a person - bright, pure and
refreshed. Our eyes tell others about our moods, energy and
beauty. The eyelids are usually the first place signs of the aging
process appear. Many people complain that the “bags” under the eyes or
the loose and redundant skin of the upper eyelids give them a tired
appearance.
This problem
is highly correctable through plastic surgery with a procedure called
blepharoplasty (eyelid lift surgery). Our genetic family traits,
age and of course sun damage all contribute to the loss of eye tissue
elasticity. This leads to wrinkles, puffiness, under-eye bags, and
dark circles under the eyes. These changes do contribute to our
outwardly expression with a tired or angry look.
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The procedure
is performed through external incisions made along the natural skin
lines of the eyelids (creases of the upper lid). Excess skin is
removed. The procedure for the lower lid is similar, with
excess fat and skin being removed with the remaining is stretched smooth
and sutured back into place. For the lower eyelids, either the
traditional
blepharoplasty incision is made on the outside of the lower rim of the eye under the
eyelashes or done with the
transconjunctival incision which
entails a small incision in the lower lid being made to allow the
sculpting and removal of excess orbital fat, without the need for
removal of the skin. Dissolvable sutures or fibrin tissue glue are used with
closing the incisions.
During the cosmetic
blepharoplasty your surgeon will make sure precise amounts of fat and skin are
repositioned and removed for improved eyelid symmetry, definition and sculpture.
The goal of a blepharoplasty is a natural improved look.
Copyright © 2010 MAYO CLINIC - Used with
permission
Blepharoplasty can rejuvenate puffy, sagging or tired-looking eyes by
removing excess fat, skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids.
It may be performed for cosmetic reasons or to improve sight by lifting
droopy eyelids out of the patient's field of vision. Blepharoplasty is actually one of the most common facial surgeries
performed in the United States each year. This procedure removes
the excess skin and fat in and around the lids, which, in turn,
accentuates the eye, restores a more youthful look, and leaves you with
a more vibrant appearance.
Eyelid surgery is performed on an out-patient basis.
Patients are given
oral and/or I.V. sedation.
Surgery on the upper lids is performed by making small
incisions in the natural eyelid crease, leaving very
little if any visible scarring. The surgical procedure takes from one
to three hours to complete.
Copyright © 2010 ASAPS - Used
with permission
Tissue to be removed
with Eyelid Surgery
Location of Fat Pads
WHO IS A CANDIDATE FOR
BLEPHAROPLASTY?
The best candidates for
eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty:
-
Patients are physically
healthy
-
Patients facial bone and
supporting structure is in good condition -
If the support structures of the lower
eyelids are not adequate, a lid tightening procedure (canthoplasty or
canthopexy) might be necessary.
-
Patient's skin quality
-
Typically the age is
anywhere from 35 years on up
-
Patients are emotionally
stable
-
Patients are informed
about the procedure
-
Patients have "realistic
goals"
Copyright © 2010 ADAM, Inc. -
Used with permission
Copyright © 2010 ADAM, Inc. -
Used with permission
If the patients should be
excluded if they have one or more of the following conditions:
-
Excessive dry eye syndrome
-
Laxity or looseness of the
lower eyelid
-
Eye position on relation
to the malar (cheek) complex
-
High blood pressure
-
Hypothyroidism
-
Cardiovascular disease
-
Diabetes
-
Glaucoma
-
Graves disease
(hyperthyroidism)
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