People who have sagging skin over their brows and eyes often want to have a Beverly Hills blepharoplasty or eyelid lift to make them look younger and more alert. But sometimes, an eyelid lift is about more than appearance.
Some patients with this problem can have so much sagging skin and tissue that it obstructs their vision. Fortunately, blepharoplasty can enhance your function vision, too.
Below is more information about this popular cosmetic procedure.
Why Patients Choose Blepharoplasty
Patients often choose an eyelid lift when the sagging skin of the brow and eyelids prevent them from totally opening. Removing the extra tissue and skin from the upper lids can restore your vision.
This procedure can be a good fit if you have:
- Drooping or baggy upper lids that block vision and/or make you look older
- Extra skin on the upper lids that obstruct peripheral vision
- Excess fat and skin on the lower eyelids that have a baggy appearance
- Circles and bags under the eyes
Some patients also decide to have related procedures simultaneously to save money and complete all recoveries at the same time. Popular options include a Beverly Hills facelift and Beverly Hills rhinoplasty.
An eyelid lift may be covered by your health insurance if the loose skin is affecting your vision. But a lower lid lift is usually only done for cosmetic reasons, so insurance won’t cover it.
How To Check If You Need An Eyelid Lift For Vision
Many people don’t know that their upper eyelids are causing problems with their vision. Plastic surgeons report that patients say things such as, “I feel like my eyes got smaller, and I always look tired.”
Some patients even give up reading books because the sagging skin makes it hard to see up close.
Your eye doctor can do a vision test and take photos to determine if sagging skin makes you lose some of your vision.
If this issue is documented by a doctor as a medical problem, it will probably be covered by insurance.
Blepharoplasty Procedure Steps
Most patients have an eyelid lift on an outpatient basis. Your plastic surgeon will inject numbing drugs into the eyelids and give you IV medication to make you relax.
If you have procedures on the upper and lower lids, the plastic surgeon usually completes the upper lids first. Next, the surgeon will make incisions along the folds of your eyelids and remove extra skin, fat, and muscle. Then, the incisions are closed.
The plastic surgeon makes an incision under the lashes in the natural crease or inside the lid on the lower eyelids. The surgeon then removes the sagging skin, extra fat, and skin and closes the incisions.
If the upper lid is sagging near the pupil, the surgeon may do the ptosis procedure to support the muscles in the eyebrows.
Before your procedure, you should prepare your recovery space at home. Some of the things you should have ready are:
- Comfortable clothing to wear around the house
- Ice compresses to reduce swelling
- Sunglasses to cover your eyes
- Eye prescriptions the doctor says you need after your procedure
You also should have someone available to drive you home and stay with you for the first night.
Blepharoplasty Recovery
Eyelid surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis unless you have additional procedures, such as a facelift, Beverly Hills liposuction, or Beverly Hills Botox.
Your plastic surgeon will probably tell you to place cold compresses over your eyes for about two days after surgery.
You also will be given eye drops and ointments to avoid infections. Most patients have mild pain, dry eyes, swelling, bruising, and a scratchy feeling in the eyes for a few days.
It’s recommended not to exercise strenuously for at least a week, and you should wear sunglasses to protect the eyes.
If your plastic surgeon uses sutures that aren’t absorbed, they will usually be removed about a week after surgery.
Note that your skin will continue to age after an eyelid lift, so you may need additional procedures later. How long the results last depend on a few things:
- The quality of your skin
- How old you are
- How well you take care of your skin
Blepharoplasty Risks and Side Effects
Most eyelid lifts go well without complications, but all plastic surgery has risks.
The first thing to remember is your results will take time to appear. You will have swelling and bruising at first, so your obstructed vision from sagging eyelid skin may not immediately disappear.
Common side effects include extensive swelling and bruising and visible scarring. In addition, some patients may have temporary double vision or even blindness, but these problems usually go away after 24 hours.
Further, you may experience eye drying and itching that require eye drops.
Most people are satisfied with the eyelid lift because it makes you look younger and more rested. And people with severe sagging have normal vision again, and that is a huge relief.
Request A Blepharoplasty Consultation
Thinking about an eyelid lift in Beverly Hills? Dr. Nicholas Lahar is pleased to provide plastic surgery procedures to his Beverly Hills patients. He will discuss your aesthetic goals during your consultation and help you decide if blepharoplasty is right for you.
References
Blepharoplasty Overview. (n.d.). Accessed athttps://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/blepharoplasty/about/pac-20385174#
Eyelid Surgery. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/eyelid-surgery
Eyelid Lift Overview. (2019). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/three-things-you-should-know-before-getting-an-eyelid-lift
Eye Bag Surgery. (2019). Accessed at https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-bag-surgery
