Blepharoplasty – Eyelid Surgery
Our eyes say a lot about us. They can communicate our feelings, energy level and personality. That’s why when this prominent feature doesn’t reflect how we truly feel or match the image we have of ourselves, we can experience extreme dissatisfaction and self-consciousness and even begin to feel depressed. The skin around the eyes is also some of the most delicate skin of the body, so it is often the first to succumb to aging symptoms such as skin laxity, fine lines and wrinkles and a loss of facial fat; these natural changes can lead to sagging, droopy eyes which make us appear tired, disinterested or disapproving all the time. Symptoms can even interfere with our vision.
A blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, can address all of these concerns in both the upper and lower eyelids, restoring a youthful, alert and attractive appearance to the entire eye area. The surgery is also a highly-customizable one, allowing your surgeon, Dr. Odinet, to address only those areas where you have concerns, ensuring that your results never look overdone and that they best express your personality and harmonize with your entire face. Dr. Odinet’s finely-honed surgical technique, aesthetic eye and focus on his patients’ goals allow him to achieve exceptional results for his patients in this key facial area.
What is Blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery can remove excess fat and excise loose skin from the upper or lower eyelids or both lids to reduce puffiness underneath the eye and skin laxity in the upper eyelid which produces a droopy, tired look. These augmentations can also improve an individual’s vision as well as turn back the clock, providing a much more youthful and alert appearance. The procedure’s small incisions and minimally invasive technique yield a short recovery time with outstanding results for the majority of patients.
The Benefits of Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty is a highly versatile procedure that offers clients many benefits. Some of the benefits of the procedure include:
- Improves droopy eyelids, creating a more alert appearance
- Eliminates puffiness beneath the eyes that lead to a tired look
- Can address both the upper and lower eyelids
- Incisions are small which lead to minimal visible scarring
- Improves vision impaired by droopy eyelids
- A short outpatient procedure with a relatively comfortable recovery
Who is a candidate for Blepharoplasty?
Individuals who have any of the following issues or concerns may find relief by having an eyelid surgery:
- Drooping upper eyelids that produce make the individual seem tired, sad or worried
- Hooded skin in the upper eyelid area that interferes with the individual’s vision
- Fat which reduces the upper lid crease, make it difficult for women to apply makeup
- Drooping lower eyelids that overexpose the white of the eye
- Puffiness under the eyes that create a tired or fatigued look
Based on a thorough examination of your anatomy and medical history and an understanding of your goals, Dr. Odinet will determine whether you are a good candidate for blepharoplasty or an alternative procedure. For example, in some cases, a brow lift may be a more appropriate procedure to achieve your desired results. Whether you have a blepharoplasty or another procedure, Dr. Odinet will ensure that you are comfortable with the proposed course of treatment and satisfied with the final outcome of the selected procedure.
What Will Happen During Your Eyelid Surgery
Dr. Odinet will typically perform an upper blepharoplasty using local anesthesia, but if he is performing both upper and lower eyelid surgery, he may recommend general anesthesia for the safety and comfort of the patient. Treatment of both upper and lower eyelids can take approximately two hours to complete, while treatment of only the upper or lower eyelids will take less time.
Augmentations that Dr. Odinet may perform during your eyelid surgery include augmentation of the levator muscle of the upper eyelid, excision of excess skin, usually from the upper eyelid, and fat removal or repositioning in the lower eyelid area. After these augmentations have been performed, Dr. Odinet will stitch the incisions with sutures that will usually stay in place for about a week before removal.
Swelling and bruising are natural and normal side effects of surgery, especially in the delicate tissues of the eyelids, but these symptoms will resolve themselves within one to two weeks. Patients may resume their usual social activities whenever they feel comfortable enough to do so. After about two weeks, the initial results of the surgery should begin to become apparent; however, it will take several more weeks before the full results of the procedure can be appreciated.
Dr. Odinet will evaluate his patients at several different stages of the recovery process and will advise them when he believes they can return to their normal schedule and more strenuous activities, such as their workout routines or contact sports. The surgeon remains available to his patients throughout their recovery should they have questions about the recovery process or should any concerns arise. Complications are very rare, however.
Recovering From Your Blepharoplasty
After blepharoplasty surgery, patients will experience mild to moderate pain, swelling and bruising around the eyes with potential blurred vision and sensitivity to light; however, these side effects are all normal and temporary and not an indication of a problem with your surgery. Dr. Odinet will prescribe pain medications to ensure your comfort during recovery, and patients can also use cold compresses for added relief. Rubbing the eyes should be avoided during recovery to minimize the risk of impacting the incisions. Wearing sunglasses can be extremely helpful to manage sensitivity to light and prevent exposing new, delicate scar tissue to harmful UV rays.
A full recovery from a blepharoplasty can take up to three weeks; however, most patients can return to work and their typical schedule within a few days. Our professional will recommend that his patients plan to take a week off work to recover to give their body enough time to heal. Vigorous activities should be avoided for up to three weeks until the eyelid incisions have fully healed. Patients will have to wait several months to see their full results, but they will notice immediate improvements after the initial swelling subsides. Scars, which are already hidden in the natural folds of the skin, will continue to fade over the next 12 to 18 months.
Your Blepharoplasty Results
Patients can begin to appreciate their results after about two weeks once their incisions have started to heal and swelling and bruising have subsided. A more awake and alert appearance will already be readily apparent at this stage. Further, results of a blepharoplasty procedure are very long-lasting. Upper blepharoplasty can often give patients rejuvenation lasting five to seven years or longer; patients who have a lower blepharoplasty often never need to repeat the procedure.
Refresh and Revitalize Your Face With a Blepharoplasty Performed by Dr. Kenneth Odinet
No single feature expresses our inner spark as well as our eyes. A blepharoplasty performed by a skilled surgeon such as Dr. Kenneth Odinet can restore the youthful, alert and bright look your eyes once had so that you live confidently again with an appearance that matches your personality and spirit. A successful eyelid surgery requires expert skill and a fine aesthetic sensibility as well as years of experience treating this delicate and significant facial feature. Patients who visit Dr. Odinet quickly trust his judgment, honed over nearly 30 years of serving patients just like yourself. Dr. Odinet will provide you with realistic expectations about what surgery can do to improve your symptoms and deliver optimal results which never look overdone. Most importantly, the results of your surgery will reflect the goals you’ve outlined during your consultation so that you leave with the enhanced look you expect and deserve.
Call now to schedule your consultation with one of our professionals and learn more about the benefits a blepharoplasty can provide. You can reach the surgeon at his practice at (337) 234-8648. Dr. Odinet and his entire staff wish you the best of health!