Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, can make your eyes appear younger and more alert by tightening and removing excess skin, muscle and fat around the eyes. The surgery can be performed on upper or lower eyelids or both.
There are various types of cosmetic eyelid surgery, which may include removal or repositioning of the fat and the skin around the eyes. The lower eyelids can sometimes be approached through an inconspicuous incision across the lash line or even inside the eyelid. Where indicated, fat will be tightened, repositioned or removed. Some patients elect to add a chemical peel or fat grafting to fill the tear trough (the area under the eye).
Some types of blepharoplasty remove little or no fat pad around the eyes. Instead, the fat pads are repositioned or tightened to give a more natural appearance.
The eyelid and the brow typically age as a unit. We may recommend a brow lift to be performed at the same time as the eyelid surgery.
What should I expect during the consultation?
The first step in the process is a consultation with Dr. Surek, his nurses and patient coordinators. You will need to arrive with forms already completed (found in Patient Resources). At the visit you discuss your medical history, including previous surgeries, known allergies and current medications.
You will want to be prepared with your goals in mind. Spend time looking at your face in the mirror and take note of which features make you appear older. You can also bring photos of yourself from 10-15 years ago to help with planning with Dr. Surek.
During the examination, Dr. Surek will help to determine the correct shape and position of your eyebrow and discuss which procedures will create the most natural results. He will review options including brow lift surgery, chemical peels of the lower lid, laser surgery of the lower lids, transconjunctival lower eyelid surgery and fat grafting procedures.
If eyelid surgery will help to correct visual obstruction, your health insurance may cover some of the costs of the procedure. Dr. Surek and his staff will help determine if this is a possibility and if you need a referral to an ophthalmologist for visual field testing. You may be photographed during the consultation in order to help determine if insurance benefits will cover some or all of the costs of your surgery.
How will the surgery be performed?
Surgery of the eyelids may be performed in the outpatient surgery setting or the office operating room. We will determine the best setting based on the type of surgery and your tolerance and anxiety level. Upper lid surgeries take about an hour, and upper and lower lid surgeries together take about an hour and a half. A typical patient requires an hour in the recovery room.
For additional questions on eyelid surgery procedures, or to schedule your consultation, contact Surek Plastic Surgery today.
