Restoring the upper third of the face:Eyelid surgery includes treating the upper eyelid skin excess, lid position, and lower eyelids including fat herniation. Often, eyebrow contouring can be done simultaneously. A precise facial analysis and discussion of your goals is the foundation to establishing your individualized treatment plan.
bright eyes, with
a tailored approach
Eyelids at a Glance
Overview
Eyelid surgery is done to improve the appearance of the upper lids, lower lids, and brow position. This surgery can have a functional benefit. There are several categories to consider in eyelid surgery: lid position, skin excess and fat bulging. These are all assessed to develop an individualized treatment plan. The brow position can also be improved using several techniques from brow pexy to endoscopic style temporal brow lift.
Often, ablative laser skin resurfacing is done at the time of lower eyelid surgery to improve skin quality, along with fat grafting to the lower lids.
Your comprehensive eyelid and brow treatment will be tailor to your anatomy and goals. No two patient plans are the same.
Recovery
Most patients are able to return to social activity or work after 7-10 days after eyelid and brow surgery.
Patients are uncomfortable for the first days with a feeling of swelling around the eyes. Bruising of the eyelids is expected. The majority of patients are able to manage their pain with over the counter medications and avoid narcotics. Your vision may be blurry the first few days to weeks after surgery.
Dr. Anghel will ask you to avoid rigorous activity during the first 4 weeks after surgery, long walks and gentle stretching is encouraged.
Results
Eyelid and brow lift surgery results are immediately noticeable.
Swelling peaks on day 2 or 3 after surgery. Most commonly, bruising subsides by 1-2 weeks. And swelling is 80% improved at 2 weeks after surgery. By 1 month after surgery, 90% of swelling is gone. And at 3 months 95% of the swelling is gone.
Scars start off as pink thin lines and fade to thin white lines. Healing is complete at 1 year after surgery.
Types of eyelid & brow lift surgery:
Brow lift
This surgery is for patients with descent of the brow position. This is done using an incision at the hairline and in the temples to lift up the skin of the forehead and scalp and recontour the brows and is know as a endoscopic style comprehensive brow lift. The scar is well concealed in the hair. This is the most powerful brow lift.
Brow Pexy
This is a conservative brow lifting technique that is done simultaneously with upper lid blepharoplasty. Through the upper eyelid incision, the brow fat pad is re-suspended and supported to gently lift and stabilize the outer eyebrow.
Lower Blepharoplasty
Upper blepharoplasty
This surgery is for patients with excess upper eyelid skin or upper eyelid hooding. The incision is placed in the lid crease and is well hidden once healed. The upper eyelid fat pads can be reduced at the time of surgery, if needed. This often results in a functional improvement for patient’s vision.
This surgery is for patients who desire and improvement in the contour of the lower lids, often due to herniation or bulging of the lower lid fat pads. Most patients also have a hallow of the lower lids that is improved with fat grafting to smooth the appearance of the lid to cheek junction. Finally, the skin of the lower lids is resurfaced using ablative laser. The incision for this surgery is hidden inside the lower lid (transconjunctival approach), so there is no visible scar.
Lower lid skin Pinch
Upper lid Ptosis Repair
This surgery is for patients with low lid creases or “sleepy eyes.” The position of the upper lid over the iris is corrected to result in a more open eye appearance. Often this has a functional benefit for patients as well.
This surgery is commonly paired with lower blepharoplasty and ablative skin resurfacing of the lower lids in patients with significant skin excess of the lower lids. Through an incision below the lower lash line, a conservative amount of skin is removed to improve the crepey appearance.
Your Questions Answered
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Healthy patients who desire an improvement in their face and neck are good candidates for deep plane face and neck lift. Patients can have unfavorable anatomy and desire an improvement earlier in life in their 30s or more commonly in their 50s. Patients should be within 15 pounds of their ideal goal weight prior to surgery.
Patients are required to be nicotine free 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery.
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Bleeding, infection, delayed healing, scarring, nerve dysfunction, cosmetic dissatisfaction, and anesthesia complications.
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For isolated necklift surgery: underneath the chin and in some cases around the ear lobe.
For face and neck lift surgery: underneath the chin and around the ears into the occipital hairline.
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Avoid blood thinning medications and nicotine. Discuss your surgery with your support person so they are ready to help the first 24-48 hours after surgery. We can arrange for hired help, if requested.
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You can combine eyelid surgery, fat grafting, lip lift, ablative laser skin resurfacing.
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Patients report that they feel well informed and cared for from the consultation through their recovery. They feel like ample time is given to answer all their questions. Read more about patients’ experiences here.
