As you age, the muscles that support your eyelids weaken and the skin in the area stretches. As a result, fat may gather around your eyelids, causing droopy upper lids, sagging eyebrows, and bags under your eyes. These effects can make you look older, detract from your self-confidence, and even reduce your peripheral vision. That’s where eyelid blepharoplasty comes in.
Board-certified cosmetic surgeon Robert M. Schwarcz, MD, specializes in this surgical procedure, providing it for qualifying patients at his offices in the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Scarsdale, New York. In this post, we explain this procedure to help you discover whether it might be a helpful option for you.
Before lower eyelid blepharoplasty, Dr. Schwarcz administers an intravenous medication to help you relax and injects a numbing medication into your eyelids. For lower eyelid surgery, he makes an incision inside your lower lids or just below your lower lashes. Through the incision, he redistributes sagging skin and excess fat.
If you decide to have surgery on your upper eyelids as well, Dr. Schwarcz often works on that area first, removing excess skin, muscle, and fat. In all cases, incisions are made in places that are hidden by your eyelashes so you won’t have to worry about visible scarring.
In addition to your blepharoplasty procedure, the area can be treated with Total FX CO2 laser, which minimizes fine lines, resurfaces the skin of your lower eyelids, and promotes collagen production. If needed, Dr. Schwarcz may use fat transfer techniques for better contouring around your eyes.
You recover from blepharoplasty in the comfort of your home, following Dr. Schwarcz’s instructions. He may recommend a variety of steps to enhance your recovery and keep you comfortable.
For example, simple steps such as applying ice packs, using prescribed ointments or drops, avoiding rubbing your eyes, and wearing darkly tinted sunglasses to protect your eyes from sun and the elements outdoors go a long way toward a smooth recovery. Certain medications and supplements are known to increase bleeding, so you may also need to avoid them for about a week.
Ideal candidates for blepharoplasty are in generally good physical and emotional health and are bothered by issues such as puffiness around your eyes or limited peripheral vision. You also need to be at least 18 years old and have realistic expectations about the surgery.
Medical conditions that may make you ineligible for blepharoplasty include diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and hyperthyroidism.
This surgical procedure is specifically tailored to the needs of each patient. Many people who have lower eyelid blepharoplasty are pleased to have a more youthful and rested appearance that they feel confident about.
Results vary, but some people find that the benefits are permanent. The more you take care of your eyelids by following your recovery instructions, the better your results will be. Continuing to protect the area around your eyes from the sun and avoiding smoking can also enhance your appearance moving forward.
To learn more about how lower eyelid blepharoplasty can get rid of your undereye bags, call the office convenient to you or request a consultation with Dr. Schwarcz.
