Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) in Houston, TX
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OVERVIEW
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CONSULTATION
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PROCEDURE
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RECOVERY
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RESULTS
Blepharoplasty Types: Upper and Lower
Beautiful eyes are essential to present to the world an appearance of youth and vitality. Aging of the eyes may make you look constantly tired, worried and stressed. In order to address these issues, cosmetic surgery on your eyelids may be an answer.
Eyelid surgery, also called Blepharoplasty is a procedure performed to minimize or eliminate completely puffiness around the eyes, bags under the eyes, excess skin and fine wrinkles on the eyelids. Blepharoplasty can be done on the upper eyelids (upper eyelid lift) or the lower eyelids (lower lid blepharoplasty). If you are dissatisfied with the appearance of your eyelids, Dr. Bachilo will discuss with you and advice on the best course of action for you. If surgery is the way to go, Dr. Bachilo has the experience to help you achieve natural looking, beautiful eyes you desire.
What Can Upper Blepharoplasty Do for Me?
- Reduce upper eyelid excess sagging skin.
- Define upper lid crease.
- Remove bulging excess fat in the eyelids.
- Enhance your appearance by making your eyes seem refreshed.
How Can Lower Blepharoplasty Improve My Appearance?
- Remove excess crepey skin on the lower lids.
- Decrease puffiness under the eyes through excess fat removal.
- Decrease appearance of dark circles and bags.
- Reduce appearance of fine lines on lower lids.
- Make your eyes appear rested and more attractive.
What to Expect During your Eyelid Surgery Consultation?
During consultation Dr. Bachilo will ask you about your health history focusing on any eye conditions and examine your eyes. She will ask you about any medications you are taking and document allergies.
It is important that you communicate your goals and expectations during your consultation. This will allow Dr. Bachilo to formulate a treatment that fits your specific needs. She will make treatment recommendations specific to you, describe the expected outcomes, explain any potential risks and instruct you on how to prepare for your procedure. Ask as many questions as you need to become fully comfortable with the procedure.
How Is Eyelid Surgery Procedure Performed?
The procedure may be performed in an outpatient surgery center or hospital and takes one to two hours. If only upper eyelid lift is being done, it can be performed in the office setting using light sedation and local anesthetic. Our clients who elect to have their procedure in the office report feeling comfortable during the entire procedure.
Blepharoplasty procedure starts with application of anesthesia. This may be either light sedation or general anesthesia with combination of local anesthetic. Incisions are made on the upper eyelid or lower eyelid for either upper blepharoplasty or lower blepharoplasty respectively. When upper and lower blepharoplasty are being performed in the same setting, the upper lids are usually done first. Upper lid incision is placed in the eyelid crease. When it heals completely it is therefore well hidden. The lower lid incision is placed just below the lash line.
The fat in the lid is then addressed, and the excess skin is excised. The fat may be spread around, partially removed, or removed completely. Dr. Bachilo will determine the right technique given your unique situation. Eyelid incisions with then be closed using absorbable sutures that do not need to be removed.
What to Look out for During Blepharoplasty Recovery?
Dr. Bachilo will provide detailed instructions on how to care for your eyes and will prescribe antibiotics, eye drops and pain medication that you will need. You should not drive while taking your pain medication. You may use cool packs on your eyes and sleep with your head elevated on 3 to 4 pillows to help reduce swelling. Dark sunglasses should be used to reduce exposure to harsh sunlight and to protect your eyes.
Immediately following procedure it is normal to experience some light sensitivity, blurry vision, swelling, and bruising, all of which are temporary. You will go home after your procedure and follow-up appointments will be scheduled. Dr. Bachilo will monitor your healing progress during those visit.
What should be avoided during recovery period after eyelid surgery?
- Rubbing eyes or touching incisions to minimize the risk of infection.
- Contact lenses use.
- Strenuous activities and heavy lifting.
- Aspirin and other over the counter anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen.
- Smoking
If you experience any symptoms such as significant bleeding, excessive eye pain, and severe vision problems, notify Dr. Bachilo and seek medical attention without delay.
The average recovery period is 10 to 14 days after blepharoplasty. Most patients return to work in just a few days. Makeup on the eyes may be used after 2 weeks.
Expected Results After Blepharoplasty
Improvements in the eye appearance are seen immediately following procedure, but the final results are seen at about 1 month after surgery. At this time all of the swelling and bruising will be resolved.
You should expect to enjoy long lasting beautiful eyes after your blepharoplasty. It is important to avoid excessive sun exposure in order to maintain your eyes and face looking fresh even longer. Make sunscreen use a routine in your daily life even after recovery.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
If you are looking to improve your eyes and refresh your look, blepharoplasty may be the ideal procedure for you.
Call our office to schedule your free consultation today!
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The best candidate for eye surgery is anyone looking to refresh the appearance of his or her eyes and has reasonable expectations. Patients undergoing blepharoplasty should have no serious eye conditions, be in a fairly good general health, and should not be actively using tobacco products.
Blepharoplasty is often combined with other facial cosmetic procedures, most commonly other procedures on the face, such as brow lift, facelift/necklift, and fat transfer to the face. Make sure to discuss with Dr. Bachilo if additional procedures can help you reach your aesthetic goals.
Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery is performed by means of tiny incisions that the surgeon will use to tighten loose, sagging skin as well as lax muscle tissue around the eye area, to achieve a smooth and youthful appearance.
Lower blepharoplasty is normally performed using general anesthesia, while the upper blepharoplasty can be performed using local anesthesia.
Every patient is different, and each surgery is tailored to the patient’s individual needs. If you require both an upper and lower blepharoplasty, it will naturally be more expensive than if you have only one of the two. The price of an upper eye lid surgery or a lower lid surgery may range between $3,000 and $5,000. While a combination surgery may range between $4,000 and $7,000. You may also combine eyelid procedure with other facial procedures to save money as well as recovery time.
Yes. You can combine an upper and lower blepharoplasty, as well as other plastic surgery procedures, into one session.
While eyelid surgery removes sagging skin around the eyes, it does not eliminate lines and wrinkles such as crow’s feet and laugh lines that typically develop at the corners of the eyes. You may choose to combine eyelid surgery with another facial procedure such as a brow lift or dermal injections to smooth out those lines and wrinkles.
It depends on what is causing those dark circles. Blepharoplasty will eliminate dark circles caused by excess folds of skin or fat under the eyes; however, if the dark circles are caused by another problem, such as hyperpigmentation, blepharoplasty will not correct the problem, and you may have to resort to a different type of treatment for this, such as laser skin resurfacing.
Eyelid surgery will not negatively affect your ability to see. In fact, some patients may actually see better after blepharoplasty, because the procedure may effectively remove excess sagging skin that may be obstructing vision.
As with any surgery, you should prepare for your procedure by making sure you have someone to drive you home following the surgery and provide general care around the house for a few days. Following a blepharoplasty, it is normal to experience blurred vision, tightness, swelling, or a numbing sensation in the area around the eyes, but these symptoms naturally resolve themselves within a week. Patients typically require a week of rest and may resume non-strenuous physical activities after two weeks. Dr. Bachilo will also advise you to wear sunglasses and protect the delicate skin around your eyes from exposure to sunlight by using a good sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher any time you leave your house.
No. The scars left after an eyelid surgery are very thin hairline scars and these are typically camouflaged in the natural folds and creases that surround the eyes, making them virtually invisible.
Health insurance carriers may cover the cost of blepharoplasty when it is performed for functional rather than purely cosmetic reasons, in other words, if the surgery is performed for the purpose of improving the patient’s vision in cases where sagging folds of skin obstruct the field of vision. Most health insurance will not cover any surgery performed for purely cosmetic reasons.