BLEPHAROPLASTY (EYELID SURGERY, EYELID TIGHTENING PROCEDURE) AND DARK CIRCLES UNDER THE EYES.
Several factors such as aging, sun damage, smoking, stretching and obesity can cause the eyelids to droop and sag as the supporting tissues deteriorate. This area is often one of the first to deteriorate, as the skin of the eyelid is thinner than the rest of the face. Eyelids that droop or bulge can cause people to appear much older or fatigued than they actually are.
Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, is a surgical procedure that improves the appearance of the upper and lower eyelids by tightening muscles and tissue or removing excess fat and skin. Dr Misbah Khan can perform this procedure in men and women alike in order to create a younger, more refreshed look that reflects across the whole face. If the patient also has dark circles under the eyes, Dr Khan will perform laser resurfacing to improve the appearance of dark circles and remove fine lines and brown spots.
Blepharoplasty is now one of the most popular facial plastic surgery procedure after rhinoplasty. The popularity of this procedure reflects the importance of the eyes in perfecting overall appearance. In fact, two-thirds of adults consider the eyes to be the defining feature of the face. If you are unhappy with the appearance of your eyes, you may want to consider blepharoplasty to improve your look and boost your confidence through a safe procedure with minimal downtime.
Candidates
The best candidates for blepharoplasty are individuals who are in good overall health and who do not smoke or have any serious eye conditions. Dr Khan recommends a thorough ophthalmic examination by your ophthalmologist before proceeding with the procedure. Dr Khan recommends all her patients to come to the office for a thorough evaluation of the loose skin around the eyes and overall facial contouring. It is also highly recommended that patients get a detailed evaluation of the vision and any underlying eye problems such as dry eyes, puffy eyes due to other systemic medical problems and any visual problems from their ophthalmologist. If you have loose, sagging skin or puffy bags around your eyes, this procedure can help reduce these unwanted effects and leave the eyes looking young and fresh. It is important for patients to have realistic expectations before undergoing surgery in order to be satisfied with their results.
Procedure
Dr Khan performs blepharoplasty procedure under local anesthesia. Mild anxiolytic like valium can be provided to rather anxious patients. Patients may choose to have this procedure on their upper or lower eyelids, or both. Depending on these choices, the procedure can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours. If the upper eyelid is being treated, an incision is made along the natural crease of the eyelid. Once the incision is made, Dr Khan may reposition fat deposits, tighten muscles and tissue or remove excess skin in order to leave the eye looking younger and refreshed. For the lower eyelid, an incision is made just below the lash line in order for excess skin to be removed. After the procedure is performed, the incisions are closed with sutures and usually wrapped in gauze to allow the area to heal. A detailed hand written instruction sheet is provided to each patient that explains post-procedure care. Patients are requested to return for the removal of stitches in 10-12 days after the procedure.
Recovery
After the blepharoplasty procedure, Dr Khan recommends applying lubricating ointment and cold compresses to aid the healing process and minimize side effects such as swelling, bruising, irritation or dry eyes. The eyes may be wrapped in gauze after the procedure if needed. Patients can usually return to work within two days, but should avoid exercise and strenuous activities for at least 1-2 weeks. Swelling and other side effects usually subside within two weeks after surgery.
Results
Results of a blepharoplasty procedure are visible as swelling and bruising subside and will continue to improve for up to a year after surgery. This procedure is designed to produce long-lasting results. While surgery cannot prevent your eyes from aging, most patients are satisfied with their results and do not seek repeat procedures. The scars from the blepharoplasty procedure are usually well concealed and will fade with time until they are virtually unnoticeable. The incision is hidden in the crease of the eyelid in an upper blepharoplasty, and just below the lashes in a lower blepharoplasty. Dr Misbah Khan might chose to do a resurfacing laser procedure for your eyes after the incision sites have completely healed. Laser resurfacing after the eyelid surgery provides much better cosmetic results as well as skin rejuvenation to blend in fine lines and brown spots and dark circles under the eyes. The results of laser resurfacing can be seen immediately after the procedure and they continue to improve over the next weeks.
Risks
As with any surgical procedure, there are certain risks associated with this procedure. Although rare, these risks include bleeding, infection, dry eyes, skin discoloration and an inability to fully close the eyes. Many of these risks can be minimized by following proper care instructions after surgery and early notification of these adverse effects to Dr Khan and her staff.