Eyelid Surgery in Louisville, Lexington, Kentucky
Indications
Excessive, wrinkled, or sagging skin of the upper or lower eyelids. Loss of a natural upper eyelid crease. Puffy pouches of fat in the upper or lower eyelid that create an aged or tired appearance.
Intended Results
A more youthful and rested appearance of the eyes. A more open appearance of the eye socket.
Procedure
Eyelid surgery is usually done at our own on-site, AAAASF-Certified surgery center.
Upper Blepharoplasty alone can sometimes be performed in our office procedure room under local anesthetic with an oral sedative. In the upper lids, the incision is made with a black diamond scalpel and is hidden in the natural crease above the lid margin. Skin, with a small sliver of redundant muscle and fat excess, are all removed.
Lower Blepharoplasty (or Lower and Upper Blepharoplasty at the same time) is always done under anesthesia. The lower lids are approached first through an incision made on the inside of the lid. The fat is removed with a fine electric needle to limit bruising. Any extra skin is “pinched” below the lash line and trimmed with a fine scissor. Several sutures are placed to close the incision.
Other Options
If skin wrinkles of the lower eyelid or crows feet area are present with the puffy eyelids, these are not treated effectively with blepharoplasty alone. We will recommend that a neurotoxin like Botox® or Dysport® be placed into the wrinkles and laser resurfacing be done shortly thereafter. Sometimes, the laser resurfacing can replace the surgical removal of skin and be done at the time of the blepharoplasty.
Recuperation and Healing
Sutures are removed in 4 days. Patients may experience a stinging sensation, light sensitivity, and trouble reading up close for several days. Bruising and swelling will typically resolve in 7-10 days. Patients may return to work within a week. Eye makeup can be worn after the sutures are removed and contact lenses can be utilized in 7-10 days.
Note
The specific risks and suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are rare.
