Eyes tell our story. They can share what we are feeling and thinking without ever saying a word.
— Dr. Mark Anton, Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon
Our eyes can also give away our age or make us appear older than we actually are. Drooping eyelids are a sign of aging that can often occur on men and women for various reasons. In some cases, the structure of the facial profile falling position of the brow or the way fat develops around the face can cause this to occur.
For many patients, it can be a source of distress, as it may cause them to feel older than they are or appear constantly tired. Drooping eyelids can also impair your ability to optimally apply makeup and may even impact vision or your ability to see clearly.
Our Newport Beach blepharoplasty procedure is an excellent option for patients who struggle with signs of aging in the eyes or simply want to refresh their appearance and reduce the appearance of excess in the upper or lower lids. Many patients who undergo the procedure report feeling rejuvenated and seeing a brighter expression on their faces. It is also popular to combine a blepharoplasty procedure with other facial surgery, such as an endoscopic brow lift, a facelift, neck liposuction, or fillers.
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Simply put, blepharoplasty is the medical term for eyelid surgery. Usually, it is a cosmetic procedure aimed to produce more youthful and attractive eyelids.
However, for some people, their vision can be impaired by sagging eyelids, in which case blepharoplasty has medical applications.
Remember that blepharoplasty is an eyelid-specific procedure and is not a facelift or a brow lift. Nor can blepharoplasty get rid of dark circles under your eyes, crow's feet, or facial wrinkles.
Blepharoplasty can be performed on your upper eyelid, lower eyelid, or both. Also called an eye lift, blepharoplasty removes excess skin from the upper eyelids and reduces bagginess from the lower eyelids.
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The surgical goal is to remove excess fat and skin. A small stitch then brings the skin back together, producing a firmer and smoother appearance.
This procedure starts with your surgeon making tiny incisions either below your lash line or on the inside of your eyelid. The latter technique is known as the transconjunctival approach and can serve the needs of patients who want fat added to or removed from their lower lids but want to avoid visible incisions.
Both the upper and lower eyelids can be addressed in the same surgical session, and often are. If you have double eyelid surgery, your surgeon will generally work on your upper eyelids first.
If your upper eyelid droops close to your pupil - a condition known as ptosis - your surgeon can provide additional support for your eyebrow muscles.
Babies can be born with congenital ptosis, which can cause them to lift their eyebrows or tilt their heads back in order to see. This condition can sometimes cause permanent vision loss. Surgery on young children to correct droopy eyelids is usually performed in the preschool years.
Blepharoplasty can often be combined with a facelift, a brow lift, a forehead lift, dermal fillers, or laser skin resurfacing.
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In general, cosmetic surgery is an excellent solution for men and women who want to alter, change, or correct certain features on the body and face.
Facial plastic surgery procedures like blepharoplasty, are especially popular among adults, starting in their 30s and, who want to address signs of aging, including folds, wrinkles, sagging skin, and more.
Upper and lower blepharoplasty are procedures that address the upper and lower eyelids but are often combined with other surgeries like a facelift, neck liposuction, fat transfer to the cheeks, or brow lift. Eligible candidates for the procedure include men and women who are in good general health.
It is advised patients work to quit smoking or drinking in excess before planning to get cosmetic surgery like blepharoplasty, as this can increase your chance of surgical complications and risks. The best way to determine if a blepharoplasty or other facial procedures are appropriate for you is by scheduling a consultation with our experienced Newport Beach plastic surgeon, Dr. Mark Anton of Aesthetics MD.
Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure performed to remove the excess skin and fat from the upper & lower eyelids. Generally, eyelids are one of the first areas of the face to show signs of aging. Most commonly, an appropriate candidate for blepharoplasty has one or more of the following concerns:
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Genetics determine the original look of your eyelids.
As you age, muscles and tissues weaken, stretching your eyelids. That often triggers an accumulation of excess fat above and below your eyelids. The result is droopy upper lids and eyebrows and bags under your eyes. The fat that cushions your eyeballs from your skull can also cause eyelid bulging. As the membrane that holds the fat in place weakens with age, the fat can move forward into the lids, almost like a hernia.
Although adjacent anatomy, upper and lower eyelid procedures are actually quite different. Upper blepharoplasty is one of the simplest and most predictable surgeries in the body, in that risks can be kept very low and aesthetic results can be optimized.
The lower eyelid is different in that the eyelid margin with the eyelashes is essentially a sling between fixed points that cannot tolerate any tension resulting from the lower lid procedure or it will frame the iris and pupil differently. Great surgical care needs to be taken to improve the lax skin without creating undue tension. In addition, the lower lid fat bulges often with a furrow just below these bulges (runs along the bony orbital rim) need to be surgically modified.
If the furrow is not significant, then the bulges can just be carefully removed (but not too much as that would create a hollow appearance). Usually, the furrow is present and therefore the eyeball fatty bulges are not removed, but carefully repositioned into the furrow to fill out the depression along the orbital rim and simultaneously removing the bulges.
Blepharoplasty is usually performed under general anesthesia in an accredited outpatient facility and takes about 2 hours for upper and lower eyelids. This can also be performed with local and sedation. Incisions are strategically placed along the crease of the upper eyelid and along the lash line on the lower eyelids, so they are well hidden. Sutures are removed 7 days after surgery. Once the incisions have healed, scars are virtually invisible.
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Planning a convenient time to have eyelid surgery is usually the most difficult part of the process for the patient.
It is ideal to plan your blepharoplasty approximately eight weeks or more before an important event like a wedding, holiday or reunion - the more time the better. Almost all bruising and swelling subsides within 2-3 weeks.
If you have a specific schedule to adhere to, consider planning the procedure during your off time to reduce any time away from responsibilities like work and social commitments. Certain activities will also be restricted, so you should consider how your movements may be limited and plan accordingly to ensure the most comfortable recovery process possible.
Downtime can be the biggest challenge to surgery patients, especially those with a busy schedule. It is important to honor the body's healing period and follow the doctor's post-operative orders which include abstaining from any activity that raises your heart rate or blood pressure for two weeks following surgery such as:
During your consultation for Blepharoplasty Newport Beach plastic surgeon Dr. Anton will address your areas of concern and educate you on the procedure. This step is extremely important, as it will give your surgeon the opportunity to perform a medical exam and review any relevant history that may affect your ability to safely undergo this cosmetic surgery.
Bringing your records or reviewing them beforehand to get any relevant information can also help streamline the process. Any patient with allergies, or who is taking medications, or who has a history of certain diseases - notably thyroid problems, Graves' disease, dry eyes, high blood pressure, circulatory disorders, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease - should consult a doctor as well as their surgeon before considering blepharoplasty.
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Most patients wake from their blepharoplasty feeling tired and groggy. Slight bruising and swelling will occur immediately after surgery and gradually subside throughout the healing process. It is normal for the eyes to feel tight.
Patients find eyelid surgery to be one of the least painful surgeries, and any mild discomfort and minimal pain is easily managed with prescription medications. Most patients feel their eyelid surgery was less painful than anticipated and may discontinue their pain medication after 4 to 5 days if needed.
As with any surgery, a patient should not do anything that might increase one's blood pressure in the first 2-3 weeks postoperatively, as that can increase the odds of creating a postoperative hematoma. Hematomas (collection of blood that often requires drainage) are never desirable. Exercise may resume after three to four weeks with doctor's approval.
Most of our Newport Beach bepharoplasty patients return to work within 7-10 days after surgery. Camouflage makeup can be worn under the eyes to disguise bruising the day after surgery so long as the incision lines are avoided until after the sutures are removed. Women may apply eyeliner and eyeshadow once the sutures have been removed and healed, generally 7-10 days after surgery.
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Upper Blepharoplasty results should hold up for at least 5-7 years. Lower Blepharoplasty results can generally be considered permanent. Remember that your eyes will continue to age following your blepharoplasty. If your lids sag again, a forehead lift rather than another eye lift may be a good option.
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Like any surgery, blepharoplasty creates scars. But highly skilled surgeons such as Dr. Anton are masters at placing and hiding blepharoplasty scars in natural skin folds, to the point that scars are virtually invisible.
But remember, it is important to properly care for your incision sites to promote optimal healing. You will play a big part in reducing your scarring.
UA blepharoplasty scar reduction regimen often includes:
Since damaging UV rays can deepen the pigmentation of scars, it is essential that you use a high-SPF sunscreen daily and diligently.
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While blepharoplasty is considered a safe surgery, it nevertheless comes with risks and side effects. Risks include:
Among possible post-surgical temporary side effects are blurred vision, watery eyes, sensitivity to light, puffy or numb eyelids, and swelling or bruising.
Schedule a Consultation for Blepharoplasty in Newport Beach, CA
Are you ready to take the plunge and discover a whole new you when you look in the mirror? AestheticsMD can help you get the best Blepharoplasty Newport Beach has to offer. Board-certified plastic surgeon Mark A. Anton MD, FACS, leads our facility, who - together with our remarkable staff - offer high-quality cosmetic enhancements to the men and women that reside in and around Newport Beach, CA.
To schedule a blepharoplasty consultation at our facility, or to learn more about our plastic surgery services, call us today at 949.430.7394.
In most cases, cosmetic surgery procedures like eyelid surgery are considered elective procedures. As such, insurance does not cover them. If the procedure is part of a reconstructive attempt to eliminate excess upper eyelid skin obstructing vision or to correct trauma due to genetic defects, injury, or other medical conditions, you may be eligible for coverage via an insurance provider.
Aesthetics MD is an out of network provider so if you think your procedure may be covered by insurance, we advise you to review your benefits before scheduling your consultation. To accommodate the needs of all our patients, AestheticsMD offers financing solutions and accepts various major credit cards, including American Express, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover.
Blepharoplasty
A few days after your blepharoplasty, you will immediately notice an improvement in the appearance of your eyes. You will look younger, more alert, and less tired. Removing excess skin from the upper lids opens the eyes, making your entire face appear more youthful. Removing bags and wrinkles from the lower lids dramatically improves the signs of facial aging.
Natural results are the mark of any good plastic surgery procedure. Our experienced eyelid surgeon, Dr. Anton tells patients that no one should be able to tell if someone has had plastic surgery. All they should notice is that someone looks refreshed, the way you would after a long vacation. Your eyes will not change shape and you will still look like yourself. Changes from blepharoplasty are subtle but make a dramatic impact on your overall appearance and improving the signs of facial aging.
Please note that blepharoplasty surgery does not address the "crows feet" wrinkles or the vertical 11 lines between the eyebrows, but a neuromodulator like Botox does!
The results of blepharoplasty will vary slightly for each patient, for their unique needs, facial structure, and extent of treatment. The reason for eyelid surgery may also vary, as some patients may be predisposed to the condition while others begin to develop it in later years.
Ultimately, the results of your facial surgery will vary with the approach determined by Dr. Anton. Some patients will opt to have excess fat and tissue removed from both the upper and lower lid, while others need less correction to achieve their desired results. In general, patients can expect to have a more alert and refreshed facial expression and appearance.
Get a private and personalized consultation with Dr. Anton in his beautiful practice in Newport Beach, CA.
20331 Irvine Avenue Suite E6, Newport Beach, CA 92660
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