Our eyes are among the most expressive aspects of our face. They are the first feature on which people focus when conversing with one another. Sometimes with aging our eyes can change in ways that impact the way we are perceived by others.
While some individuals are bothered by their nose and undergo my non-surgical rhinoplasty or a nose surgery, many others seek out my eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty—a cosmetic surgery to help rejuvenate their eyelids and overall appearance of the eyes. Eyelid surgery and eye lifts are the most common facial surgeries I perform as a plastic surgeon.
Blepharoplasty is a medical term used to describe the removal and sculpting of the eyelid. This procedure has its origin in Greek and Roman medicine. In fact, the first discovered writings on blepharoplasty were in 30 AD by Aulus Cornelius Celsus.
These writings were then expanded upon by the Arabs who invaded Alexandra in 643 AD. They produced a famous text Tadhkirat al-Kahhalin written by Ali ibn Isa of Baghdad which compiled much of the Greek and Roman writings and included one of the earliest descriptions of upper eyelid blepharoplasty. The term blepharoplasty commonly used by cosmetic surgeons is derived from the Greek term blepharon which meant “eyelid” and plastos which meant “formed.”
As we recognize now, they recognized then: Our eyelids frame our eyes and help us communicate with others.
In my previous blog posting, “Beauty—What is It and What is It Good For?,” I shared that the more the eyelids are naturally open, the more pleasant and approachable we appear.
Upper Eyelid Surgery
The upper eyelids can be affected by a variety of conditions. In some cases, the eyelid can fall and start to cover the pupil of the eye. This is often referred to as a droopy eyelid. This issue can affect a person’s vision and can also connote a sleepy, tired and sometimes seductive appearance.
In cases such as these, I can utilize a laser to help me with my eyelid surgery to carefully isolate, adjust, and raise the eyelids until they are at their proper height through a quick outpatient eyelid surgery.
Another condition which affects the upper eyelids is heaviness, which can push the eyelids downward giving a tired and older appearance. This is often due to two separate conditions. The first is a brow which descends with age or sometimes due to birth into the eyelid space.
The second is redundant tissue in the eyelid itself.
In certain ethnic types, this can result in the presence of a double eyelid. It requires special care when performing Asian eyelid surgery for my patients with my double eyelid surgery technique.
As a plastic surgeon specializing in eyelid surgery, I can determine which of these three conditions my patients have and recommend the eye lift surgery (blepharoplasty or levator advancement) and/or brow lift surgery that would be best for their unique appearances. In some cases, a person may need more than one condition corrected at the same time. Also, it is possible in many patients to raise the brow without surgery with a Botox browlift.
Lower Eyelid Surgery
The other part of the eyelid area which deserves attention is the lower eyelid and cheek region. With age and sometimes due to birth, the fat in the lower eyelids can become prominent and push through its boundary into the lower eyelid giving the appearance of puffy lids or eye bags. These eye bags can give someone the impression that that person is tired or sick regardless of how they feel inside. This can be a major source of frustration for these individuals. They feel fine inside, but the world keeps telling them that they must be tired.
I get great satisfaction in helping my patients with this condition, because I know the positive impact that this will have on how the world relates to them when this condition is resolved.
A final condition, which commonly occurs with age, is when the skin of the lower eyelid becomes damaged over time, resulting in puffy skin and severe drooping on the cheekbones below the eyelids. This condition, identified as a festoon, usually occurs due to sun exposure but can also run in certain families. I’ll write more about festoons in an upcoming blog, but it’s safe to say that this is the most difficult condition for cosmetic surgeons to correct in the area of eyelid surgery. However, I am pleased to have learned and further developed an effective method for correcting festoons and providing clients with great, natural-looking results.
I’ve even been approached by other plastic surgeons, and have been teaching them my facial surgery techniques to help their patients dealing with festoons.
Eyelid Surgery Results
I take great care in providing my patients results, which are powerful in their effect but very natural in their appearance. After surgery, many of my patients delight in the fact that their friends can’t put their finger on what has changed about them.
Is it their hair? Is it their makeup? Is it their clothes? My Tampa eyelid surgery patients know the secret and love the fact that their results are noticeable but natural so that others don’t know exactly what transpired.
Many patients find that whether I’m fixing drooping eyelids with my facial plastic surgery techniques or eye bags with my eye bag removal surgery, the plastic surgery prices and blepharoplasty costs are affordable through our eyelid surgery financing programs.
For more information about festoons, Tampa blepharoplasty or Tampa eyelid surgery, contact our office.
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