Secrets of Aging - Blepharoplasty and plastic surgery
options for you. |
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Every year, one hundred thousand men and women choose
blepharoplasty to improve the way they look. Droopy
eyelids can make you look older and can also impair
vision. Blepharoplasty corrects these problems and also
removes puffiness and bags under the eyes that make
you look worn and tired. This procedure cannot alter
dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes,
nor can it change sagging eyebrows. Though blepharoplasty
is often performed as a single procedure, your surgeon
may also recommend a browlift, facelift, or skin resurfacing
to achieve the best results. If you are wondering how
blepharoplasty can change the way you look, you need
to know how eyelid surgery is performed and what you
can expect from this procedure. This pamphlet can address
many common questions and provide you the information
to begin considering blepharoplasty. Successful facial
plastic surgery is a result of good rapport between
patient and surgeon. Trust, based on realistic expectations and exacting medical expertise, develops in the consulting
stages before surgery. Your surgeon can answer specific
questions about your specific needs.
In upper eyelid surgery, the surgeon first marks the
individual lines and 
creases of the lids in order to keep the scars as invisible
as possible along these natural folds. The incision
is made, and excess fat, muscle, and loose skin are
removed. Fine sutures are used to close the incisions,
thereby minimizing the visibility of any scar. In lower
eyelid surgery, the surgeon makes the incision in an
inconspicuous site along the lashline and smile creases
of the lower lid. Excess fat, muscle, and skin are then
trimmed away before the incision is closed with fine
sutures. Eyelid puffiness caused primarily by excess
fat may be corrected by a transconjunctival blepharoplasty.
The incision in this case is made inside the lower eyelid, and excess fatty material is removed. When sutures are
used to close this kind of incision, they are invisible
to the eye. They are also self-dissolving and leave
no visible scar. Under normal conditions, blepharoplasty
can take from one to two hours.
Immediately after the surgery has been completed,
your surgeon may apply tiny sterile bandages. This is
not done for transconjunctival blepharoplasty. It is
not crucial that the eyes be covered. However, an ointment
to prevent dryness of the eye area may be used. A certain
degree of swelling and bruising is normal. Cold compresses,
as well as head elevation when lying down, will 
enhance healing and relieve discomfort. Your surgeon
will prescribe medication for discomfort. For a week and a half following blepharoplasty, you will clean
the eye area (the eyes may feel sticky, dry, and itchy).
Eyedrops may be recommended. Your surgeon will also
list activities and environments to avoid in the weeks
immediately following surgery. Permanent stitches will
be removed in three to five days after surgery. Self-absorbing
stitches will dissolve on their own. Facial plastic
surgery makes it possible to correct many facial flaws and signs of premature aging that can undermine self-confidence.
By changing how you look, facial plastic surgery can
help change how you feel about yourself. Insurance does
not generally cover surgery that is done purely for
cosmetic reasons. Surgery to correct or improve vision
or surgery for eye deformity or injury may be reimbursable
in whole or in part. It is the patient's responsibility
to check with the insurance carrier for information
on the degree of coverage.
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