The eyes, the saying goes, are the windows to the soul. Because your eyelids have the thinnest skin on your body, you might look as if your soul is tired and run down, even when you feel fine.
As skin gets older, it dries and loses its ability to bounce back like it did when you were younger. The middle support layer thins, and gravity takes its inevitable toll. The worst effects of aging may show up first on your eyelids.
Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, removes excess skin, adjusts fat pockets, and tightens muscle to turn back the clock on your appearance. At IC Laser Eye Care, we know that the appearance of your eyes can be almost as important as their function, so we offer eyelid procedures to our patients.
As you get older, the skin of your eyelids stretches, and the muscles that support your lids start to weaken. In some cases, you may accumulate fat pads that aggravate the appearance of thinner skin above and below the eyes.
The result is drooping, hooded upper eyelids and/or fleshy undereye bags that make you appear tired and less alert. In some cases, upper eyelid drooping may be severe enough to block your eyesight at the top of your field of vision or the sides.
Sometimes called an eye lift, blepharoplasty surgery combines a series of elements that address the range of skin issues that can affect your appearance. Each surgery is a customized procedure matched to you and your needs.
Blepharoplasty is typically performed as outpatient surgery with local anesthetics, but you may also be sedated to help you relax. When you’ve fully recovered, your eyes appear younger, less tired, bright, and alert. Lines and folds that used to cast heavy shadows are now under control. Eyelid surgery will give you a youthful, refreshed appearance.
While every patient has specific variations required by their eye conditions, most procedures share common elements.
For the upper eyelid, incisions occur on the eyelid folds so that any resulting scars are naturally hidden. Your surgeon removes excess skin, fat, or muscle. If your eyelids droop close to the pupil, your surgeon may add a lift procedure to raise the lids.
Lower eyelid work is always cosmetic in nature, since the issues involving the lower lids won’t cause functional problems. Your surgeon places incisions either below the lower lashes or inside the lower eyelid, so again the signs of surgery are well hidden. Excess skin, fat, and muscle are again the targets of the procedure, depending on your needs.
Recovery tends to be slow, with swelling and bruising lasting about two weeks and other signs of the procedure taking months to subside. However, you’ll notice a dramatic improvement from the earliest days after your surgery.
Let your eyes look their best. Schedule a consultation at one of our offices today. We’re located in Philadelphia and Bensalem, Pennsylvania, and Hamilton, New Jersey. Call or book your appointment online today.
