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Viraj J. Mehta, MD, MBA is an Oculofacial Plastics and Orbit expert, who serves a local and an international community at his practice near Washington, D.C. Born and raised in Cincinnati, OH, Dr. Mehta attended Cornell University for undergraduate and business school. He went on to complete his medical education and training at top institutions across the country, including Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Mayo Clinic. Dr. Mehta chats with Haute Beauty about Lower Eyelid Surgery.
HB: What is a Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty and how does it work?
There are two ways to get to the fat in your lower eyelids. The best way, in order to avoid lower eyelid retraction, is to go through the inside of your lower eyelid. Once the fat is exposed, it is excised and/or reshaped to smooth out the lid-cheek transition. A small amount of skin under your lashes is sometimes removed, and the corner of your lids can be tightened. Lower eyelid blepharoplasty can also be combined with many other procedures, such as laser resurfacing, fat transfer, upper eyelid blepharoplasty, face lift, eyelid lift, or brow lift.
HB: Do you prefer it to other methods?
There are many ways to help improve the appearance of your lower eyelid bags. Over the counter creams, lotions, and serums can moisturize your skin to help improve the appearance of fine wrinkles, but the results are not lasting. Laser resurfacing can help improve the look of lower eyelid bags, but again this really targets the skin and does not change the underlying fat that often causes a lumpy, bumpy appearance. Other options to mask lower eyelid bags include fillers, which can help smooth the lid to cheek transition. Fillers are a temporary solution as they last only a year or so, and some patients can develop swelling in the lower lids that will require the filler to be dissolved.
Lower eyelid blepharoplasty involves cutting out or reshaping the fat in your lower eyelids. This procedure really is the foundation for smooth, natural, youthful lower eyelids and is longer lasting than any other technique. Combining lower eyelid blepharoplasty with any of the above techniques can help you look more refreshed and youthful.
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HB: Who is a good candidate?
Lower eyelid blepharoplasty is a great option for many patients looking to reduce their lower eyelid bags. You first want to seek out an Oculofacial Plastics and Orbital expert, who completed an ASOPRS fellowship, to see if you are a good candidate; but generally speaking, patients, who are otherwise healthy and have lower eyelid bags due to fat and not just edema or swelling, are good candidates. Medical causes for swelling around your lids should also first be ruled out.
HB: What does recovery look like?
After lower eyelid blepharoplasty, patients can expect to have bruising and swelling that could last a couple weeks, but they generally feel better within a couple days. I also ask patients to take it easy for 1 week with no bending, heavy lifting, or straining; and, no swimming for at least 2 weeks.
