Photo Credit: Ground Picture/Shutterstock
Justin J. Cordero, Morvarid Mehdizadeh, Samuel J. Lin, MD, FACS
The eyes are among the most emotionally revealing parts of your face. Simple eye movements like widening, squinting, or rolling can convey a wide range of unspoken messages. As you age, your eyelids may start to sag, giving you a look of fatigue, sadness, or detachment. Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is a popular solution for those looking to rejuvenate their eyes and boost self-confidence. Below are some typical motivations for patients considering blepharoplasty.
One frequently appears tired or unwell to others: Droopy upper eyelids can create a hooded look, while saggy lower lids often resemble puffy under-eye bags. These signs may make one look tired or anxious, even if you're not. Eyelid lifts, whether upper, lower, or both, may correct these problems and result in eyes that seem more awake and youthful.1
Drooping eyelids are blocking part of eyesight: Sagging eyelids don’t only impact how one looks—they may also interfere with how one sees. Excess eyelid skin may droop so much that it blocks vision. A restricted visual field can affect daily tasks, and a blepharoplasty can help restore the ability to perform these daily tasks if vision is compromised.2
One’s natural eyelid fold has faded or disappeared: A common result of eyelid sagging is the fading of the natural eyelid fold. As the skin droops, it can cover the crease, contributing to an older-looking appearance.3 Fatty deposits in the eyelid may also lead to a puffy appearance.
There are several blepharoplasty techniques that may lead to the most natural results, and it is essential to choose an experienced surgeon to ensure treatment is tailored to unique needs.
Transcutaneous blepharoplasty is one technique where an incision is made right below the lower eyelash line to remove extra skin when there is a large amount of loose skin beneath the lower eyelid.4 During the same procedure, fat may be taken out, moved, or added as needed, and the same incision can be used to perform a midface lift as well.
Transconjunctival blepharoplasty refers to performing the procedure through the inner surface of the eyelid, called the conjunctiva.5 This incision made on the inside of the lower lid is an alternative method for treating lower eyelid conditions by adjusting or removing extra fat. This approach avoids cutting or removing any skin.
Current trends in blepharoplasty are that plastic surgeons may be seeing younger patients interested in eyelid rejuvenation. Patients may be starting to be seen in their 30’s and 40’s more frequently.
References:
- Eyelid surgery. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/eyelid-surgery.
- Lee YJ, Cho YJ, Lee SY, Yoon JS. Comparison of satisfaction after direct browplasty in Asian patients with and without brow tattoo. Can J Ophthalmol. 2014;49(2):174-179. doi:10.1016/j.jcjo.2013.09.023
- Eyelid surgery. American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. https://www.aafprs.org/A/FR4.aspx.
- Eyelid surgery. American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/eyelid-surgery.
- Bhattacharjee K, Ghosh S, Ugradar S, Azhdam AM. Lower eyelid blepharoplasty: An overview. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2020;68(10):2075-2083. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_2265_19
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