What is Blepharoplasty?
The skin on the face, particularly around the eyes, is prone to signs of aging such as wrinkles, fine lines, puffiness, and sagging. Many individuals who experienced these problems are unhappy with their appearance and may look tired, even when they are well-rested.
Eyelid surgery can help reshape and smooth the area around your eyes. It can be used to treat the fatty tissue that can make the area around your eyes appear puffy, bags under the eyes, droopy upper eyelids, and skin that hangs from the eyelid that can impair your vision.
Eyelid surgery is a delicate procedure, which targets this particularly sensitive area, helping patients obtain a revitalized, well-rested, youthful appearance. If facial wrinkles or sagginess under the eyes is affecting how you feel about your appearance, Scottsdale plastic surgeon Dr. Berardi can help.
The eyelid surgery procedure removes and reshapes sagging eyelid skin. It may also include the removal or redistribution of fat in the lower eyelids.
Blepharoplasty is typically an outpatient surgery that can be done on upper lids (an upper blepharoplasty), to remove excess skin and raise hooded or droopy eyelids, as well as on the lower lids (a lower blepharoplasty), to remove eye bags and tighten loose skin. The procedure on both lids can be done separately on each lid, or at the same time.
Read through the paragraphs below to learn more about eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty.
How Eyelid Surgery is Performed
Eyelid surgery is a procedure that can be performed on the upper and lower eyelids to eliminate under-eye bags, sagging skin, and puffiness. This procedure involves the removal of skin and excess fat for a rejuvenating final result.
During lower eyelid surgery, Dr. Berardi will make an inconspicuous incision along your lash line, through which he will remove any excess tissue. During upper eyelid surgery, the incision is made within the upper crease of the eye. This procedure can be performed under local anesthesia or general anesthetic and can last anywhere from one to two hours, depending on the extent of the changes needed.
Am I A Good Candidate for Eyelid Surgery?
Eyelid surgery patients are typically individuals who are in their mid-30s or older and are experiencing visible signs of aging such as wrinkles and sagging skin around the eyes. If you suffer from glaucoma or dry eye syndrome, eyelid surgery may not be for you as the procedure sometimes results in dryer eye conditions.
Besides aging, severely sagging skin around the eyes can reduce side vision (peripheral vision). An eyelid surgery may help to reduce these vision problems and help to restore your vision.
You should also be in good general health and have realistic expectations regarding the outcome of eyelid surgery.
How You Prepare
You should also be in good general health and have realistic expectations regarding the outcome of eyelid surgery.
During your pre-surgery consultation, Dr. Berardi, Scottsdale based plastic surgeon, will perform a thorough evaluation to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure; he may also make recommendations for other cosmetic treatments such as Neuromodulator or other dermal fillers. Some patients opt to have their eyelids treated as a part of several other facelift rejuvenation procedures including Neuromodulator, facelift, or browlifts.
It is important as a patient to understand the benefits of eyelift surgery and have a personal consultation to help you to understand if this is the right procedure to meet your goals. Dr. Berardi takes pride in consulting with patients and providing an honest assessment about your goals and concerns as well as answering your questions. As a part of this consultation, Dr. Berardi and his team will explore your medical history by asking about previous procedures and any medical conditions that might provide complications that would impact the success of the eyelid surgery or your overall health.
You may also have an eye exam that will test your tear production and your field of vision. This may help to establish that eyelid surgery is medically beneficial in addition to the cosmetic benefits. While insurance does not cover most eyelid cosmetic surgeries, the procedure may be covered if a medical need could be identified. During your initial consultation with Dr. Berardi and his team they will identify your goals and any medical conditions that may also be a result of eyelid correction.
You will want to have a good idea of what you want to accomplish with the procedure. It is important that you have an idea of what you would like to accomplish with your eyelids to ensure that the procedure will meet your desired outcome.
What to Expect on the Day of the Procedure
Your eyelid surgery could take up to two hours depending on if you are having upper, lower eyelid surgeries, or both. In addition to Dr. Berardi, you will also be met with an anesthesiologist along with an operating room nurse.
When you arrive for surgery, a nurse will check your vitals to assess your general health prior to the procedure. If you are determined healthy, a prep nurse will place an IV in your hand or arm. The IV will deliver medication and much needed fluids that will be needed for the procedure. Dr. Berardi will meet with you prior to the procedure to go over the details of the procedure and mark the incision sites with a surgical pen.
If you are undergoing local anesthesia, the surgeon will inject a numbing solution into your eyelids. You will also be given a sedative through your IV to keep you drowsy or help you to sleep during the procedure.
If you are undergoing general anesthesia, you’ll receive medication through your arm via IV or through a gas mask. The sedative will make you temporarily unconscious during the procedure and you will be unable to feel any discomfort. A tube may also be used to help you breathe during the procedure.
Once you are prepped and the surgeon is prepped, you will be walked into the operating room where you will lie flat on a procedure table or chair. A nurse will clean the area of the procedure with a bacteria-killing solution and finish preparing you for the procedure.
If you are having an upper eyelid procedure, the surgeon will make an initial incision with a blade, laser, or cautery unit along the marked area on the eyelid. The extra skin is then removed or repositioned within the eyelid. This may be done by either cutting away the excess fat or by burning the fat away with a cautery tool.
Lower eyelid surgery may be performed inside the lower eyelid, or below the eyelash line. If the procedure is being performed inside the lower eyelid (transconjunctival), an instrument will be used to pull the lower eyelid down. An incision is made through the conjunctiva and lower eyelid. Retractors will be placed inside the lid. Fat pads in the lower lid will be repositioned or reduced during the procedure.
If the procedure will be done below the eyelash line, an incision will be made 1 to 2 millimeters below the lash line. A small amount of excess skin may be removed during the procedure. Fat pockets in the area will also be repositioned or reduced.
After the procedure, recovery will take place under observation from Dr. Berardi and team. They will monitor you to ensure you are healing well and kept comfortable to begin your recovery. An ice-compress may be used to help to reduce any postoperative swelling. Once the anesthesia wears off, you will be permitted to leave with a relative or loved one.
Patient Testimonial
“Dr. Berardi took away 10 years worth of pain!!! I would recommend Dr. Berardi to anyone. This man was meant to be a cosmetic surgeon, so caring and knowledgeable. I am so grateful for his expertise!!! Don’t think twice and don’t walk just run to Dr. Berardi.” – C.G
Can Blepharoplasty Be Combined With Other Procedures?
Some Scottsdale patients choose to undergo blepharoplasty at the same time as other cosmetic procedures such as a facelift or brow lift. Having these procedures performed simultaneously will offer a complete facial rejuvenation with just one recovery period.
What is recovery like After Blepharoplasty?
The eyelid surgery recovery process will vary based on the extent of the procedure, as well as if other procedures are performed at the same time.
After the eyelid procedure, you will be monitored to ensure that your body is healing well. You should be able to leave later that day to continue to heal at home.
There may be some temporary impacts to your vision and your eyes as you are recovering. After the eyelid procedure you may experience blurred vision from lubrication applied to the eyes during the procedure, watering eyes, light sensitivity, double vision, puffy and numb eyelids, swelling and discoloration to the skin of the eyes similar to what appears with a black eye, and assorted pain and discomfort around the eyelids.
Post-Operation Instructions & Returning To Normal Activities
The blepharoplasty procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you will be able to go home on the same day as your surgery. Your eyes will be swollen, so you will need someone to drive you home afterward. Dr. Berardi will provide you with prescriptions to control any mild discomfort as well as eye drops to keep the eyes lubricated in the weeks after eyelid surgery.
He will also provide you with a list of thorough post-operative instructions which include avoiding makeup, rubbing the eyelids and the use of contact lenses. You may be asked to cleanse your incisions, if so, Dr. Berardi will direct you how to specifically do this. As bruising and swelling may persist in the days following the procedure, you may also be asked to apply a cold compress to aid in reducing the postoperative effects.
Complete recovery is expected within 10 to 14 days and most patients are able to return to normal activities within 7 days. Should any questions or concerns arise during your recovery period, Dr. Berardi and his staff are always available to address them. Once the recovery period is over, you will find that you look more youthful and alert as under-eye bags and wrinkles are no longer visible.
Schedule Your Consultation At Our Scottsdale Office Today
Dr. Berardi is one of the best plastic surgeons in Phoenix and Scottsdale. He takes pride in helping all of his patients look just as young as they feel. Through eyelid surgery, Dr. Berardi has helped many patients reinvigorate their appearance.
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If you are interested in learning more about what eyelid surgery can do for you, please contact Berardi Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery online or give us a call at 480.397.0711 to schedule a comprehensive consultation today.