Eyelid Lifts
For excellent eye function your eyelids should be as healthy as your eyes. Droopy eyelids negatively affect eye function by limiting the upper and outer visual field. Furthermore, the weight of the droopy eyelid tissue can cause fatigue and headache. Fortunately, such eyelid conditions can be corrected with a procedure called BLEPHAROPLASTY. (Blef-or-O-plasty) To perform blepharoplasty, Dr. D uses advanced instruments to gently remove the excess eyelid tissue, then stitches the skin back together using plastic surgery precision. Blepharoplasty improves the visual field as well as the other symptoms of droopy eyelids. It also dramatically improves the patient’s appearance.
Excess Eyelid Skin
Over time, many people develop droopy eyelid skin. This is NOT THE PATIENT’S FAULT but rather is inherited from our parents. Eyelid skin is extremely thin and it stretches. The droopy eyelids then block the upper vision (like wearing a baseball cap too low). Muscles in the forehead must constantly work to overcome this problem leading to fatigue and headaches. The lower lids can also stretch causing puffiness or bags under the eyes which gives the person a tired appearance.
The Procedure
Eyelid plastic surgery is performed on an outpatient basis with advanced local anesthesia. Typically there is NO PAIN OR DISCOMFORT. The procedure lasts around 30 minutes and the patient may resume normal activity the next day with no restrictions.Dr. D trained to perform plastic surgery with Dr. Richard Hesse, Chairman of the Ochsner Ophthalmology program and plastic surgery specialist. Since that time, Dr. D has improved on the technique by using space age instruments (instead of scalpels) to gently separate and remove the excess tissue from the lid. These modifications have been shown to cause less tissue damage and decrease the length of the procedure. Before recommending any procedure, Dr. D will perform a full eye exam and plastic evaluation. Once all data has been meticulously evaluated, Dr. D will make a recommendation that is best for the individual. During the evaluation, special tests including photographs and visual field analyses will be performed to determine if blepharoplasty is medically necessary. If the procedure is medically necessary, it is typically COVERED BY MEDICAL INSURANCE. If you are planning to have surgery, be sure to tell Dr. D about blood thinners, liver problems or heavy smoking, all of which can cause bleeding. Blepharoplasty is generally a safe procedure and serious complications are extremely rare at less than 1 in 5000 cases.
Before & Afters:
Below are before and after pictures of patients operated on by Dr. D. These results give you an idea of the dramatic improvements that can be realized with blepharoplasty.
