Our Eyes are one of the most important features of our face. Our eyes are the "windows to the soul," the main way others read our moods, emotions, and feelings. Unfortunately, as we age our eyes often begin to look tired, sad and droopy. Even when we are well rested, we no longer have that bright, "wide-eyed," youthful appearance. It's bad enough to look tired at the end of a long, hard day - but who wants to look exhausted first thing in the morning?

Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery is one of the most common facial cosmetic surgeries performed today. In fact, every year more than one hundred thousand men and women in the United States choose blepharoplasty to improve the way they look.

WHAT IS BLEPHAROPLASTY?
Blepharoplasty is a procedure to remove excess fat, skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. Eyelid surgery can correct drooping upper lids and puffy bags below your eyes - features that make you look older and more tired than you feel, and may even interfere with your vision. However, it won't remove crow's feet or other wrinkles, eliminate dark circles under your eyes, or lift sagging brows. While it can add an upper eyelid crease to Asian eyes, it will not erase evidence of your ethnic or racial heritage.

A NON-EXTREME MAKEOVER
Blepharoplasty can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won't dramatically change your looks in an "extreme makeover" way. Rather, eyelid surgery rejuvenates the "windows of your soul," leaving your eyes with a bright refreshed outlook. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.

ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR EYELID SURGERY?
As every face is unique, your surgeon should perform a careful analysis of your face and the anatomy around the eyes, including consideration of brow position, before any recommendations for blepharoplasty or other procedures can be made. The amount of excess skin and fat that an individual has around the eyes is due to the aging process and genetics. Some people are born with a more significant amount of fat around their eyes that tends to increase over time. As well, with the passage of time, skin tends to lose its natural elasticity causing the thin, delicate eyelid skin to wrinkle and droop. All these factors lead to droopy, excess skin around the eyes which gives patients a tired, older look.

Blepharoplasty can be performed as a procedure by itself, however, consultation with Dr. Bassichis can help you decide whether any additional procedures would enhance the successful outcome of your eyelid surgery. Dr. Bassichis might recommend a simultaneous forehead lift to correct a drooping brow and smooth the forehead, or skin resurfacing to remove wrinkles in the eye area. Carefully performed Botox injections around the eyes can also minimize the appearance of crow's feet to complement the results of your Blepharoplasty. Additionally, if you have vision problems caused by the excess skin around your eyes, a portion of the procedure may be covered by your insurance. However, for the majority of us seeking blepharoplasty for purely cosmetic reasons, insurance carriers will not foot the bill.

As with all cosmetic surgery, good health and realistic expectations are prerequisites. Upper eyelids are treated through a small incision camouflaged in the crease of the upper eyelid and lower eyelids are treated with a hidden incision just beneath the lower eyelashes or on the inside of the lower eyelid. Most patients return to their normal work and social routines within a few days to a week. When eyelid surgery is performed by a qualified board certified surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, with every surgery there is a possibility of complications, including infection or a reaction to the anesthesia. You can reduce your risks by closely following your surgeon's instructions both before and after surgery.

REJUVENATE YOUR LOOK
The results of blepharoplasty are impressive, but subtle. Likely questions from your acquaintances would be, "Have you gotten more rest?" or "You look fabulous. Have you been on vacation?" Everyone will know that you look wonderful, but can't pinpoint exactly what has changed to make you look so refreshed and revitalized. Unveiling your eyes with Blepharoplasty could give you that rejuvenated new look-and outlook-you're seeking. We look forward to your Eyelid surgery consultation at the Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery Center.