Lower Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
English Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Center offers lower eyelid surgery to patients in Little Rock, Arkansas, North Little Rock, Arkansas, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Conway, Arkansas, Jacksonville, Arkansas, Sherwood, Arkansas, Jonesboro, Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, Fort Smith, Arkansas and surrounding areas.
Why Lower Eyelid Surgery?
The eyes are usually the first thing we notice when we meet someone. Since they are the windows of our soul, beautiful eyes can make up for other facial features. Eyes that are tired, swollen or puffy below the eyes may not reflect a vibrant inner self. It is often said that the earliest signs of aging are around the eyes. You may feel that the eyes looking back at you in the mirror every morning are old and tired looking, or maybe people are always questioning whether or not you had a good night's sleep because your eyes are swollen with bags. Fortunately, cosmetic procedures by Dr. English at his Little Rock practice can give you dramatically younger eyes through eyelid procedures, known as a blepharoplasty.
A primary reason for droopy eyes is simply due to age. As everything droops, so do the eyelids and eyebrows. As the outer parts of the eyebrows droop, the skin of the upper eyelids will look saggy, as if you had developed extra skin that was not there several years before. Trimming this "extra" skin can drastically improve that droopy look.
Another reason for "tired eyes" is because of excess eyelid fat. This fat is held back by a thin wall of fibrous tissue called orbital septum, which sags over time. The fat, held firmly back by this structural wall in youth can bulge with age, giving you "baggy" lower eyelids. Eyelid lifts trim the extra fat and restores a more youthful contour.
During your lower eyelid surgery consultation in his Little Rock office, Dr. English asks questions about vision, tear production, use of contact lenses, and expectations. This information plus age, skin type, ethnic background, and degree of visual obstruction is assessed to determine the best course of treatment. Eyelid surgery does not normally reduce wrinkling around the eye area nor does it lift a drooping brow. Therefore, many eyelid patients from the Little Rock, North Little Rock and Pine Bluff areas decided to combine eyelid surgery with a forehead and/or brow lift and skin resurfacing to achieve the best overall result.
Click here to see lower eyelid surgery before and after pictures.
How is Lower Eyelid Surgery Performed?
At the English Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Center in Little Rock, eyelid surgery is performed in the office with local anesthesia under I.V. sedation or general anesthesia. The procedure normally takes one hour. Upper and lower eyelid surgery may be performed at the same time; however, lower can be done independently of the upper eyelids.
In lower eyelid surgery, the incision may be made in an inconspicuous site along the lash line and smile creases of the lower lid or more commonly on the inside of the eyelid. Once excess tissue, skin and fat has been removed, absorbable sutures are used to close the incisions. If the eyelid puffiness caused by excess fat is corrected by an incision made inside the lower eyelid, no visible scar will result.
What is eyelid surgery recovery like?
Most of Dr. English’s eyelid surgery patients experienced little or no discomfort following eyelid surgery at his Little Rock office. They found that taking a mild analgesic relieved any discomfort. Following surgery, patients are instructed on cleaning the incisions and the application of antibiotic eye ointment when indicated.
Some swelling and bruising may develop after the procedure. Cold compresses, when indicated, as well as head elevation when lying down, enhances healing and relieves discomfort. As time passes, the incisions for lower eyelids blend in with the surrounding skin and are easily camouflaged. The skin at the outer corners of the eye is thicker and takes a bit longer to heal.
The stitches used to close the incisions in the lower eyelids are removed three to five days after surgery. The sun may darken maturing scars; therefore, incisions in the upper and lower eyelids should be protected by sunscreen, sunglasses, or a hat as they heal.
Most eyelid surgery patients in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff and other Arkansas regions reported that they returned to near normal activity within a few days of the surgery. However, as the incisions heal, it is important to restrict activities that may put pressure on the eyes. Lifting, bending, and straining are avoided for up to two weeks. Aerobic or heavy exercise is avoided for at least three weeks following surgery.
Most patients can anticipate a marked improvement in the appearance of the eyes. This improved appearance is often accompanied by a feeling of tightness in the eyelids that may last a few weeks or months. Bags and bulges are significantly reduced if not completely eliminated. Some patients may actually experience slight improvement in their eyesight or peripheral vision as a result of the removal of excess skin.
For those patients with a sunken look to their lower eyelid area, fat transfer to these areas combined with a chemical peel can help restore a more youthful contour from lash to cheek area. Normally, the reason for this loss of volume is secondary to decent of the cheek tissues away from the rim of the orbital bone. This type of restoration has been in vogue for the past decade or so and has been extremely successful especially when combined with mid face lifting and chemical peels.
I could benefit from lower eyelid surgery. What should I do next?
If you are serious about considering lower eyelid surgery at English Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Center in Little Rock to improve your facial appearance and you live in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff or any other Arkansas region, your first step is to make an eyelid surgery consultation appointment. We do not charge for the consultation and there is absolutely no obligation. Before your meet with Dr. English, think of any questions you may want to ask or concerns you need to be answered. Our surgeon will be happy to address them during your visit. Call now to schedule your appointment. Take this initial step to achieve the face you've always wanted. Do not put this off any longer. Call today. |