Eyes and skin are intimately related.  Everybody knows about excessive baggy eyelid skin that makes you wonder when you look in the mirror,  “Who is that tired looking person?” One of the most prominent signs of aging is puffiness and sagging skin around the eyes. Fortunately, a modern surgical technique called blepharoplasty can soon have people telling you that you look more rested, youthful and vibrant. If you think this procedure might be for you, read on…

I do it. You do it. Everybody does it. There is a muscular exercise that everybody does 15,000 times each day. WE BLINK! Recently, a number of popular books have been titled “Blink”, but none are as fascinating as the process itself. We blink more frequently when we are nervous, much less frequently when we are calm, and we all know about the legendary flirtatious, fluttering eyelids. 

But none of this explains why we blink in the first place. The answer to this question is very important to anyone contemplating eyelid surgery. We blink to maintain crystal clear vision. Without proper blinking, vision will deteriorate within a minute and long-term disruption of the ability to blink can result in permanent damage to the cornea, the window of the eye. In order to better understand blepharoplasty, we have to keep in mind this critically important purpose of blinking itself.

The eyelid structures have two roles to play:  first maintain vision, second communicate emotions.  Remember, the eye is the window to the soul. As we age these two purposes can work against each other.  The very anatomical structures that are so important to clear vision can turn out to be your enemy when sagging eyelid tissue, both upper and lower, detracts from your appearance.  Excess or lax skin can make you look tired, weary or angry all the time whether we like it or not.

People who notice their tired, saggy look in the mirror are willing to spend a lot of money on creams to rejuvenate the skin around their eyes.  Many different products are available. A lot of people have identified the aging eyelids as a problem but none of these creams provide “the” answer. For very noticeable puffiness of the skin and bags around the eyes, a combination of surgery and laser resurfacing should be considered.

In fact, the most important parts of this procedure are the measurement of the specific amount of skin to be removed without compromising the visual function of the eyelids, tightening the muscular portions of the eyelids, shortening or anchoring tendons of the eyelids, and sculpting fat. Clearly, the surgeon performing this procedure must be well schooled in the detailed anatomy of the eyelids and the visual function of eye closure and blinking.

The surgery is delicate but the results can be both dramatic and safe. In healthy individuals, blepharoplasty can often be done under local anesthesia as an outpatient.

As with any surgical procedure, you should expect some bruising and swelling. Other possible complications should be discussed at your evaluation. Care should be taken to avoid anything that could increase bleeding, including aspirin and aspirin-containing products, many over-the-counter pain relievers, and a wide variety of herbal supplements, which can be discussed with your doctor.  Aspirin should not be discontinued without the consent of the prescribing physician.

To find out if blepharoplasty is the right choice for you please schedule a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon.