Blepharoplasty procedures aim to address changes such as drooping of skin, bulging of fat, and thickening of underlying muscle layers. During eyelid lift cosmetic plastic surgery, Dr. Denton removes excess skin and fat from the eyelids. Blepharoplasty is day surgery and is performed under either local anesthesia or light conscious sedation. Skin stitches, if present, are removed five to seven days following the procedure. Patients can usually return to normal activities within 10 to 14 days. Once removed, eyelid skin and especially fat do not tend to reaccumulate, leading to excellent long-term results.
Types of Blepharoplasty Procedures
The three different types of cosmetic eyelid plastic surgery can be performed on either the upper or lower eyelid, or both in order to address cosmetic concerns. As the eyelids are a delicate area of the face, it is vital that any surgical procedures are performed by experienced and knowledgeable facial plastic surgeons.
Upper Eyelid Plastic Surgery Procedure
An upper eyelid lift is ideal for individuals with sagging skin, excess fat, or puffiness on their upper lids. An upper eyelid blepharoplasty involves the removal of excess skin and fat. Enough skin is preserved though to enable the eyelid to close normally. There are also cases when a facial plastic surgeon may remove a small amount of the muscle that closes the eyelid (the orbicularis oculi) to keep the eyelid tight since this muscle also loses tone and becomes loose forming a redundant bulk of muscle.
Normally, fat is preserved over the middle of the eyelid, but some fat may be removed to enhance the aesthetic contour of the eyelids. Consequently, Dr. Denton ensures that just the right amount of fat or skin is removed to avoid creating eyes with a hollow and sunken appearance. The eyelid lift surgery is completed by suturing the incision which is located in the eyelid crease in order to make it less visible after healing. These sutures are removed with the other skin sutures one week after the surgery. The result should be more youthful-looking eyes with more balance and symmetry and less puffiness.
Lower Eyelid Plastic Surgery Procedure
When your lower eyelids are puffy and swollen, it makes you look appearance. If this condition is constant and not due to allergies or any other reversible process, the puffiness is the result of fat pushing out from around your eyes. Lower blepharoplasty is a surgery that is designed to remove or reposition this fat which improves and rejuvenates the contour of your lower eyelids and removes the appearance of dark circles and wrinkles. If there is excess skin under your eyes, it can also be dealt with this procedure. Unfortunately, there is no non-surgical way to treat this as effectively, naturally, and permanently as the lower blepharoplasty.
A lower eyelid blepharoplasty is performed with a small incision made along the lower lids through which fat and excess tissue are removed or repositioned. This incision can be made just outside the lash line or inside of the lid itself.
The before-after photograph below shows that the results of a lower eyelid procedure are long-lasting. The before-photo was taken five years after the procedure showing that the lower lid remains tight and smooth.
Double Eyelid or Asian Blepharoplasty Procedure
The third type of blepharoplasty procedure is called double eyelid surgery or Asian blepharoplasty. This blepharoplasty procedure is performed to create a fold or crease in the upper eyelid. The goal is to create a natural-appearing upper lid crease that complements and is in balance with the other facial features, to remove excess fat, then using a small strip of muscle to form a fold, and, if necessary, to make changes to the epicanthal fold.
A delicate incision is made in the crease of the eyelid to remove the excess fat or skin. The fold is created during the procedure in a predetermined location with “fixation sutures”. These sutures are removed with the other skin sutures one week after the surgery.
Why Book Your Blepharoplasty Consultation with Dr. Denton
Dr. Andrew Denton is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, who has extensive experience and expertise in eyelid surgery – Caucasian and Asian procedures. He takes the time to consult with you and establish a customized treatment plan. Computer imaging can also be used to reflect the anticipated changes.
Dr. Denton’s philosophy is that the patient must be an equal member of the decision-making team so that he or she can make sound informed decisions and will be aware of the expected result. Therefore, he is willing to discuss a variety of treatment options to help you feel and look more confident.
Our private and comfortable offices are located in the heart of Vancouver’s medical corridor, just one block from Vancouver General Hospital. Our state-of-the-art on-site surgical suite allows all patient visits – from consultation through surgery and post-operative follow-up – to be scheduled at this location, adding simplicity, familiarity, and convenience to the patient experience.
Call us today at 604-879-3223 or contact us online to schedule your eyelid surgery consultation for a younger and healthier-looking you!