Dr. Denton – Eyelid Lift (blepharoplasty) Surgery in Vancouver
Blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) effectively corrects the age-related changes that occur in the upper and lower eyelid that give the eye a tired, sad and sometimes angry appearance. These changes include drooping of skin, bulging of fat and thickening of underlying muscle layers. During eyelid lift cosmetic surgery, Dr. Denton removes excess skin and fat from the eyelids using the CO2 laser. In fact, in many instances, no skin incisions are required to treat the lower eyelids. If placed, stitches are removed after only 5 days and most patients are able to return to normal activities within one week of having their eyelid lift procedure here in our Vancouver state-of-the-art facial plastic surgery clinic. Eyelid lift surgery results in a more youthful and rested appearance.
Your Options for a More Youthful and Rested Look
Although eyelid lift surgery is often performed as a single procedure, a browlift, facelift or skin resurfacing performed at the same time may give superior results. Blepharoplasty does not treat dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, however, by adding a filler treatment to the eyelid lift surgery, many of the lines and wrinkles around the eyes can be softened or eliminated.
Why Choose Dr. Denton for Your Facial Plastic Surgery Procedure in Vancouver
As a board certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Denton has extensive experience and expertise in blepharoplasty surgery. During your consultation, you will have the opportunity to discuss the various treatment options with Dr. Denton in a confidential and unhurried setting. Computer imaging will be performed to demonstrate to you the expected result following your eyelid lift procedure. Your cosmetic facial plastic surgery is performed in Dr. Denton’s fully accredited private operating facility in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Learn more about Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Lift)
Eyelid surgery techniques
Upper eyelid surgery begins with a skin incision hidden within the upper eyelid crease. Incisions are made with a scalpel. Excess skin, muscle and fat are then carefully removed to leave a more youthful and well-contoured eyelid. Finally, the incision is closed with a fine line of stitches.
Lower eyelid surgery techniques are more variable. If excess skin is not present, all incisions are made on the inside of the eyelid to avoid any external scars. The bulging fat that gives lower eyelids their puffy and tired appearance is then meticulously removed. If excess or wrinkled skin is present, it can be removed at the same time.
Candidates for eyelid surgery
Droopy, heavy upper eyelids and puffy lower eyelids with or without baggy wrinkled skin are effectively treated with modern blepharoplasty techniques. In both men and women, a forehead lift should be carefully considered with upper eyelid surgery if the eyebrows have dropped significantly with age.
Preparing for surgery
On the night before your surgery we ask that you not have anything to eat or drink (including coffee, tea and juice) after 12:00 am. This allows your stomach to empty thereby minimizing any postoperative nausea.
Two weeks prior to your surgery all blood thinning medications and supplements (e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen, ginko, ginseng and vitamin E) must be stopped. This reduces the amount of swelling experienced postoperatively. A prescription for antibiotics and pain medication will be supplied to you. It is important to take the antibiotics as directed until finished.
A simple blood test to measure your hemoglobin level is performed prior to surgery if you are over 50 years of age. An electrocardiogram is required for your safety if you are over 60 years of age. A preoperative visit with your ophthalmologist may be necessary with any history of eye problems.
Your surgery
Surgery is performed in our fully accredited operating room under twilight anesthesia. You will be asked to arrive 60 minutes prior to the onset of surgery. After surgery, patients are taken to our specially equipped recovery area. Once recovered all patients proceed home accompanied by a responsible adult or to an after care facility.
Follow-up
Moderate swelling and some bruising are normal in the early postoperative period. Stitches used to close any skin incisions are removed in 5 days. Stitches placed inside the lower lid dissolve on their own within several days.
Resuming normal activity
Following surgery, you should rest quietly for the first 24 hours. Sleeping with two pillows under your head for the first 2 nights helps minimize swelling and bruising. Cold compresses placed over the eyes are soothing and will also help with swelling.
Patients are permitted to shower and wash their hair 3 days after surgery.
Bending, lifting and straining are prohibited during the first two weeks. Light non-cardiac exercise can be resumed two weeks following surgery and slowly increased over the ensuing seven days.
Make-up can be applied to the upper eyelids as soon as the skin incision has healed and to the lower eyelids within 7 days. Most patients are back at work within 7 days of surgery.
Costs of eyelid surgery
Following your consultation, a quote is given which is guaranteed for one year. Our quotes include all costs: pre-operative tests, anesthesia, facility charges, the services of our staff, and applicable taxes. You are encouraged to make cost comparisons. In comparing, be sure you determine the total of all costs related to the surgery.
A deposit is required at the time the surgery is scheduled in order to hold a specific date for you. The balance is due four to five weeks prior to your surgery. For your convenience, we accept American Express, MasterCard, VISA and debit cards.
We have arranged a financing plan for our patients with an outside financial institution. Ask our patient care coordinators for more details.
Occasionally, provincial health care plans and insurance companies will pay for upper eyelid surgery in cases where vision is restricted by excess skin. If this is a consideration, a visit to your ophthalmologist to test for vision restriction will be required by the insurers prior to your surgery.
Alternatives to eyelid surgery
Not infrequently a heavy brow contributes to drooping upper eyelid skin and, in these individuals, a browlift procedure should be considered at the same time as eyelid surgery.
In the absence of excess fat in the lower eyelids, a simple resurfacing procedure may be all that is necessary.
Laugh lines or “crow’s feet” are not corrected by blepharoplasty, but do respond well to treatment with fillers.