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What is Blepharoplasty?

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, corrects signs of aging in the face.Our eyes have a major impact on our appearance – they play a huge part in your expressions, and even whether other people recognize you. Unfortunately, eyes are not immune to aging. Droopy eyes with baggy skin around them make the whole face look tired and aged, while bright, open eyes look younger, fresher and more alert.

Blepharoplasty is the technical name for a surgical eyelid lift, and this surgery can have a major impact on the appearance of the face, particularly the upper portion.

Blepharoplasty can be performed on the upper lid, the lower lid, or both, depending on the needs and goals of the patient, board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ravi Somayazula said. The surgery focuses on removing or lifting excess, droopy skin, muscle or fat to rejuvenate the appearance of the eyes.

“Every patient is a little bit different,” Somayazula said.

An important part of any cosmetic surgery is discovering what the patient wants and then determining the best strategy.

“Some people know exactly what they want, they cut out all the nitty gritty and go straight to it,” Somayazula said. “Other people, they say ‘I just don’t like the way my face looks, I’ve been told I look tired.’”

Somayazula said he often asks patients to articulate as specifically as possible what they want to correct.

“If there’s one thing about your face that bothers you the most. If they can vocalize that issue, then they’re a good candidate,” he said. For some, if their concern is really about the lower portion of their face, such as the neck or cheek area, a facelift is a better option.

Patients can choose to have both a facelift and a blepharoplasty, though Somayazula noted his recommendation would be to combine the surgeries only if it is a facelift and upper blepharoplasty. Otherwise, he recommends performing two surgeries to reduce the length of time spent continuously in surgery, which is safer for the patient.

After a blepharoplasty, most patients have down time of about two weeks, Somayazulasaid, by which he means that’s the time it takes for the bulk of the bruising and swelling to go down.

“This is a very cosmetically sensitive area of the body. People look at your face all the time,” Somayazula said, explaining that the initial bruising from the surgery often “ looks like a raccoon’s eyes.” “You may have some bruising, and people are going to ask you questions,” he said.

Somayazula noted that most patients can usually cover their bruising with makeup after a week or so.

Results vary between patients, but most are happy with their results, Somayazula said. By eating a healthy diet, protecting skin from the sun, and avoiding smoking, most patients will see the results last for five to ten years.

Expected results can be discussed with a surgeon during the initial consultation.

To schedule a free cosmetic surgery consultation, call (713) 960-6262. Read more about blepharoplasty in The Amerejuve Insider Vol. 1 No. 4.

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