5 Things You Should Know Before You Decided To Have Eyelid Surgery

As we age, our skin naturally loses its elasticity and collagen, causing a buildup of loose skin around the eyelids that can fold over and create a hooded effect. Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, removes and repositions this excess skin, muscles, and sometimes fat from the upper and/or lower eyelids to help restore a more energetic, youthful, vibrant appearance.

At Être Cosmetic Dermatology & Laser Center in New Orleans, Dr. Lisa Donofrio and Dr. Kyle Coleman are leaders in cosmetic surgery. Their skill, attention to detail, and compassionate nature will boost your self-confidence before and after your surgery. Here are five things you should know before undergoing a blepharoplasty.

1. Indications You Need Eyelid Surgery

Some signs that you need a blepharoplasty procedure include:

• Puffiness in the upper eyelids caused by excess fatty deposits
• Loose or sagging skin that creates folds or disturbs the natural contour of the upper eyelid, that can sometimes impair the vision
• Excess skin and fine wrinkles of the lower eyelid
• Bags beneath the eyes
• Droopiness of the lower eyelids

2. Is Your Blepharoplasty Cosmetic or Functional?

A cosmetic blepharoplasty helps to reshape and restore a more youthful appearance to the eyelids. The procedure is not medically necessary and is performed only to improve the aesthetic appearance of the eyes. In contrast, a functional blepharoplasty refers to the procedure when it is performed for medical reasons. For example, when the sagging skin is interfering with your ability to see, when the excessive folds are rubbing together and causing irritation, or significant forehead discomfort from overused muscles that strain to list sagging skin.

3. How Will Your Blepharoplasty Be Performed

At Être, your blepharoplasty will be performed under local anesthesia. Depending on your cosmetic needs, you might have an upper blepharoplasty, lower blepharoplasty, or both.

For an upper blepharoplasty, an incision is made along the natural skin crease of your upper eyelid. Similarly, for a lower blepharoplasty, an incision is made along the natural crease of your lower eyelid. Once the incision has been made, the skin and muscle will be gently separated from the underlying tissue. Any excess fat and skin will be excised, and the incision will be closed using very fine sutures.

4. Recovery Can Take A Few Weeks, but The Results Are Long-Lasting

After surgery, patients experience discomfort, mild pain, swelling, bruising, and temporary vision changes. The discomfort and blurriness usually subside within a few days, and depending on the extent of the surgery, most patients are able to return to work and normal activities within a few weeks.

While eyelid surgery cannot stop the aging process, it definitely turns back the hands of time, so you can enjoy your rejuvenated eyes for years to come.

5. Treatments You Can Combine with Your Blepharoplasty

It is essential to understand that eyelid surgery will not change the basic structure of your eyes. It won’t correct sagging eyebrows, asymmetry, crow’s feet, or wrinkles. If you would also like to target those cosmetic issues, sometimes it’s necessary to combine eyelid surgery with a facial fat transfer or another non-surgical procedure.

Schedule Your Eyelid Surgery at Etre Today!

Learn more about an eyelid lift at Être by calling (504) 227-3873 or contact us through our convenient website portal and schedule your personalized consultation today!