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• Rhinoplasty
• |
• Facelift
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• Browlift
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• Eyelid Surgery
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• Cheek Implants
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• Chin Implants
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• Ear Surgery

 

A common concern among people seeking improvement in the appearance of their eyelids is that friends and acquaintances tell them they look tired or sad. Laxity of skin and deeper tissues in the lower eyelid results in protrusion of fatty tissue, leading to that "tired" or "allergy" look. Extra skin and fat of the upper eyelids contributes as well. Cosmetic eyelid surgery can improve this dramatically and quickly, with relatively little "down time".

Candidates

The best candidates for blepharoplasty are women and men who are in good overall health, do not smoke, and do not have any serious eye conditions. For those who have loose, sagging skin or puffy bags around the eyes, blepharoplasty can help reduce these unwanted effects and leave the eyes looking relaxed and refreshed.

Procedure

Dr. Kunkel performs blepharoplasty at a surgery center or hospital with the patient under general anesthesia. Patients may choose to have this procedure on their upper eyelids, their lower eyelids, or both. Some combine blepharoplasty with a browlift. Depending on these choices, the procedure can take anywhere from one to three hours.

When the upper eyelid is being treated, an incision is made near the natural crease of the eyelid. Once the incision is made fatty tissue is repositioned and removed. Excess skin is also removed. The incision is then closed with sutures.

Treatment of the lower eyelid has a few more options. For younger patients who have bulges but little excess skin, the fat may be removed through an incision inside the lower eyelid. This type of procedure, called a transconjunctival blepharoplasty, is accomplished with no external incisions. For patients with lower eyelid bulges and loose skin, an external incision just below the eyelashes may be required. This allows removal of the excess skin and leaves an almost imperceptible scar.

Recovery

Most blepharoplasty patients have very little pain. The eyelids are swollen for a few weeks. If bruising occurs it will be present for about 3 weeks. Make-up may be worn beginning about a week after surgery. Contact lenses should not be worn for 7-10 days after surgery. Some patients return to work in just a few days, but that depends on a person’s comfort level with others seeing the swelling and sutures.

Risks

As with any surgical procedure, there are certain risks associated with blepharoplasty. Although uncommon, these risks include bleeding, infection, dry eyes, skin discoloration, inability to fully close the eyes, and irregular pulling of the lower eyelids (ectropion). Many of these risks can be minimized by choosing an experienced surgeon and following proper care instructions after surgery. During initial and subsequent consultations, Dr. Kunkel carefully discusses the procedure, the recovery, and the risks with each patient.

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