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Eyelid Surgery Blepharoplasty Houston

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Eyelid Surgery Blepharoplasty Houston

BLEPHAROPLASTY IN HOUSTON TX

THE SKIN AROUND YOUR EYES CAN BEGIN TO DROOP, MAKING YOU LOOK OLDER AND MORE TIRED THAN YOU ARE, AND IT CAN ALSO AFFECT YOUR VISION.

Call or schedule an appointment online today to see how eyelid surgery can improve your outlook on life.

WHAT IS A BLEPHAROPLASTY?

A blepharoplasty improves the appearance and youthfulness of your eyelids. As you age, the skin around your eyes can become lax and droopy, sometimes to the point of affecting your vision.

Additionally, the fat around your eyes can also become displaced, causing puffiness or bags above or below your eyes. The muscles that lift your eyelids can also weaken, further aggravating the problem. After a detailed physical exam with one of the blepharoplasty surgeons at Lift Plastic Surgery, a treatment plan is formed which may involve your upper eyelids, your lower eyelids, or both. Please note that you shouldn’t have eyelid surgery within six months of having LASIK surgery, and the procedure is not recommended if you have problems with dry eyes.

HOW IS A BLEPHAROPLASTY PERFORMED?

During your blepharoplasty, your surgeon makes an incision in the natural crease of your eyelid to camouflage the scars. If there’s excess tissue, your doctor removes a strip of skin and muscle from the area.

If there’s excess fat, your doctor removes it as well, and recontours your eyes to provide the most youthful appearance. If needed, your doctor places a suture to tighten your lower eyelid during healing, which is called a canthopexy. This technique can make your eyelid appear distorted or upturned initially, but it relaxes with time for a more natural appearance. After the doctor closes your incisions, you’re free to go home.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO FOLLOWING MY BLEPHAROPLASTY?

After your surgery, you should expect swelling and bruising around your eyes, which improves significantly after a week, but may take several weeks to completely resolve.

If you apply cold compresses to your eyes during this time, it should help with your comfort and speed up recovery. You’ll also need to minimize exercise or vigorous activity for four to six weeks to allow for proper healing and to prevent bleeding and an increase in swelling. You also won’t be able to wear makeup on your eyes until your incisions are healed. If you want to explore how a Blepharoplasty in Houston can improve your appearance and your vision, call Lift Plastic Surgery or use the online scheduling tool to book an appointment.

Upper and Lower Eyelid Surgery in Houston

Individuals with wrinkly, drooping and puffy-looking eyes frequently appear exhausted and older than they actually are. Nonetheless, a blepharoplasty in Houston can help these men and women look more refreshed. At Lift Plastic Surgery, a patient can choose to have upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery or both of these surgeries at the same time during a single surgical session. While performing a blepharoplasty, Dr. Patel restores his patient’s vibrant expression by minimizing the imperfections surrounding his or her eyes.

Today’s Eyelid Surgery Techniques Provide a Natural-Looking Result

Although eyelid surgery has been helping men and women attain a more youthful appearance since the 1960s, while performing the earlier blepharoplasty techniques, the surgeon removed all the fat surrounding the patient’s eye. The removal of this fat caused the area around the eye to appear hollow. Nonetheless, the innovative blepharoplasty techniques that plastic surgeons use today eliminate concerns related to hollowing around the eyes. In addition, patients enjoy a youthful, rejuvenated, natural-looking result.

How Does Today’s Blepharoplasty Technique Prevent Hollowing Around the Eye?

Previously, the techniques for eyelid surgery included the total removal of the fat from around the eye. Today, plastic surgeons prevent this unwanted hollowing by only removing some of this fat and then carefully sculpting the rest.

The Importance of Choosing an Experienced Plastic Surgeon in Houston to Perform Eyelid Surgery

The sculpting phase of an upper and lower blepharoplasty requires the surgeon to provide the patient with a refreshed, beautifully contoured, natural-looking result. At Lift Plastic Surgery, Dr. Patel has the experience, vision and skill necessary to provide their patients with the symmetrical, more youthful eyes they desire. Furthermore, their experience performing upper and lower eyelid surgeries helps them provide their patients with beautifully tailored, natural-looking results.

Issues That Eyelid Surgery in Houston Can Address

At Lift Plastic Surgery in Houston, Dr. Patel performs blepharoplasties to address a variety of cosmetic issues.

Common issues that a plastic surgeon addresses with an upper and lower blepharoplasty in Houston include:

  • Upper-eyelid hooding.
  • Excess fat in the upper eyelid.
  • Puffiness beneath the eyes and in the upper eyelid.
  • Sagging, loose skin on the patient’s upper and lower eyelids.
  • Fine wrinkles in the lower eyelid area.
  • A lost upper-eyelid crease.
  • Dark circles beneath the eyes.

An Upper Blepharoplasty in Houston Can Also Address Obstructed Peripheral Vision

A fallen upper eyelid can negatively affect an individual’s peripheral vision. When an individual has obstructed peripheral vision, he or she may undergo upper eyelid surgery to lift the fallen upper eyelid. Although this patient enjoys cosmetic improvements, since the surgery goal is lifting the lid to improve his or her peripheral vision, this procedure is functional, not cosmetic.

The Benefits of Upper and Lower Eyelid Surgery in Houston

Many people choose to have a blepharoplasty to rejuvenate the area around their eyes so that they appear more youthful.

Some of the most common benefits that upper and lower blepharoplasty patients enjoy include:

  • An energetic, more youthful appearance resulting from the removal of excess upper eyelid skin and the strategic tightening of the skin in the patient’s upper eyelid area.
  • A more-rejuvenated appearance due to a decrease in the signs of aging within the eye area. Furthermore, the look of exhaustion that some patients develop around their eyes as they age is no longer present.
  • Smoother-looking skin in the eye area, which results from the removal of the excess fat and strategic repositioning of the fat that remains.
  • Better vision due to the absence of the excess skin on the upper eyelid that was causing it to droop.
  • A reduction in the dark circles and puffiness beneath the eyes.
  • Better vision due to the absence of the excess skin on the upper eyelid that was causing it to droop.
  • A reduction in the dark circles and puffiness beneath the eyes.

What Causes the Undesirable Changes Around the Eyes that Eyelid Surgery in Houston Addresses?

For many people, the changes around the eyes occur as part of the natural aging process.

Eye area changes include:

  • Displacement of the fat around the eyes, which leads to the development of under eye bags. In addition, this displaced fat can cause the upper eye area to appear swollen.
  • As time passes, the muscles responsible for lifting the upper eyelids may become weak and cause the patient’s eyelids to droop. If the upper eyelid falls low enough to cover a portion of the individual’s pupil, it obstructs the patient’s peripheral vision.

A droopy upper eyelid may also develop due to:

  • Damage to the seventh cranial nerve resulting from Bell’s palsy or trauma. There is a link between Bell’s palsy and several viral infections, including mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr), the flu (influenza) and the virus responsible for cold sores (HSV-1).
  • Migraines, because people who are prone to migraines are at a higher risk for Bell’s palsy.

In addition, ptosis can be inherited, this form of the condition is referred to as congenital ptosis.

Who is a Good Candidate for a Houston Blepharoplasty at Lift Plastic Surgery?

During the initial consultation at Lift Plastic Surgery in Houston, the surgeon assesses the patient’s overall health. In addition, the plastic surgeon evaluates the aesthetic eye issues that the patient would like to address with a blepharoplasty in Houston.

On average, patients in relatively good health who have developed the signs of aging around their eyes, including ptosis, are good candidates for eyelid surgery in Houston.

Nonetheless, if for some reason the surgeon does not believe a patient is a good candidate for a blepharoplasty, Dr. Patel may recommend an alternative procedure. Although an individual who has dry eye syndrome is not a good candidate for eyelid surgery, there may be another procedure that the surgeon believes will provide the patient with the results he or she desires.

A Consultation in Houston for Eyelid Surgery

To attain the results they desire, patients must be able to convey to the surgeon what they would like to accomplish with eyelid surgery in Houston.

Patients need to provide their surgeon with information about the medications, herbal supplements and vitamins that they take on a regular basis. In addition, the surgeon needs to know about the individual’s medical history, including previous surgeries, treatments and chronic conditions (e.g., high blood pressure). If a patient has an allergy to a medication or latex, please be sure to inform Dr. Patel during this initial consultation.

Following a thorough physical exam, if Lift Plastic Surgery’s plastic surgeon believes the patient is a good candidate for a blepharoplasty, the surgeon creates the patient a custom-designed treatment plan. The patient’s treatment plan may include surgery just for the upper eyelids, for the lower eyelids, or a combination upper and lower blepharoplasty.

At Lift Plastic Surgery, Each Patient Receives a Customized Blepharoplasty Treatment Plan

While creating the patient’s personalized eyelid surgery procedure plan, Dr. Patel considers several issues that pertain directly to the patient.

These issues include the patient’s unique facial features. These features include:

  • Eyebrow position.
  • Eye shape.
  • Facial symmetry.
  • Fat pad positioning.
  • Muscle tone.
  • Skin quality.
  • Dry eye issues.
  • Fat pad positioning.
  • Eyeball, with respect to the position of the patient’s facial bones.

Important Information for Patients Who Have Had LASIK Surgery

Individuals who have had LASIK surgery need to wait at least 6 months before having a blepharoplasty.

Are There Any Other Procedures That Can Be Performed During the Same Surgical Session as a Blepharoplasty?

Yes, at Lift Plastic Surgery in Houston, Dr. Patel frequently performs a combination of procedures for their blepharoplasty patients during a single surgical session. For example, some people combine their eyelid surgery with a mid-face lift or a brow lift. Nonsurgical treatments can also be added on to a patient’s blepharoplasty treatment plan. Potential nonsurgical treatments include BOTOX. The surgeons use BOTOX to address the deep lines and wrinkles that are caused by repeated muscle contractions (e.g., the vertical lines between the eyebrows). Using dermal fillers, the surgeons can add volume to areas of the face that appear hollow (e.g., cheeks, temples) and decrease the visibility of wrinkles.

Preparing for Eyelid Surgery in Houston: What Patients Need to Know

To prepare for surgery, patients must stop using products that contain nicotine for at least 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after their surgery. The nicotine in these products inhibits oxygenation by contracting the walls of the blood vessels and slowing blood flow. This slowed blood flow negatively affects tissue recovery. Slow tissue recovery increases the likelihood of a surgical complication (e.g., the onset of an infection, tissue necrosis).

Since alcohol promotes inflammation, patients need to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages for at least 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after their blepharoplasty.

There are certain medications that patients must avoid before and after their eyelid surgery. These medications include those known to thin the blood, which could cause unnecessary bleeding during surgery.

Medications to avoid for at least 10 days before and 10 days after surgery include:

  • Blood thinners like Coumadin. That said, patients should never stop taking any medication that is prescribed to them by a healthcare provider without first receiving the okay to do so. Disregarding this recommendation could be hazardous.
  • Aspirin.
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
  • Naproxen.
  • Ibuprofen.

In addition, patients should not take herbal supplements (e.g., St. John’s Wort, Ginkgo Biloba) or vitamin E for the 10 days before and the 10 days after their blepharoplasty.

Patients who need to take a pain reliever during the 10 days leading up to their eyelid surgery can safely take non-aspirin (e.g., Tylenol, acetaminophen).

Before and after a blepharoplasty in Houston, patients need to avoid exposing the delicate tissues surrounding their eyes to the sun. To accomplish this, Dr. Patel recommends the daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. In addition, while spending time outdoors, patients need to wear sunglasses.

A Blepharoplasty in Houston: The Surgical Procedure

A blepharoplasty can last anywhere from 60 minutes to several hours. The length of a patient’s surgery depends on whether the surgeon is addressing the upper and lower eyelids, as well as if the patient is having the surgeon perform additional procedures during their surgical session (e.g., a mid-facelift).

At Lift Plastic Surgery in Houston, patients usually receive twilight sedation or general anesthesia during their eyelid surgery. Therefore, patients must bring a licensed driver with them on the day of their blepharoplasty.

Patients need a driver because, for safety’s sake, they cannot drive for at least 24 hours after receiving twilight sedation or general anesthesia. In addition, a blepharoplasty addresses issues involving the area surrounding the eyes and directly following a blepharoplasty, many patients find that their eyes are sensitive to light and their vision is somewhat blurry. For this reason, most blepharoplasty patients prefer to keep their eyes closed for some time following surgery.

Dr. Patel always puts patient safety first. For this reason, neither surgeon considers public transportation, nor any other for-hire transportation service, an appropriate form of transportation for their patients following eyelid surgery or any of the other procedures that require the patient receive sedation or general anesthesia. Therefore, patients who arrive without a driver on the day of their surgery will have to reschedule their blepharoplasty.

Patients should arrive approximately 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment. After checking in, one of Lift Plastic Surgery’s staff members will escort the patient to the area where he or she will prepare for surgery.

As the patient prepares for surgery, the surgeon stops in to answer any last-minute questions, discuss specifics about the patient’s procedure and create markings on the patient’s face to use as a guide during surgery.

Administering Anesthesia

After preparing the patient for surgery, he or she receives twilight sedation or general anesthesia. The surgeon discusses anesthesia options with the patient and makes recommendations ahead of time. On the day of surgery, the patient knows which anesthesia he or she is receiving.

Once the anesthesia takes effect and the patient is resting comfortably, the procedure begins.

Creating the incisions:

  • For an upper eyelid lift

    For an upper eyelid lift – in the majority of cases, when performing an upper eyelid lift, the surgeon creates the incisions along the crease of the upper eyelid.

  • For lower eyelid surgery

    For lower eyelid surgery – the surgeon creates the incision for a lower blepharoplasty just beneath the lashes on the outside of the lower lid or, if fat needs to be removed, the surgeon creates the incision inside the lower lid.

By creating the upper and lower eyelid incisions in these areas, the resulting scars are virtually undetectable.

An Upper Blepharoplasty in Houston

After creating the incision along the crease at the top of the eyelid, the surgeon removes any excess fat, a strip of skin and, if necessary, a bit of muscle. Lift Plastic Surgery’s surgeons prefer to tighten this area (including the eyelid muscles). The main advantage of this technique is the patient’s result. The lower part of the upper eyelid and the area beneath the eyelids are greatly improved following this surgical procedure.

Closing the Incisions

The surgeon may use fine, dissolvable sutures or thin sutures that will not dissolve to close the patient’s incisions. The sutures that do not dissolve need to be removed within 3 to 5 days of surgery.

A Lower Blepharoplasty in Houston

Since the bagginess that develops beneath the eyes results from protruding fat, during lower eyelid surgery, the surgeon usually removes a substantial amount of fat. However, the surgeon retains some of the fat and repositions it to achieve the result the patient desires. In addition, when excess skin is present, the surgeon removes it before tightening the skin that remains.

Patients experiencing hollowing beneath their eyes can have the surgeon inject dermal fillers in this area. These fillers add volume, which helps make the patient appear more refreshed, youthful and rejuvenated. Patients who would like a more natural option can have the surgeon harvest their fat, purify it, and then inject it into the areas of the face that require additional volume (including the area beneath the eye).

If necessary, the surgeon uses a suture to tighten the patient’s lower eyelid as it heals. This tightening technique is referred to as canthopexy. Although, initially, this technique can cause the patient’s eyelid to appear upturned or distorted, once the eyelid relaxes, patients enjoy a more natural-looking result.

Recovery

After spending a little time in recovery, the surgeon releases the patient to his or her driver.

How Experienced Plastic Surgeons at Lift Plastic Surgery in Houston Avoid Over Correction

Dr. Shitel Patel makes every refinement to the patient’s eye area conservatively because using a conservative hand helps avoid over correction. Even the most subtle changes around the eye can enhance the entire area surrounding it. When a plastic surgeon over corrects, the patient’s results appear unnatural because he or she constantly has a wide-eyed look.

What to Expect During the Healing Process

Following eyelid surgery, patients will experience inflammation and bruising around their eyes. After about 7 days, these symptoms significantly improve; nonetheless, it can take several weeks for the bruising and inflammation to resolve completely.

Cold Compress Treatment to Reduce Inflammation

Gently applying cold compresses to the eyes usually helps improve the patient’s comfort level and hastens the recovery process.

Patients should close their eyes and place a cold pack over their eyes for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. For the first three days (while awake) or until the swelling subsides, try using the cold pack every hour or two. Ice should never be placed directly on the skin; therefore, patients need to put a piece of cloth between the ice and their skin.

To reduce inflammation, patients should also keep their head elevated.

Patients must refrain from participating in vigorous activities or exercising from four to six weeks. Abiding by this restriction prevents unnecessary bleeding, allows the body to heal properly, and keeps inflammation from increasing due to overexertion.

Patients must avoid wearing eye makeup until their incisions have healed completely.

What Are the Potential Risks and Complications of Having Eyelid Surgery?

With every surgery, there are inherent risks and complications that the patient must consider. A blepharoplasty is no different.

General risks of having surgery:

  • Excessive bleeding.
  • The development of a blood clot (usually associated with general anesthesia).
  • An allergic reaction to the anesthesia.
  • Breathing issues related to the anesthesia.
  • An infection.

Potential complications associated with a blepharoplasty include:

  • Impaired or blurry vision.
  • Dry, irritated eyes.
  • Excessive tearing.
  • Dissolving sutures that begin to emerge sooner than expected, requiring removal from the plastic surgeon.
  • Uneven eyelids.
  • Problems closing the eyes.
  • An accumulation of blood beneath the skin (i.e., a hematoma).
  • Inflammation, pain and bruising.
  • Visible scarring.
  • Poor wound healing.
  • Blood accumulation behind the eye resulting in blindness.
  • A temporary feeling of numbness in the eyelid.
  • Ectropion, which is an outward rolling of the eyelid, exposing the surface of the inner eyelid. Ectropion is usually a temporary side effect.
  • Lid lag, refers to a pulled down lower eyelid. Just like ectropion, lid lag is typically a temporary side effect.

How Much Will Eyelid Surgery Cost?

Every blepharoplasty procedure is custom-designed to meet the needs of a specific patient; as such, the only way that Dr. Patel can determine how much an individual’s eyelid rejuvenation surgery will cost is with an initial consultation.

The eyes, which are usually the facial feature people notice most, are one of the areas that begin to show the signs of aging first. These signs of aging include sagging upper eyelids, dark circles and under-eye bags. At Lift Plastic Surgery in Houston, Dr. Shitel Patel performs eyelid surgery to assist men and women who are interested in looking more youthful. In addition, a blepharoplasty can help an individual look more refreshed and awake. To make an appointment with one of Lift Plastic Surgery’s plastic surgeons, please call.

Contact Houston / Webster, Texas Plastic Surgeon Shitel D. Patel, MD at Lift Plastic Surgery.

For more information on cosmetic procedures and treatments provided please schedule a consultation.

Serving patients in Houston Texas, Webster, League City, Pearland, Galveston, Kemah, Seabrook and all other surrounding Greater Houston, Texas communities and more.

 

 

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