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Is Eyelid Surgery Right for You?

Posted in Eyelid Surgery

woman posing

Nothing sparks a youthful expression more than bright, clear eyes. When eyes are free from undereye circles or drooping lids, patients don’t have to worry about a tired appearance and can feel confident in their facial beauty. Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Christopher Livingston offers eyelid surgery to patients who look to restore a youthful, alert facial appearance. But is an eyelid lift the right treatment to rejuvenate your facial aesthetics?

Understanding Eyelid Surgery

Blepharoplasty, better known as eyelid surgery, is a procedure designed to revitalize the lower eyelids, upper eyelids, or both. The operation offers aesthetic and, on occasion, functional benefits which include improvement in vision. The natural aging process often causes eyelids to sag or appear puffy, giving the individual a tired, worn out appearance.

Dr. Livingston addresses these concerns with eyelid surgery. This procedure restores an alert appearance to the eye area by removing excess fat, skin, and tissue from the upper eyelid and at times the lower lid as well. While chiefly a cosmetic treatment, health insurance providers may defer some costs if there is extreme hooding of the upper lid which obscures the patient’s vision.

How to tell if an Eyelid Lift will Meet Your needs

Eyelid surgery is helpful for women and men who have drooping eyelids because of genetics or the natural aging process. While many patients who choose eyelid surgery are over 35 years old, there is no age restriction on blepharoplasty. Suitable candidates are healthy, medically stable, and understand the limitations of the procedure. An upper or lower blepharoplasty can alleviate the following concerns:

  • Wrinkles and fine lines around the eyelid
  • Bags under eyes
  • Folds of skin that alter the natural contour of the eyelid
  • Droopy eyelids that show white underneath the iris
  • Puffiness in upper or lower eyelid from fatty deposits

Dr. Livingston will advise his patients on which type of procedure will be best suited to give them a look they want. There are times a patient would be better served with a browlift rather than an eyelid surgery. As a rule, if the eyelids have excess fat and skin, with or without under-eye circles, the patient is a good candidate for blepharoplasty. If the primary concern is a furrowed brow, a brow lift may be the best choice.

When Eyelid Surgery is Not Recommended

Patients suffering from medical conditions like glaucoma, detached retina, Graves’ disease, hypothyroidism, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, dry eye, and diabetes could suffer complications with eyelid surgery. Although these conditions won’t automatically disqualify you from blepharoplasty, you should discuss them with an eye doctor. When these medical conditions do exclude a patient, they have other options including Botox and browlift surgery.

Also, if an individual has unrealistic expectations on what can and cannot be done through eyelift surgery, results may be discouraging.

Learn More

If you are considering blepharoplasty to improve your facial appearance or vision, contact Dr. Livingston today and schedule a consultation. You will be able to voice your concerns and ask questions to ensure that the procedure is right for you.

Call 281-501-1812 or contact us today.