What Is Blepharoplasty?
As people age, collagen stores are depleted, skin elasticity diminishes, and muscles naturally weaken. These aging effects are often first noticeable around the face, and more specifically, the eyes. Loose skin and excess fat deposits, combined with compromised muscle support can result in sagging eyebrows, heavy and droopy upper eyelids, and/or bags beneath the lower eyelids.
At Monterey County Eye Associates, which serves individuals from Monterey, CA, Salinas, and King City, our doctors offer a wide range of oculoplastics surgical treatments, including blepharoplasty. Blepharoplasty, which is more commonly known as eyelid surgery, addresses excess skin and tissues surrounding the upper and/or lower eyelids to rejuvenate their appearance and correct vision obstructions.
Blepharoplasty Treatment
Blepharoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure that focuses on the tissues and muscles directly surrounding the eyes. Blepharoplasty can be performed on the upper eyelids, the lower eyelids, or both. During the procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the crease of the upper and/or lower eyelids. The incision grants them access to remove excess fat cells and skin tissues, while enabling them to make necessary repairs to stretched or weakened muscles. After necessary alterations have been made, remaining skin is joined together with tiny dissolvable stitches. Once the stitches have dissolved and the tissues have recovered, patients can expect the skin around the eyelids to appear firmer, smoother, and more lifted.
Blepharoplasty Candidates
Prior to undergoing blepharoplasty treatment, it is important to determine if a patient is an ideal candidate for the procedure. Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure, so the patient must be in good overall health and be free of any conditions that could increase the risk of surgery. We must also ascertain the patient’s ocular health. Our doctors will perform a complete eye exam and review the patient’s eye and general health history, paying special attention to any issues such as dry eyes, glaucoma, diabetes, or visual abnormalities.
Provided a patient is considered a good candidate for surgery, blepharoplasty may be performed to correct any of the following conditions:
- Droopy or heavily hooded upper eyelids
- Heavily creased upper or lower eyelids
- Puffy upper or lower eyelids
- Bags beneath the lower eyelids
Is Blepharoplasty Purely Cosmetic?
Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is widely known as a plastic surgery procedure. However, treatment is not always performed for purely cosmetic reasons. When there are excess tissues along the upper eyelid, the eyelid is likely to get heavy. As a result it may droop over the upper portion of the eye. In advanced cases, upper eyelid skin can obstruct the eye and lead to problems with vision, in particular the peripheral vision. Blepharoplasty removes excess skin, which lifts the upper eyelid to eliminate obstructions and restore clear vision.
Contact Monterey County Eye Associates
Blepharoplasty addresses cosmetic concerns on the upper and/or lower eyelid to rejuvenate the appearance and eliminate any visual obstructions. If you are interested in learning more about blepharoplasty, and whether you may be an ideal candidate for treatment, we invite you to schedule a personal consultation at Monterey County Eye Associates. To get started, send us a message online, or call us at (831) 372-1500.
