Your eyes are the window to your soul, but it can be hard to feel confident when those windows are drooping with heavy eyelids. If you stop to think about it, the aesthetics of droopy eyelids is only a small problem compared to potential vision impairment, Fortunately, the skilled experts at Advanced Clinics in Oklahoma City, OK understand one of the best solutions for sagging eyelids is eyelid surgery.
Why Get Eyelid Surgery?
Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, is an outpatient surgical technique during which an eye surgeon carefully removes excess skin, tissue, and fat from the upper eyelid. This surgery can remove weight from the upper eye and immediately make you look younger, but these are only two reasons why patients seek this treatment.
In fact, there are several reasons why this surgery should be an option – whether you have age-related concerns, or not.
5 Reasons to Consider Blepharoplasty
1. Heavy Upper Lids
In certain circumstances, heavy upper lids are a good thing. Bette Davis was well-known for her famous “bedroom eyes”, which featured a heavier upper lid even in her youth. But for most of us, a heavy upper lid is actually problematic.
For example, heavy upper lids can sometimes cause strain in the muscles around the eye and the eyebrows caused by the effort it takes to hold the eyes open, which can, in turn, cause pain and headaches.
2. Impaired Vision
Heavy upper lids can also potentially impair vision. In fact, depending on which area of your eyelid is drooping, and by how much, different parts of your vision may be affected. Eyelid drooping in the front of the eye can impair your frontal vision due to how much of the eyelid is covering the pupil, which can make it difficult to see or perform certain tasks, such as reading or driving.
Eyelid drooping that is primarily on the outer corners of the eye, on the other hand, can impair your peripheral vision. Your peripheral vision, or your side vision, is linked to your visual perception and your reflexes, so it’s very important to protect your peripheral vision. There are several studies that indicate peripheral vision is sometimes more accurate than frontal vision, for example. Well-functioning peripheral vision is vital for daily function.
3. Looking Tired
Heavy and drooping eyelids are also an easy way to look tired all the time – and looking tired all the time is another way to look years older than you appear. Tired-looking eyes have the effect of weighing your overall appearance down, which can prematurely age you and make you seem less alert.
This is particularly apparent if you are younger and heavy eyelids are the most obvious sign of visible aging on your face.
4. Loose or Excess Skin
Loose or excess skin, in general, is another way to look much older than you are. Excess skin has a tendency to form fine lines and wrinkles, particularly on delicate eye-area skin that is more prone to wrinkling than other volume-rich areas of your face.
Loose skin around and on the eyelid is probably one of the leading reasons to seek this surgical solution.
5. Easier Cosmetic Application
Finally, for those who are enthusiastic about eye makeup, you should know that eyelid surgery will make it easier to apply cosmetics. Eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara are all easier to apply when the canvas of your eye is smooth, which can help you enhance your beauty.
Other cosmetics, such as eye creams and anti-aging serums, will also be applied more evenly, which will make their results more effective.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eyelid Surgery
1. Will Insurance Cover This Procedure?
Maybe. Whether or not your insurance will cover the cost of this procedure will depend on your insurance plan and if you are having this procedure for a cosmetic or surgical reason.
In general, health insurance does not cover the cost of cosmetic procedures, so if you do not have a formal diagnosis that necessitates this surgery and this surgery is deemed elective, you will likely have to pay for this surgery out-of-pocket.
2. What Age Should You Have This Surgery?
Generally speaking, there is no “best” or “ideal” age to have this surgery, as some amount of eyelid droopiness can occur at any age, particularly if you are genetically predisposed to have this feature. However, most surgeons recommend waiting until eyelid drooping is more pronounced or at least moderate before seeking corrective surgery.
For most people, this means waiting until the natural aging process begins to affect the amount of collagen and elastin being produced in your skin, which is between ages 30 and 40. It’s just as common for those in their 30s to seek this reconstructive surgery for both cosmetic and medical purposes as it is for those who are over the age of 40.
3. What Should You Expect From Surgery?
This procedure involves very small incisions being made on the natural fold of your upper eyelid. From this incision, excess tissues, fat, and skin is removed until your desire appearance is achieved. Then the incision is closed with small sutures that are placed in such a way to minimize scarring. Most patients do not scar as a result of this surgery.
The surgery itself will take about one hour to complete both eyes, and sometimes less depending on the amount of work that needs to be done. Since this surgery is done on an outpatient basis, you will be able to return home for your recovery immediately after the surgery is done. There is no use of general anesthesia for this surgery, although local anesthesia is commonly used.
4. What Will Your Aftercare Instructions Be?
After your surgery, you will need to take care of your eyes well so that you can recover quickly. You will receive instructions on how soon you can shower, how you should wash and care for your sutures, how to use cold compresses, and much more. Please use all prescriptions that are given to you after your surgery and avoid strenuous or straining activities.
Most people are mostly recovered within 10 to 14 days after their surgery. You may require several more weeks after that before you are fully healed.
5. How Long Do Results Last?
The results of this surgery will last for a long time, usually for about 10 years or more. The longevity of this treatment can be attributed to the fact that the removal of excess skin and tissues will prevent any further sagging until the aging process begins to affect the remaining skin, as well.
How to Prolong Results
Many patients are interested in prolonging the results of their eyelid procedure – but is it even possible? The truth is there are several things you can do to make sure the results of your treatment will last for as long as possible. For example, using eyewear with adequate UV sun protection will shield the skin around your eyes from sunlight that can cause premature aging, particularly skin laxity.
Another thing you can do is use collagen-rich skincare products for the area around the eye. Using a night cream for the eye will ensure that your skin is repaired each night and fortified by collagen to help slow the natural aging process.
6. Is This Surgery Ever Medically Necessary?
Yes. While this may seem primarily like cosmetic surgery, there are actually many patients who seek this treatment for purely medical purposes. For example, those who have impaired frontal or peripheral vision as a result of drooping eyelids are likely qualified for medically necessary surgery.
In order to qualify for an eyelid procedure that is medically necessary, you will need to attend a consultation that will verify your sagging upper eyelid is interfering with your ability to see properly. This may be verified by routine eye exams or other tests performed by an ophthalmologist or your eye surgeon. In fact, some patients are even referred to eye surgeons by their regular eye doctors for this specific reason.
7. Can This Surgery Change the Shape of Your Eye?
Yes, this is a surgery that can be used to change the shape of your eye. Depending on your appearance goals and the skill of your surgeon, it is possible that you can alter your natural eye shape in the process of correcting heavy upper eyelids. If you intend to use this procedure to change the shape of your eye in addition to correcting eye droopiness, then please let us know during your consultation so we can prepare a treatment plan that will meet all of your goals.
8. How Common Is This Surgery?
This type of eye surgery is more common than most patients initially assume. It’s estimated that this surgery is one of the most common types of plastic or reconstructive surgeries to have in the past few years. This means that this surgery is common enough to be routine for most eye surgeons.
9. Can This Surgery Be Performed on the Lower Eyelid?
Yes! This treatment can also be performed on the lower eyelid. It’s common for patients who have perpetual dark circles beneath the eye, excess skin on the lower lid, and drooping lower eyelids to seek this surgery. For the lower lid, your surgery may also consist of correcting under-eye hollowness to reduce sagging.
Just as some people are born with naturally heavy upper lids, there are also those who are born with natural hollowness beneath the eyes. But dark circles and under-eye hollowness can make you look older and more tired, as loose skin beneath the eyes has a way of aging your appearance even more than sagging upper eyelids. If you want to correct your lower eyelids instead of your upper eyelid or combine these surgeries, please let us know during your consultation.
10. Who Are Good Candidates?
Candidates for eyelid surgery include any adult who is medically healthy and does have any other eye conditions, aside from any vision impairment related to drooping eyelids. We will determine your full candidacy based on your consultation.
Correct Drooping Eyelids With Eyelid Surgery
It’s time to let the windows to your soul open wide. If you believe you might be a good candidate for eyelid surgery, please contact Advanced Clinics in Oklahoma City, OK to schedule your consultation appointment today!