Blepharoplasty
When patients and friends ask me what I think is the one cosmetic procedure that will give you the biggest bang for the buck, hands down I think of blepharoplasty. The eyes are the communication and visual center of the face, often the first thing people will notice. The first signs of aging on the face are often manifested on the thin, wrinkly or loose skin around the eyes. Blepharoplasty, or eyelid lift, is in fact one of the most popular aesthetic cosmetic surgeries performed in the United States today.
Blepharoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that dramatically improves appearance and reduces droopy, baggy eyelids. Aging changes around the eyelid are due to several factors: excess skin, sun exposure, gravity, heredity and thinning and laxity of skin. This leads to dermatochalasis, or excess skin, wrinkles, fat and tissue around the eyelids. This heavy or saggy look can make one appear tired, sad or angry.
Blepharoplasty surgery is not only performed for cosmetic purposes to enhance appearance, but it can also improve function. Patients may complain of visual obstruction superiorly, fatigue with reading, or brow ache from lifting the forehead muscles to compensate for the heavy, drooping eyelids. In these instances, blepharoplasty or ptosis, or brow ptosis surgery is considered medically necessary and may be covered by insurance. Blepharoplasty is performed for reconstructive purposes to correct visual impairment caused by drooping of the skin or tissue of the upper eyelids.