Eyelids
The eyes are a center of facial expression; they convey a great deal of information or misinformation about your mood and feelings to those around you. Extra folds of skin, bags and fullness of the eyelids can make a person appear older and overly tired. Blepharoplasty corrects the sags and bags of the eyelids that develop with age.
Des Moines facial plastic surgeon, Brenton B. Koch, M.D., removes excessive fullness and loose skin of the upper eyelids and restores the youthful eyelid crease during an upper blepharoplasty. The incision is placed within the upper lid crease, and extends slightly beyond the corner of the eye to remove the loose skin often present in this location. Underlying fat is excised to eliminate fullness. Lower blepharoplasty removes lower eyelid bags that cast shadows beneath the eyes. Excess skin is also eliminated to create a firmer look. The incision to remove the bags caused by extra fat can be made on the inside of the eyelid. An incision just below the eyelashes is used to remove the extra skin. Blepharoplasty may be combined with laser or chemical peel to improve the fine lines around the eyes or the procedure may be performed with a brow lift to elevate sagging eyebrows.
Inviting eyes are essential to a youthful appearance. Much of what facial plastic surgeons do is divert attention from other parts of the face to the eyes, which are usually the most engaging and colorful attraction of the face. The eyes are what create uniqueness and depth, and patients want others to focus on this area. Unfortunately, it is also the first part of the face to show aging. In certain families, aging eyelids are hereditary, characterized by excess upper eyelid skin and bulging bags under the eyes. This may present itself as early as the late teens to early twenties. Fine wrinkles of the lateral eyelid skin, also known as crow's feet, surface as early as the late twenties. Although blepharoplasty is often done in isolation, those under going facelifts should take a close look at their eyes.
If eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty is done in conjunction with a facelift, it can improve overall appearance. Some individuals may experience obstructed vision from overly redundant upper eyelid skin. Blepharoplasty then becomes a medically necessary procedure and may be reimbursable by third party payers.
There are some limitations to blepharoplasty, and you should recognize them. Fine wrinkles of the lateral crow's feet area will not gain an appreciable benefit from blepharoplasty alone. However, laser resurfacing or medium strength chemical peels are options that can tighten up this area and reduce fine wrinkles. Excess upper eyelid skin may be partially due to descended eyebrows, and if this is the case, an eyebrow lift or forehead lift may be necessary to complete or maximize your result. When properly carried out, blepharoplasty is a favorable procedure that eliminates a fatigued and tired look common to aging. The best candidate for eyelid surgery is a physically healthy man or woman who has realistic expectations and is looking to improve the appearance of drooping upper eyelids and/or puffy bags beneath the eyes. Eyelid surgery typically takes between one and three hours to complete, and is performed in an outpatient surgery center. General anesthesia is most often used.
Please note, many of the patients profiled below had other procedures performed in conjunction with upper and/or lower eyelid blepharoplasty. If you have questions about blepharoplasty, we encourage you to call our office at (515) 277-5555 to schedule a consultation with Des Moines blepharoplasty surgeon, Dr. Brent Koch.
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