COSMETIC PROCEDURE FOR THE EYES--BLEPHAROPLASTY



UPPER EYELID BLEPHAROPLASTY



It is often said that by looking into a person’s eyes, can see the “windows to their soul.”   When speaking to others, it is the first place we look.  The expression on a person’s face is, to a large extent, determined by the appearance of the eyes.  The eyes, no doubt, show our emotion and convey how we feel.   It is an inevitable fact that as we age, the skin surrounding our eyes will lose elasticity, start to wrinkle and gravity will take its toll.   According to Dr. James Oestreicher, an Oculoplastic Surgeon, “the age demographics of the patients opting for eyelid surgery ranges from late 40’s to early 50’s, however, there are younger patients opting for the procedure.”  eyes or the eyes may begin to droop.   The natural effects of aging may cause the skin around the eye to sag, eventually creating a pocket or bulge. 

 

Dr. James H. Oestreicher is trained to perform cosmetic eyelid surgery.  He is a member of the exclusive American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and We may develop ‘crow’s feet’ which are wrinkles that extend beyond the

Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) for which there are only 400 members worldwide.  He performs close to 1000 procedures a year making eyelid surgery, or Blepharoplasty more popular today than before.  The popularity for the procedure may stem from the fact that we may not look as young as we feel when we look at our reflection in the mirror.  Fat bags around the eyes can make a person look tired and subsequently make them want to change their appearance.

 

This procedure involves the removal of excess skin, muscle and fatty tissue from the eyelids which gives the patient a refreshed and more youthful look.   Fine incisions are made in the crease above the eye to rectify problems with the upper lids. [i] After removal of the fat, absorbable sutures are used to close the incisions.  Dr. Oestreicher uses a laser to perform this procedure as he feels that “the laser allows the incision to be made with less bleeding and bruising.  When performing lower lid surgery, the laser is used inside the lid thus eliminating the need for stitches.”  (1) The length of surgery is one to two hours in length and is may be performed under local or general anesthesia. 

 

Although Blepharoplasty is normally performed as a cosmetic procedure, it is also used to correct eyelid problems that can interfere with vision for younger people or for those whom have inherited droopy eyelids.  Dr. Oestreicher performs repair work or revision Blepharoplasty routinely and finds the most common mistakes are where the “surgeon has done the lower lids indelicately therefore resulting in the lower lids dropping out.” 

This procedure is of particular importance to the elderly age group as well since aging can cause the upper eyelids to sag and hinder vision.  Canadian statistics suggest that the top three cosmetic procedures most sought after for men include: liposuction, nose reshaping (Rhinoplasty) and Eye lid surgery.[ii]   

In the US, Blepharoplasty has become more popular than nose jobs, face lifts and forehead lifts with more than 230,000 people undergoing this procedure in 2006 alone.[iii]

 

Noreen Khan

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[i] Web MD Better Information.  Better Health.  Cosmetic Surgery for Eyelids—Information on Blepharoplasty from Web MD.

Available at:  http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/cosmetic-procedures-eyelid -surgery.  Accessed Jan. 17^th, 2008.

[ii] Medicard Canada’s Patient Financing Company. 

Available at:  http;//www.medicard.com/procedure_info.php.  Accessed Jan. 21^st, 2008.

 

[iii] Meronk Blepharoplasty- The 30 Basic Questions. 

Available at:  http:// www.drmeronk.com/main/blepharoplasty.html.  Accessed Jan. 23^rd, 2008.