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Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) in Washington, DC with Dr. Marwan Khalifeh
The eyes are the gateway to the soul, they say, and they certainly are one of the first areas to show the aging process. Therefore, eyelid surgery is one of the first procedures to be considered by our Washington, DC patients seeking to refresh their appereance.
Here’s a small anectode I like to recount:
In 2011, at my relative’s wedding in California, I was seated with my aunt and uncle. After the third time I told my aunt how lovely she appeared (and I meant it!), unconsciously noticing a much improved appearance, she finally confessed: “I had my eyes done.” Even as a plastic surgeon, I could notice the rested and rejuvenated appearance without noticing the obvious telltale signs of surgery. That’s how powerful a blepharoplasty can be.
Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Lift)
Eyelid surgery ( blepharoplasty) is a surgical procedure that can improve “eyelid bags” under the eyes, remove excess skin causing wrinkles, and provide a more youthful appearance to the eyes. During the aging process, wrinkles, lines, and puffiness contribute to a tired or aged appearance. The blepharoplasty surgery is often performed alone as a stand alone procedure, or in conjunction with other facial procedures such as a face lift procedure. It can also be combined with wrinkle relaxers, volume fillers, and peels for an overall cosmetic enhancement.
General Procedure: Upper Eyelids
The upper eyelid anatomy and positioning makes it the simpler of the two procedures. Here, a crease naturally exists in most non-asiatic races, and over the crease a redundancy of skin and obicularis muscle develops over time, causing a fold to overtake the apperance of the eye. This excess skin causes hooding. The surgeon can remove the excess skin and muscle by numbing it and making an elliptical cut with a blade. Then with fine scissors, he can remove the skin and excess muscle while leaving the underlying structures intact. Occasionally there is a need to remove excess fat as well, however that is not as common as in the lower lids.
General Procedure: Lower Eyelids
The surgical procedure includes incisions made in the natural contours around the eyes which leave well hidden scars. A no-scar internal fat removal (transconj) technique is sometimes useful for fat excess only. Lower lid lifts help rejuvenate the face and can be sometimes combined with a midface lift if necessary. The surgery generally takes about one to three hours and is performed in the physician’s office. If additional cosmetic procedures are being performed, the eyelid surgery could last longer.
Recovery Process
Normally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and reduce the recovery time. Patients sometimes report minor pain associated with surgery which can be treated with oral medication.
While complications are rare, patients can minimize the risk for potential problems by carefully following the post-operative directions given after the surgery. The healing process for this procedure is slightly longer than most other forms of cosmetic surgery; however, the benefits are long-lasting. Patients will have a more rested and youthful appearance.
