Blepharoplasty

The eyes reveal a lot about a person. You can usually tell when someone is tired, sick, happy or worried just by looking at his or her eyes. If dark circles, droopy or puffy eyelids are obscuring your bright and shiny eyes, you could be a candidate for cosmetic eyelid surgery. The result will leave you looking alert, healthy and rested.

You may be a candidate for eyelid surgery if you have any of the following conditions:

Upper Eyelids

• If the natural fold of your upper eyelid is hidden by excess skin
• If your upper eyelids are puffy making you look tired
• If you have loose skin that hangs down from your upper eyelid
  

Lower Eyelids

• Bags or dark circles
• Excess skin and fine wrinkles in lower eyelid

Eyelid surgery is riskier in people who have medical conditions such as glaucoma, “dry eye”, thyroid problems, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes. Be sure to tell Dr. Krummen if you have any of these medical conditions.

The Consultation

The consultation is your first chance to talk to Dr. Krummen about how you’d like to change your appearance. Dr. Krummen will assess both your emotional health as well as your physical health before addressing your goals. Since both your physical and emotional health have a tremendous impact on the outcome of your surgery, it’s important to be honest with Dr. Krummen about your health history – past surgeries, medical conditions, treatments and any medications you may be taking.

Before arriving for this appointment, know what kind of outcome you expect from this surgery. Your goals will be an important part of your evaluation. If necessary, write down your questions so you will have all your concerns addressed during this meeting. Dr. Krummen will listen carefully to your concerns and tell you which surgical option she thinks would work best for you. She will also explain the risks and likely results of the procedure. Every person is different and your operation will be individualized to your specific needs.

The Surgery

Dr. Krummen will decide which surgical method will work best on you based on your features. Incisions are typically made along the crease of the upper eyelid and beneath the lashes of the lower eyelid. Both incisions extend out to the far corner of the eye. Excess skin and fatty tissue are then removed through those incisions. In some patients, fat in the lower eyelid is redistributed to get rid of puffiness and bulges (Fig. 1, 2).

Another option for the lower eyelids is called a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. This is most often used in younger patients who have fat deposits in their lower eyelids but who don’t need any skin removed. In these cases, the incision is made inside the lower eyelid (Fig. 3).

When surgery is complete you may experience blurred vision. This is due to ointment that may have been applied to protect your eyes. It is a temporary condition. You may feel some tightness around your eyes. This will go away once the swelling goes down. Bruising, swelling and discomfort vary among patients, but it should begin to diminish in the first week after your surgery. It’s important to follow Dr. Krummen’s instructions carefully as you heal so you can enjoy the full benefits of your procedure (Fig. 4).