The eyes are complex structures that have an indelible effect on the facial appearance. One small change to the eyes, and the entire face can look different.
Facial plastic surgeons like Dr. Jonathan Grant provide a range of procedures to target common age-related changes in and around the eyes. If you are bothered by the appearance of your aging eyes, upper blepharoplasty may be appropriate.
Here, Dr. Grant reveals some key indicators that upper blepharoplasty (upper eyelid surgery) can give you the rejuvenating transformation you desire.
You Have Loose Skin That Hangs Over Your Lash Line
This is called dermatochalasis. Sometimes the eyelid opens and closes normally, but the skin of the lid becomes loose and thin. The skin may stretch and hang over the lash line, pushing the eyelashes into the eyes and fatiguing the eyes.
The eyelid skin may hang so far over the upper lash line that it obstructs the line of sight and causes vision loss or blurriness. To compensate, you might find yourself tilting your head backward when reading, driving or using your smartphone or keeping your eyebrows elevated which can cause strain and headaches.
Upper eyelid blepharoplasty surgery is designed to remove excess skin and tighten the remaining skin so it does not hang over the lash line. This is ideal for patients that are bothered by vision loss caused by excess eyelid skin.
Your Upper Eyelids Look Puffy, Giving Your Eyes a Fatigued Look
With age, the upper eyelid tissues can become puffy and give the eyes a fatigued or prematurely aged appearance. Some women have problems applying eyeliner or eyeshadow because the eyelid surface is not large or smooth enough.
During eyelid surgery, displaced fat can be conservatively reduced and the muscles and skin are tightened to reduce puffiness and create a smooth surface on the upper eyelid restoring the upper eyelid platform for makeup.
You Have Ptosis
Ptosis is a medical term for drooping of the upper eyelid(s). It can occur when the levator muscle, which is responsible for opening and closing the upper eyelid, starts to stretch out or separate from the eyelid margin. As a result, the muscle cannot hold the eyelid up and it begins to droop.
Upper blepharoplasty cannot treat ptosis. Ptosis repair is a different procedure that can be done through various techniques depending on why you have ptosis.
Learn More about Eyelid Surgery with Dr. Grant
If you identify with any of the conditions described in this post, you are likely a good candidate for upper eyelid surgery. Dr. Grant encourages you to schedule an informational consultation to discuss the surgery and determine whether it is right for you.
Please call (360) 336-1947 or email our practice today to make your appointment.
