Your eyes are usually said to be the focal point when you meet a new person. Beyond being expressive, the eyes also have some of the thinnest skin on the entire human body. And, with the exception of when they are hidden behind sunglasses, your eyes and the skin around them are exposed to the sun and the elements. As the years add up, so does that exposure. That’s especially true in sunny South Florida.
No wonder our eyes show their age! Eyelid surgery with our three board-certified plastic surgeons at Miami Plastic Surgery®, however, can take over a decade off of your eyes. Eyelid surgery removes excess skin and fat, and tightens the underlying muscles as needed to replace that tired, saggy look with a more rested countenance.
A popular procedure
Year in and year out, blepharoplasty (the clinical term for eyelid surgery) is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries worldwide. This is likely due to a couple of reasons. First, the eyes are so visible when compared to areas such as the abdomen that are usually covered by clothes. Second, eyelid surgery provides very dramatic results, but they are subtle at the same time. That may sound ridiculous, but it’s true. Eyelid surgery takes a decade off of your face, yet people can’t put their finger on why you look younger. That’s a far cry from more obvious procedures such as a facelift or breast augmentation.
For men and women
Another unique thing about blepharoplasty is that it is popular with both women and men. That’s because drooping eyelids, wrinkles, and puffy bags under your eyes don’t favor one sex over the other. Studies show that more and more men are opting to have eyelid surgery to compete with younger counterparts in the workplace. Plus, the past two years of COVID Zoom meetings has made us all take inventory of our aging eyes when seeing them constantly in that little screen in the corner of our laptop.
The surgery
Your Miami Plastic Surgery® surgeon can perform blepharoplasty on the upper and lower eyelids or on just one of them, depending on your unique needs. Due to this variation, the procedure can be complete in as little as 45 minutes or it can take up to two hours.
In the upper eyelids, our surgeons make a small incision in the natural crease of the eyelid to conceal any scarring. They then tighten the muscles as needed, reposition fat, and remove any excess skin.
In the lower eyelid, the incision is usually made just below the lower eyelash. An alternate location is inside the lower lid, where there won’t be any visible scarring. Excess skin is removed to lessen wrinkles, bags, and general puffiness that is so prevalent in many aging lower eyelids.
Recovery isn’t hard
Another great thing about eyelid surgery is the recovery. When compared to involved recoveries from procedures such as rhinoplasty or a facelift, recovering from eyelid surgery is not hard at all. When you get home after your surgery, your eyes will be covered with light gauze. We’ll provide you with an eye lubricant and a cold compress. If you’re attentive with your compress, your swelling can be very minor. Bruising usually isn’t bad, either. After one week, your stitches will come out and you’ll look pretty good. There can be some residual swelling, but it’s not serious. Your new, younger eyelids will be ready for the public very quickly.
Eyelid surgery with Dr. Kelly, Dr. Wolf, or Dr. Polo is a very satisfying, subtle way to take a decade off your facial age. Call us at (305) 595-2969 to schedule your consultation.
