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Eyelid lift surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, can create a more youthful, refreshed, and rested appearance.

The operation allows your surgeon to remove unwanted excess skin and fatty tissue that creates the inflated and heavy appearance. The procedure can make you appear years younger, which can improve your appearance and self-confidence. The eyes are one of our most expressive features and greatly contribute to our sense of beauty. Unfortunately, the eyes are also one of the first areas to demonstrate signs of facial aging. Excess eyelid skin, heavy or droopy upper eyes, puffy or bulging lower bags can give us the appearance of being tired, sad, or angry. These conditions typically present when one approaches the late thirties to early forties. Fine wrinkles around the sides of the eyes can develop as early as our twenties and thirties.

Blepharoplasty is often performed in conjunction with other complementary cosmetic procedures, such as a forehead or brow lift, facial fat grafting, or laser skin resurfacing to enhance your overall aesthetic result.

During your consultation, Dr. Hoefflin will determine if you are, in fact, a good candidate for blepharoplasty. Customized literature that discusses the procedure, along with pre- and post-operative instructions are provided. Before and after photographs of similar blepharoplasty patients who have had the procedure with Dr. Hoefflin will be reviewed.

About the Procedure

Dr. Hoefflin typically performs the procedure as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia with deep sedation, administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist. The procedure usually takes about an hour. All operations are performed in fully credentialed and state-of-the-art surgical facilities.

Upper blepharoplasty incisions are placed within the normal lid crease. Excessive skin, muscle folds, puffiness, and fatty “bags” are then removed. In time, the incisions become nearly undetectable.

Recovery: What to expect after eyelid surgery

Both head elevation and ice-cold compresses are used in the first day or two after the procedure to help decrease potential bruising. Our patients are surprisingly free of discomfort due to Dr. Hoefflin’s long-acting local anesthetic and nerve blocks. Most bruising and swelling usually resolves by seven days. Incisions are closed with very fine specialized plastic surgery stitches, which are typically removed after 5 to 7 days. Once the stitches are removed, hypoallergenic make-up may be used to camouflage any swelling.

The duration of the results is based on your own individual aging process, which is affected by age, heredity, health, sun exposure, diet, exercise, smoking, and other habits. While individual results may vary, the results of blepharoplasty typically last 5-10 years.

Possible Complications

When performed by an experienced, qualified plastic surgeon, the risk of complications is reduced. Most complications are minor, temporary, and either resolve on their own or can be treated quickly and easily. It is critical that you carefully follow all post-operative instructions before and after treatment so you heal as you should.

Excessive upper eyelid skin can sometimes cause irritation to the upper eyelashes and even obstruct the visual field. In such cases, health insurance may cover surgical correction. In this case, a visual field exam documenting the condition, photographs, and authorization from your insurance company will be required before the procedure.

To learn if you are a candidate, contact board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Hoefflin for a complimentary consultation.

Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty

Eyelid surgery is often performed in conjunction with other cosmetic surgery procedures, such as a forehead or brow lift, facelift, facial fat grafting, or laser skin resurfacing to enhance your overall aesthetic result. Fine wrinkles or facial lines around the corner of the eyes termed “crow’s feet” can be greatly improved with BOTOX. Dr. Hoefflin uses the latest eyelid surgery techniques to ensure his patients a natural, non-operated eyelid rejuvenation result. Using a specialized technique called transconjunctival blepharoplasty (TCB), surgical incisions are made inside the lower eyelids, and thus avoids any external incisions or the use of sutures. Unlike traditional eyelid techniques, TCB does not injure the muscles under the eyelids. The procedure can make you appear years younger, which can improve your appearance and one’s self-confidence.

Dr. Hoefflin also performs complex and advanced eyelid procedures for droopy upper lids (ptosis repair), poor lower eyelid support (ectropion or eyelid retraction), and revision of scarring from previous eyelid procedures.

To learn if you are a candidate for the transconjunctival blepharoplasty, contact board-certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Hoefflin for a complimentary consultation. During your consultation, customized literature will be given to you to educate you on the proc

Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) Faq's

A:

Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid lift surgery, can restore the youthful appearance to your eyes by removing unwanted fat and excess muscle and skin from the eyelids. Eyelid surgery results in a more youthful, well rested and attractive appearance to your eyelids. The procedure can make you appear years younger, which can improve your appearance and self-confidence.

Blepharoplasty or Eyelid surgery removes unwanted or undesirable excess skin and fatty tissue. Eyelid surgery may also have additional functional benefits. It can restore vision that has been obscured by correcting droopy and sagging eyelids.

Fine wrinkles or facial lines around the corner of the eyes, termed “crow’s feet,” are generally not corrected by blepharoplasty procedure. However, they can be improved with BOTOX® treatments.

During blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery, small incisions are made within the natural skin creases or edges of the eyelids to minimize any scarring. Careful and meticulous dissection and closure results in incisions that become nearly invisible in time.

Transconjunctival eyelid surgery is a specialized technique in which a small incision is made inside the lower eyelid, and thus avoids any external incisions or the use of sutures. Lower lid herniated fat is removed, thus correcting the puffy lower eyelid appearance. No skin is removed.

Dr. Hoefflin performs all operations are performed in fully credentialed and state-of-the-art surgical facilities in Beverly Hills.

Yes. In patients demonstrating mild to moderate excess upper eyelid skin, upper eyelid surgery can be performed comfortably and safely under local anesthesia, thus avoiding the operating room and the associated costs. Dr. Hoefflin maintains a dedicated procedure suite in his office for such procedures.

There are currently several both ablative and non-ablative lasers that can provide some level of improvement in the appearance of the eyelids by tightening the skin. However, laser surfacing does not address the deeper structural or functional components of the eyelid. These include herniated fat, eyelid ptosis, and septal laxity. Only true blepharoplasty surgery can improve these components and lead to the most natural and youthful result.

Yes. Dr. Hoefflin frequently performs blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery in combination with other cosmetic procedures, such as facelifts, browlift, necklift, breast augmentation, liposuction or other treatment or procedure.

Head elevation and ice compresses are encouraged for the first 24 hours to diminish any post-operative bruising or swelling. Patients can typically return to their normal daily routines about seven to ten days following their blepharoplasty procedure. Any sutures will be removed within 5-7 days after surgery. Bruising typically subsides after one week. Camouflaging eye makeup can be applied after your sutures are removed.

Patients should not engage in vigorous exercise until giving the okay by Dr. Hoefflin. Light, non-vigorous exercise, such as walking, can be helpful. Follow your post-operative directions, and call our offices if you have any questions or concerns.

The results of eyelid surgery can last for many years. The right skincare regimen and avoiding heavy sun exposure are helpful in maintaining your more youthful, fresh look for longer.

When performed by a properly qualified plastic surgeon, the risk of serious problems after eyelid surgery are rare. Any surgery poses a risk of infection, prolonged swelling or scarring, but you can reduce the risk of any complications by carefully adhering to all post-op instructions.

Dr. Hoefflin and his staff will supply you with a list of pre-operative instructions, including medications to avoid, in the days and weeks leading up to your arm lift. Importantly, the instructions include no smoking, as smoking can have a negative effect on wound healing.

If your eyelid surgery is being performed because you are experiencing vision problems due to sagging eyelid skin, the cost may be covered, or partially covered, by your health insurance. Talk with your insurance company to see if this procedure is something they cover, and ask for information on obtaining pre-authorization.

You first consultation will allow us to evaluate the eyelid issue you are experiencing, and to speak with you about what you envision in results. We can show you many photos of other patients, so you are confident we are not going to give you an unnatural, pulled appearance. Your medical history will be evaluated, and we can discuss every detail with you so you can make an educated decision.

Board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery requires hard work, dedication, and an impressive level of commitment. It takes as long as sixteen years to become a plastic surgeon, and only then can one apply for board certification. These surgeons are extensively trained on all body systems, and have a great depth of knowledge of skin, muscle, tissue, and other body structures and systems. For a natural-looking result from a highly-qualified medical professional, ensure your surgeon is board certified in plastic surgery.

If you need eyelid surgery, it may be possible that some portion will be paid by your health insurance, but only in those cases in which the eyelids droop over the eye, creating vision problems. For cosmetic enhancements, your procedure is not covered – but we make it possible by offering various financing options to better serve you.

You can read more information about our eyelid procedures by clicking here. To learn if you are a candidate for the blepharoplasty, contact the offices of board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Hoefflin for a complimentary consultation.

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