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Eyelid Surgery

Ask Dr. Elliott: Fully Understanding Eyelid Surgery

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female-face-examOur eyes may be small, relative to some of our other features, but they can still have an outsized impact on our appearance. And no matter how careful you are to maintain your appearance and protect yourself from the sun, the eyes are just one of those areas that are naturally susceptible to premature signs of aging. This is part of the reason that eyelid surgery is so consistently popular with both male and female plastic surgery patients. Today, I wanted to answer a few commonly asked questions about eyelid surgery in the hopes of helping patients better understand this cosmetic procedure.

Question #1: Can undergoing eyelid surgery affect my vision?

There is no risk of long-term vision loss or damage associated with eyelid surgery. While some patients may experience some mild blurriness in their vision immediately following the procedure, this will only be temporary. In fact, undergoing eyelid surgery can often help improve the patient’s vision by removing sagging skin around the eyes that can negatively affect peripheral vision for some people.

Question #2: How long should I wait after a rhinoplasty procedure before undergoing eyelid surgery?

Obviously, it’s of critical importance to allow your face to fully heal and for post-surgery swelling to reduce considerably following one cosmetic procedure before pursuing another. However, I sometimes perform procedures like rhinoplasty and eyelid surgery together in one surgery session. Doing so allows my patients to achieve the comprehensive facial rejuvenation they desire, while also cutting back on overall recovery time and surgical costs.

Question #3: Are eyelid surgery and brow lift surgery interchangeable procedures?

No. While it’s true that both brow lift and eyelid surgery can be used to help address common signs of aging in the upper portion of the face, they are actually intended to treat different areas.I perform eyelid surgery to help patients who experience loose skin and/or pockets of fat in the upper and/or lower eyelids. A brow lift is more focused on rejuvenating the area above the eyes, specifically around the forehead and eyebrows, as well as overall brow placement. These procedures can be performed together in many cases.

I’m always happy to take time to answer questions like these from patients. Being able to offer honest and helpful answers to questions relating to the procedures that I perform is a big reason why I’ve been named a Top Doctor in Atlanta for over 20 years, an honor that I do not take lightly. For more information or to schedule a plastic surgery consultation, contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. You can also follow along with me on Facebook and Twitter for additional plastic surgery tips, news, and much more.

Navigating Common Myths About Eyelid Surgery

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female-has-facial-consultationThe eyes are consistently one of the most in-demand areas for patients when it comes to cosmetic surgery. And eyelid surgery has an incredible ability to rejuvenate the area around the eyes and help people ward off premature signs of aging that can make someone look old before their time. However, it’s very important to me that my patients come into their consultation with a realistic idea of what eyelid surgery can help them achieve. This is why I thought it would be helpful to discuss a few common myths about eyelid surgery and explain what is true and what is false.

Eyelid Surgery is Less Common Than Facelift Surgery

This is false. In fact, year in and year out, eyelid surgery is the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery for the face and one of the most popular cosmetic procedures of all. According to the most recent statistics collected by the Aesthetic Society, eyelid surgery was performed nearly as often in the US as the next two most common facial surgery procedures (facelift and rhinoplasty) combined.

There Won’t Be Any Scarring After Eyelid Surgery

While this is technically false, it’s true in the sense that there shouldn’t be any obvious visible scarring following an eyelid surgery procedure. Anytime a surgical incision is made, there will be a scar. However, eyelid surgery has some of the most minimal and hard-to-notice scarring of any plastic surgery procedure. This is due to how simple it is to hide scarring in the natural crease of the eyelid, as well as the delicacy of eyelid skin, which tends to heal faster and more effectively than skin in some other areas of the body. In some cases, the incision for lower lid eyelid surgery can be made on the inside of the eyelid when appropriate.

Patients Can Only Have Upper or Lower Eyelid Surgery Done In One Surgery, Not Both

This is false. While every patient is different and some may only require rejuvenation of the upper or lower eyelids, it is very common to have both sets of eyelids addressed at once. Upper eyelid blepharoplasty can help address drooping skin and fatty deposits that accumulate on the upper eyelids, which can lead to wrinkling, and a tired or angry appearance. Lower eyelid blepharoplasty performed to help remove or improve bags that appear under the eyes, as well as, fine lines and puffiness, and wrinkled or loose skin that can contribute to a “hollow” under-eye area.

In the decades that I have been performing plastic surgery procedures, eyelid surgery has remained a constant for patients who want to turn back the clock and refresh their facial appearance. Being able to consistently deliver outstanding eyelid surgery results is a big part of why I have been named a Top Doctor in Atlanta for over 20 years, an honor that I do not take lightly. For more information or to schedule a plastic surgery consultation, please contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. And don’t forget that you can connect with me on Facebook for additional tips, videos, news, and more from the world of plastic surgery.

What Can I Expect After Eyelid Surgery?

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Surprises can be nice, but certainly not what anyone wants in the case of plastic surgery. More specifically, the patients that I speak with here in my office take comfort in knowing what they can expect through every stage of their cosmetic surgery process. Both in terms of the procedure itself, as well as the post-surgery recovery period and the results they will ultimately be able to achieve. That’s why I wanted to take some time today to discuss eyelid surgery, and detail what my patients can expect when their procedure has been completed.

Recovery following eyelid surgery is actually pretty simple, and can be broken down into 3 distinct phases. The first is post-procedure bruising around the eyes, which can last between 2 and 3 weeks. Second is swelling, which can last to some degree for up to 8 weeks or more following eyelid surgery. Although most of the obvious visible swelling will be gone after a couple of weeks have passed. Lastly, there is the healing of scars made from surgical incisions made during the procedure, which may take up to about 6 months to fully and completely heal. It is important to remember that this scarring will be minor and hidden in the natural creases of the eyelid to avoid visibility, so this should not be a major concern for patients. Typically, patients can resume normal daily activities like work within 5 to 10 days of their eyelid surgery procedure, but we will discuss this timeframe, as well as what can be done to minimize bruising and swelling, in more detail at the eyelid surgery consultation appointment.

In the days and weeks following eyelid surgery, the patient’s results will continue to improve. This is the natural result of post-surgery bruising and swelling dissipating. While outstanding results will be noticeable much sooner, patients can typically expect to see the final results of their eyelid surgery procedure within about 3 months.

Check out the video below, where I discuss eyelid surgery and the results that patients can expect from their procedure:

Knowledge and preparation are important tools before any plastic surgery procedure can take place. My hope is that this information will help reduce any concerns that patients may have about eyelid surgery and what they can expect after the procedure. Devoting this level of care and attention during consultation appointments is a big part of why I have been named a Top Doctor in Atlanta for over 20 years. For more information or to schedule a plastic surgery consultation, please contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Don’t forget to connect with me on Facebook for additional tips, videos, news, and more.

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