Eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure to reduce wrinkles and lines around the eyelids and rejuvenate the upper face appearance. A few key steps are involved in this procedure, which may vary a little depending on the extent of correction required in lower, upper or both eyelids.
Dr. Trang Vo-Nguyen (Dr. V) is a board certified facial plastic surgeon providing eyelid surgery to patients in Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and surrounding locations.
Anesthesia
Eyelid surgery is usually performed with the patient under mild sedation and local anesthesia. If the patient has higher anxiety levels or the surgery is combined with other facial procedures such as facelift or brow lift, general anesthesia may be applied. The surgeon will assess the patient’s health and review medical records to determine suitability for anesthesia and review any history of drug allergies.
Lower Eyelid Surgery
Following anesthesia, the surgeon will begin the lower blepharoplasty procedure by placing small incisions in discreet sites around the lower eyelids. To create hidden incisions, the surgeon may use the natural skin creases below the lower eyelashes. Through the incisions, the surgeon will remove excess fat and skin, and tighten the weak underlying muscles.
Facial filler injections or facial fat transfer procedure may be additionally used if the hollows below the lower eyelids are significant. Once the procedure is completed, the surgeon will close the incisions with fine sutures.
Upper Eyelid Surgery
The incisions will be placed in the natural creases of upper lids in case of upper eyelid surgery. The surgeon will trim away loose skin through the incisions to get rid of the droopy effect of the upper lids and correct any partial vision obstruction. If the underlying muscles are weak, these may also be tightened through the incisions.
Following the removal of loose skin, the remaining skin will be lifted and reattached for a smoother, more youthful upper eyelid appearance. Thereafter, the surgeon will close the incisions with fine sutures. Dr. V receives patients from Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and nearby areas for eyelid surgery.
Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty
In some cases, the patient’s sole concern may be the appearance of excess fat deposits around the eyelids, while the eyelid skin may still have elasticity and suppleness. In such case, transconjunctival eyelid surgery may be performed. This procedure will be less invasive and recommended in cases where the under eye bags are less prominent.
Following anesthesia, several tiny incisions inside the lower eyelid will be placed. The surgeon will remove excess fat pockets through the incisions to create an enhanced look of the lower eyelids. The procedure will not involve skin excision or muscle tightening. Scarring will not be visible from the outside because the incisions in this procedure are placed inside the eyelid.
Following the eyelid surgery, the patient will have to go through a recovery phase lasting for about one week. During this period, the patient should follow the surgeon’s post-op care instructions for the safest and most desirable results.
For more infomation please contact Dr. V. Dr. Trang Thuy Vo-Nguyen, known to her patients as “Dr. V,” is a board certified facial plastic surgeon providing the latest surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures in Northern Virginia, Leesburg, Loudoun, Fairfax, Warrenton, Fauquier, Arlington, Manassas, Middleburg, Prince William, and other areas. https://thevirginiainstitute.com/contact-us/
