Anaheim Eyelid Surgery doctors

Upper and lower blepharoplasty are very different procedures for different types of problems. Upper eyelids frequently develop marked laxity of the skin with significant excess skin drooping. Correction of this problem is frequently just removal of the excess skin and occasionally minimal removal of some fat pad protrusion. The lower lid is more complex. Here the problem is often bulging (pseudo-herniation) of fat pads, muscle weakness, and skin laxity. Frequently the lower lid repair (blepharoplasty) requires minimal fat pad removal, muscle tightening, and finally excision of excess skin. In many middle-aged and elderly patients, lower blepharoplasty requires an incision under the eyelash line rather than an internal incision in order to address the skin and muscle problems. The internal incision can only resolve the fat issues. Both approaches heal well and rapidly.

It’s not one procedure vs. the other. They frequently go together as many people require the combination. As is important in medicine, the right diagnosis leads to correct treatment. I always evaluate the percentage of the problem due to drooping brow (ptosis) and upper eyelid laxity. A falling brow can’t be fixed by blepharoplasty, so if the brow represents a significant proportion of the problem the results will be compromised without adding the brow lift.
 

Incisions for upper eyelid surgery are made in the natural crease of the lid which occurs when the eye is open. The incision for lower lid surgery is made just below the lash line. Both of these incisions are closed with sutures that begin to dissolve about day 4 or 5 post surgery. These incisions heal very quickly and will only be light pink in color. Once the incisions are completely sealed, about 2 weeks after surgery, new, bacteria free, makeup can be patted on the incisions. Within 2 to 3 months they should be undetectable.