Techniques used in Facial Plastic Surgery for the Eyelids
What is Blepharoplasty Surgery?
Blepharoplasty is one of the most complex procedures in plastic and cosmetic face surgery. There are many techniques described to lift the eyelids. To achieve the optimal outcome, a patient’s specific needs and problems need to be addressed before performing blepharoplasty in Cleveland.
What surgical techniques are used?
There are a spectrum of cosmetic face surgery techniques available to lift or rejuvenate the eyelids. For patients, it is important to understand that the choice of technique depends primarily on the individual patient’s needs. The effects of aging obviously vary from person to person, so the choice of Cleveland blepharoplasty techniques must vary as well. This is a tenet of facial rejuvenation surgery in general. Different surgeons also have different philosophies, preferences, and skill sets.
Analysis of exactly what is problematic with each eyelid is critical to achieving a beautiful outcome. Some patients only require removal of excess skin, which can be safely accomplished in the office setting. Some patients require removal or redraping of excess fat. The basic blepharoplasty procedure in Cleveland involves removal of excess skin and fat from the upper and lower eyelids, however, not every patient is a candidate for the procedures that accomplish this.
A thorough examination and analysis may reveal other issues that need to be addressed to achieve the ideal result, like drooping of the eyebrows, hollowing of the cheeks, weakening of the lower eyelid, or ptosis (loosening of the muscle) of the upper eyelids. Complete correction of eyelid aging may therefore require a browlift, midface lift, ptosis repair (tightening of the muscle that elevates the lid), or lower eyelid tightening cosmetic face surgery procedure. A surgeon must be familiar with all these procedures to offer comprehensive treatment of the eyelids. Dr. Goldman’s dual surgical training in Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery (Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery) makes him ideally suited to treat the eyelids.
What are the risks and concerns with Blepharoplasty surgery?
Various conditions can impact cosmetic face surgery such as eyelid surgery; the most common is excess dryness. Patients have to be evaluated for this condition, which may be a contraindication to cosmetic face surgery. Grave’s disease is a thyroid disorder in which antibodies can attack tissues around the eye, causing the eyes to bulge. Some patients are not aware that they have this disorder initially. Other issues like upper eyelid ptosis (droop) and lower eyelid malposition (ectropion) also need to be identified preoperatively. Pre-existing asymmetry between the left and right eyelids, brows, and facial bones also need to be recognized preoperatively and addressed at a cosmetic face surgery.
The eyelids are delicate structures. Risks specific to blepharoplasty in Cleveland, eyelid surgery, include cosmetic problems, dry eye, ectropion (downward malposition of the lower eyelid), upper eyelid malposition, corneal abrasions, diplopia (double vision), and blindness, which is obviously a rare complication, but can be caused by bleeding around the eye.
How can I get more information?
To contact our office for more information call us at 216-514-8899 or e-mail us at info@drgoldman.com.