They say the eyes are the windows to our soul. More directly, we think that our eyes are a reflection of our true selves. People “read” us through our eyes. Our eyes display how we are feeling. They represent our personality, too, without us realizing it. The skin around the eyes is a strong contributor to our appearance. When this tissue loses its firmness and elasticity, it’s sagging and drooping can alter how we are perceived. If you are frustrated about problems like hooded eyelids or bags, you may be a great candidate for eyelid surgery. Cosmetic blepharoplasty is one of the most popular procedures in plastic surgery today. Read on to understand why.
Surgery
Blepharoplasty procedures are performed in an outpatient surgical center or, in some cases, in the office. Upper blepharoplasty is a simple procedure that many patients have done with a local anesthetic only, and maybe with light sedation. Anesthesia is a topic of discussion during the consultation visit. The procedure can take one to three hours, depending on how extensive it is. Some patients combine their eyelid rejuvenation with other treatments, so the duration of surgery is highly personalized to the patient’s treatment plan. The incisions made during blepharoplasty are well-hidden in the natural crease or near the lash line. The surgeon utilizes small instruments to reposition fatty tissue and trim excess skin, resulting in youthful, natural contouring and invisible scarring.
Recovery
Eyelid rejuvenation surgery has a brief and usually uneventful recovery. Patients may take prescription pain medication for a few days to manage comfort. Swelling and bruising are to be expected, and can be managed by staying upright or elevated while sleeping. Cold compresses may be applied for short periods to soothe these side effects. We expect a full recovery, meaning no more swelling and bruising, within a month after surgery. That said, patients usually resume most normal activities in a week to 10 days with minimal cosmetic evidence of their procedure. Except for a refreshed appearance, that is!
Results
One of the benefits of eyelid surgery is that the results are immediate. Even with minor bruising and swelling, patients can see the improvement in the shape of their eyelids. Over time, the effects of aging do affect the skin. However, the results of blepharoplasty are long-lasting. Many patients never have the procedure repeated and continue to feel great about their appearance.
Start the New Year with a fresh new face. Contact Bershof Plastic Surgery at 303.399.7662 for an appointment at our Denver office.
Is Blepharoplasty Your Ideal Rejuvenating Procedure?
Friday, February 14, 2020
Aging wouldn’t be such a bad thing if it didn’t cause us to look so worn out. The changes that affect the skin, especially the delicate tissue around the eyes, do that and more. Hooded, sagging eyelids depict fatigue and cause people to perceive the face as angry-looking. People with tired-looking eyes are also people that others often see as unfriendly or uninterested. Inaccurate perceptions can have a profound effect on a person’s social and professional success. Fortunately, aging eyelids have become much easier to correct. In recent years, the number of people undergoing blepharoplasty has increased significantly. Here, we discuss how to determine if this procedure may be ideal for you.
Who is a Good Candidate for Blepharoplasty?
People often ask about the “right age” for blepharoplasty. This is an especially common question among patients in their forties. Cosmetic lifts like eyelid surgery are meant for older people, right? No. Many forty-somethings undergo blepharoplasty to address age-related tissue sagging and hooding before appearance is severely impacted. Conversely, blepharoplasty is also often ideal for people in their sixties or seventies. The bottom line here is that there is no “right age” for blepharoplasty. Eyelid rejuvenation is ideal for you when the tissue on the eyelids looks droopy, saggy, puffy, or otherwise problematic.
Blepharoplasty and the Question of Scarring
You may realize that all types of surgeries leave scars where incisions are made. This fact can present concerns related to blepharoplasty. How will scars on the eyelids look? Won’t everyone be able to see them? Interestingly, blepharoplasty scars are quite discreet. The visibility of scarring relates to the thickness of the skin. Because the skin on the eyelids is so thin, the scars that result from incisions made in the natural crease of the upper eyelid are hardly noticeable. By that, we mean the only way someone would see your upper blepharoplasty scars is if they were looking for them while you had your eyes closed. Lower blepharoplasty incisions are usually made on the inside of the eyelid where resulting scars are not visible.
Learn more about blepharoplasty and how a little eyelid rejuvenation could refresh your whole look. Call our Denver office at 303.399.7662 to schedule a consultation.
Has Your Face Lost its Energy? It Can Be Revived!
Sunday, December 15, 2019
It may sound funny to say that the face has energy. However, we all know what this looks like in real life. Think back to a time when you met someone that you instantly liked. What did their face look like? Chances are, the magnetic attraction had nothing to do with 5-Star beauty and much more to do with the energy exuded from their expressions.
When the face starts to age, it isn't as good at projecting the energy we feel on the inside. Tissue and muscular changes can make us look angry or sad, or all-out unfriendly. In many cases, these inaccurate character traits revolve around the appearance of the eyes. Here, we discuss the common problems we see and how they can be dealt with.
Problem: Frown Lines
Correction: Botox®
Most of the lines that develop around the eyes and on the forehead are due to muscle movement. We use the same muscles in the same way every time we squint, frown, smile, laugh, and make other facial expressions. Just like doing crunches in the gym tones the abdominal muscles, frowning tones the muscles used to make that expression. Muscles that are toned are constantly contracting. Botox releases the contracted state so the muscles can rest. To eliminate frown lines (and worry lines and crow's feet), a small amount of Botox is injected into the muscle. It's that easy. Treatment lasts less than 15 minutes. Results last about 4 months.
Problem: Under Eye Bags and Circles
Correction: Dermal Fillers
The skin changes with age, and so does the fatty tissue just beneath the dermis. Under the eyes, tissue changes can do two things. They can cause the fat pads under the eyes to look swollen or they can cause the eyes to look sunken. Either way, the resulting appearance ages the face. Dermal fillers can disguise puffiness and correct mild shadowing by adding volume to the subcutaneous tissue beneath the eyes. Dermal fillers injected into the curved line that separates the under-eye area from the upper cheek eliminates the crease and makes bags disappear. Adding volume beneath the eyes also changes the reflection of light off the skin. This is how dark circles can be improved.
Problem: Under Eye Bags
Correction: Eyelid Surgery
Didn't we just state that dermal fillers are a good solution for under-eye bags? We did. They are. However, they don't last forever. Dermal fillers can improve the under-eye area for up to 2 years. For more permanent rejuvenation of the eyelids, we consider blepharoplasty. This minor plastic surgery uses a small incision just at the lash line to access fatty tissue. This tissue may be repositioned to smooth the under-eye area, or some may be removed. Loose skin is then tightened to achieve a look that refreshes the face.
It isn't difficult to bring good energy back into the face. To discover the approach that's best for you, schedule a consultation in our Denver office at 303.399.7662.
What to Expect After Your Eyelid Lift
Sunday, July 15, 2018
More than 200,000 people have undergone blepharoplasty, or eyelid rejuvenation, each year for the past few years running. The popularity of the eyelid lift is not unfounded in the least. Men and women recognize that aging eyes don’t just make them appear older; heavy eyelids create an unfriendly and fatigued appearance. Blepharoplasty is a straightforward procedure that quickly refreshes the face by merely focusing on the eyes.
Patients who are considering blepharoplasty usually have questions about recovery. Here, we will explain what it is really like to recover from this cosmetic procedure.
Swelling and bruising are the most common side effects after eyelid rejuvenation surgery. Most patients expect this, along with some tenderness and soreness. The fortunate thing about post-surgical swelling and bruising is that these side effects typically only last a few days. Sleeping with the head elevated minimizes fluid accumulation in the surgical area and may decrease the severity of swelling as well as bruising. Cold compresses, applied for twenty-minute sessions, can also aid tissue healing with minimal swelling.
To manage the minor discomfort that follows surgery, patients are encouraged to take prescription pain medication as directed in their post-op instructions. After about a week, it may be possible to transition to over-the-counter medications to remain comfortable. Comfort and other side effects usually decrease quickly over a seven-day period. After this time, most patients can return to most of their normal activities without apparent signs of surgery. It is necessary to postpone more strenuous activities for several more weeks to avoid disrupting the healing process.
Patients are often interested to know how they can prevent scarring after blepharoplasty. In many cases, incisions are made on the inside of the eyelid where they will heal naturally without any assistance. External incisions on the eyelid are made in a discreet place such as the natural crease or the lash line. In these situations, slight redness may be noticed for the first few days after surgery. As tissue heals, the pinkness in scar tissue decreases.
Blepharoplasty recovery tends to follow a general process. However, the extent and duration of side effects will differ from one person to another. Learn more about the eyelid lift performed by Dr. Bershof and how it can help you look refreshed. Call our Denver office at 303-399-7662.
What to Expect After Your Eyelid Lift
More than 200,000 people have undergone blepharoplasty, or eyelid rejuvenation, each year for the past few years running. The popularity of the eyelid lift is not unfounded in the least. Men and women recognize that aging eyes don’t just make them appear older; heavy eyelids can also create an unfriendly and fatigued appearance. Blepharoplasty is a straightforward procedure that quickly refreshes the face by merely focusing on the eyes.
Patients who are considering blepharoplasty often have questions about recovery. Here, we will explain what it is really like to recover from this cosmetic procedure.
Swelling and bruising are the most common side effects after eyelid rejuvenation surgery. Most patients expect this, along with some tenderness and soreness. The fortunate thing about post-surgical swelling and bruising is that these side effects typically only last a few days. Sleeping with the head elevated minimizes fluid accumulation in the surgical area and may decrease the severity of swelling as well as bruising. Cold compresses, applied for twenty-minute sessions, can also aid tissue healing with minimal swelling.
To manage the minor discomfort that follows surgery, patients are encouraged to take prescription pain medication as directed in their post-op instructions. After about a week, it may be possible to transition to over-the-counter medications to remain comfortable. Comfort and other side effects usually decrease quickly over a seven-day period. After this time, most patients can return to most of their normal activities without apparent signs of surgery. It is necessary to postpone more strenuous activities for several more weeks to avoid disrupting the healing process.
Patients are often interested to know how they can prevent scarring after blepharoplasty. In many cases, incisions are made on the inside of the eyelid where they will heal naturally without any assistance. External incisions on the eyelid are made in a discreet place such as the natural crease or the lash line. In these situations, slight redness may be noticed for the first few days after surgery. As tissue heals, the pinkness in scar tissue decreases.
Blepharoplasty recovery tends to follow a general process. However, the extent and duration of side effects will differ from one person to another. Learn more about the eyelid lift performed by Dr. Bershof and how it can help you look refreshed. Call our Denver office at 303-399-7662.