Blepharoplasty in Atlanta

For decades, a lower lid blepharoplasty always included the removal of fat, but since people lose volume as they age, the techniques used today preserve volume for patients who have lost fat by moving (not removing) the fat pads. In patients with a loss of volume in the lower eyelid that causes a hollow appearance or a deep “tear trough”, lower eyelid blepharoplasty is designed to restore the slight youthful convexity by adding volume. Common techniques including moving part of the fat pad into the tear trough (fat transposition) or moving upper cheek fat into the horizontal hollow of the lower eyelid.*

Often, an upper eyelid blepharoplasty consists of a conservative removal of excess skin to recreate the upper eyelid crease. In some cases, a small amount of fat and muscle may also be removed. Lost volume is a major factor in aging and continues after eyelid surgery, so instead of removing upper eyelid fat, our blepharoplasty surgeons will sometimes tighten the membrane that holds the fat in place. This repositions the fat so that it no longer protrudes. If your brow has become much lower, and your eyebrows are sagging from age, instead of only removing tissue from the upper eyelids, your upper eyelid blepharoplasty may be combined with a brow lift at the same time to achieve the best results. For some people, smoothing out crow’s feet can be accomplished with BOTOX®. Although BOTOX® treatment is temporary, it can accentuate the results of your eyelid surgery.*

As you can see, there are many options available to correct the cosmetic problems that have changed your eyes. During your consultation for blepharoplasty Atlanta plastic surgeon, Dr. Killingsworth will provide information on any and all of the cosmetic procedures available that would be the most beneficial to your circumstances. For most patients, eyelid surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure using a local anesthetic and intravenous (IV) sedation, but general anesthesia may also be an option. Blepharoplasty usually takes thirty to ninety minutes to perform. If you are having both upper and lower blepharoplasty performed, your surgery will usually take longer.*

It is important to understand that the amount of time it takes for recovery from eye surgery varies greatly from patient-to-patient. For the first few days after your surgery, you should rest quietly with your head elevated and you may be instructed to apply cold compresses to your eyelids. Initially, you may feel a tight sensation around the eyes and any discomfort can be controlled with medication. During the first forty-eight hours following surgery, most patients experience varying degrees of swelling and bruising; for some, the mild swelling may persist for several weeks, while for others the swelling subsides in as little as one week. Your vision may be somewhat blurry for a few days and your eyes will be temporarily sensitive to light so you may want to wear dark sunglasses to protect your eyes from wind and sun irritation. Straining, bending, and lifting should be avoided during the early postoperative period. Most Atlanta blepharoplasty patients resume normal activities within ten days or less.*

Since the healing process for blepharoplasty is gradual, you should expect to wait at least several weeks to appreciate the final outcome of your aesthetic eyelid surgery. Blepharoplasty results are usually long-lasting, although as your skin continues to age, skin laxity and wrinkling of the eyelid area may at some point return. Even though eyelid surgery cannot stop the aging process, undergoing a blepharoplasty procedure at Astra Plastic Surgery can restore a refreshed and rejuvenated expression.*