Eyelid Surgery
Many individuals feel as though their eyes are the first feature to reveal their actual age. Drooping upper lids, puffy bags and excess fat below the eyes can make us look more tired than we feel and can even interfere with vision. Excess upper lid skin can also limit the ability to apply makeup effectively to the eyelid. An eyelid procedure (also known as blepharoplasty) can help to reverse the signs of aging by giving the eyes a rejuvenated, relaxed and refreshed appearance. Blepharoplasty is the surgical removal of fat, excess skin and muscle from the upper and/or lower eyelids. Dr. Barr has performed upper and lower eyelid surgery on patients from Ontario and across Canada for over 25 years.
Educate Yourself on Your Procedure
If you are considering a blepharoplasty procedure, please continue reading for further information on what you can expect. If you have any questions about eyelid surgery, or any of our other procedures, please contact us.
What are the Benefits of a Blepharoplasty Procedure?
Patients interested in pursuing an Eyelid procedure often seek to:
- Eliminate fat pockets in upper and lower lids
- Remove excess skin in the upper and lower lids
- Remove excess skin wrinkles in the lower eyelid skin
- Restore a youthful appearance to the lids
- Reduce the extent and depth of crow’s feet
- Improve confidence
Preparing for Your Eyelid Lift Procedure
What is the first step in Pursuing the Eyelid Lift procedure?
The first step when considering blepharoplasty surgery is to schedule your consultation with Dr. Barr. The consultation process provides an opportunity for you to obtain important information about the procedure and to have all your questions answered prior to proceeding with surgery. It also enables Dr. Barr to properly assess you and determine whether you are a suitable candidate for blepharoplasty surgery.
You should be prepared to discuss your medical history, including any medical conditions, drug allergies, medical treatments you have received, previous surgeries, and all current medications.
During your consultation Dr. Barr will carefully examine your face, forehead and eyebrow area, and will assess your general health. Different surgical approaches and options will be discussed and he will explain which surgical approach would be best suited to you based on your individual characteristics and aesthetic goals.
The benefits, risks and potential complications associated with blepharoplasty surgery will be explained during this consultation. The information provided will be comprehensive and thorough and will enable you to make an informed decision as to whether or not a blepharoplasty procedure is the right choice for you. At the time of your consultation, a comprehensive instruction package will be provided to ensure that you are well informed.
Am I a candidate for a blepharoplasty procedure?
The ideal candidates for a blepharoplasty procedure are healthy men and women who have realistic expectations of surgical outcomes. You may be a good candidate for eyelid lift surgery if you have one or more of the following conditions:
- Fat pockets in upper and lower eyelids
- Excess skin in the upper and/or lower eyelids
- Excess wrinkles in the lower eyelid
- Tired or sad appearing eyes
- Long lower lid length
Can I combine another surgery with my eyelid lift procedure?
Many patients have other facial aging concerns they want addressed during the same consultation. When communicating with our office to book your consultation, just let us know what else you would like to discuss. It may be possible to schedule an additional procedure at the same time as your blepharoplasty. It is common for patients to discuss a brow lift operation to permanently correct the brow position and shape or botox treatments to temporarily elevate and reshape the brow in conjunction with upper lid blepharoplasty. In addition, it is common for patients to discuss micro fat grafting and nano fat grafting in conjunction with lower lid blepharoplasty. This consists of removing fat from one area of the body to be used as a natural filler in the undereye area to restore lost volume. You can learn more about this procedure here. Dr. Barr would be pleased to review all of these options with you at the time of your consultation.
The Procedure
What will I need to do prior to surgery?
Prior to your forehead or brow lift you will be scheduled for a pre-op session with a Registered Nurse to review your medical history and your post-op instructions. She will review the information you will need to know in order to prepare yourself for surgery and the normal post-operative course.
How is an eyelid lift procedure performed?
There are different techniques that may be employed during your eyelid lift surgery, depending on whether you are seeking to have your upper or lower lids lifted. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic that is provided after a small amount of light sedation is given. Patients are completely comfortable and relaxed throughout the procedure. This is done as an out patient procedure and patients leave when they are fully awake and ready, which is typically within an hour after surgery.
The surgical technique used for the lower lid blepharoplasty will be determined by the status of the lower lid, the extent of skin laxity, and patient preference. The two lower lid blepharoplasty techniques employed by Dr. Barr are the transconjunctival lower lid blepharoplasty or the subciliary lower lid blepharoplasty. The upper lid blepharoplasty is performed through an incision hidden within the upper lid crease. Each patient has very different anatomy and Dr. Barr individualizes the blepharoplasty to each patient’s aesthetic needs to create an optimal outcome.
Transconjunctival Lower Lid Blepharoplasty
This procedure is usually performed on younger patients with excessive eyelid skin fat but minimal skin laxity. A small incision is made within the pink (conjunctival) tissue, inside the lower lid. Through this incision, excessive fat can be easily removed or repositioned. If there is any skin laxity, it can be treated with minimal excision, resurfacing treatments or laser therapies. No visible scar exists with this procedure, since the incision site is in the lower lid.
Subciliary Lower Lid Blepharoplasty
Patients who have excessive lower eyelid skin in addition to excess muscle and fat are the best candidates for the subciliary surgical method. During this procedure the incision is made in the natural crease, just below the eyelashes. Through this approach, excessive muscle, fat and skin is removed or repositioned. Fat is often used to blend the lid cheek junction for a dramatic lower lid rejuvenating effect. With time, the incision becomes undetectable.
Upper Blepharoplasty
During this procedure, a small incision is hidden in the natural upper eyelid crease. Excessive skin, muscle and fat are removed or repositioned using this technique. Often fat is repositioned to create an aesthetic fullness in the upper lid. No visible scar remains after healing as the incision follows the natural crease and is hidden within it.
Pricing
How much does eyelid surgery cost?
Pricing for your procedure will depend on whether you have concurrent procedures along with your eyelid surgery and will be provided to you during your consultation. Patients choosing to invest in their self-confidence and happiness through cosmetic surgery have many options available to make this investment more manageable. Our Patient Coordinators are familiar with various payment options and can facilitate the process for you.
Is full payment required or do you offer a financing plan?
Affording your procedure can be made simpler by using Medicard which enables you to pay for your surgery with monthly payments. Please note that this company is not affiliated in any way with Barr Plastic Surgery. For more information on how financing can help you afford your procedure, visit:
Recovery
How long will it take me to recover from my eyelid lift procedure?
Dr. Barr’s extensive experience in performing the blepharoplasty procedure will help to ensure that your post-operative recovery is minimized. Eyelid lift surgery patients are discharged the same day as their procedure. Sutures will be removed 7 days after surgery.
Patients are advised to rest while keeping the head elevated and to use ice packs/cold compresses regularly for 2 days following surgery. This will minimize bruising and swelling in the eye area.
Bruising may persist for up to 10 days after surgery but can be camouflaged with makeup after approximately one week. You can do normal light activities the day after surgery but cannot do any activities that increase your blood pressure for two weeks after surgery. You can return to the gym and full work activities without restriction at two weeks following surgery.
Will I have scarring?
Dr. Barr takes every precaution to ensure your scarring is as minimal and hides the incisions so that they are as undetectable as possible. Time improves all incisions. During the post-operative visits Dr. Barr and his staff will discuss methods to optimize your incisions. These include massage, sun avoidance, sunglasses when outside and silicone gel.
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