They say that the eyes are the window to the soul, but after reaching a certain age, it may look as though we’ve begun to draw the curtains on those windows. Drooping or sagging skin around your eyes is a result of a handful of factors, including age, genetics, stress, gravity, or the environment. As we get older, it’s not unusual to see the delicate skin on our eyelids stretch and sag as collagen production and skin elasticity naturally decrease. Muscles surrounding the eyes also start to weaken with age and are no longer able to support the extra tissue. Eyelid surgery is a practical, minimally-invasive procedure that takes years off of your appearance and can even improve your line of sight, restoring youth and function with just one procedure.
Also known as an eye lift or blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery is one of the most requested cosmetic surgeries for both New York men and women — in fact, it is number three on the list of the most popular procedures, with close to 150,000 lifts performed in 2017 alone. While an eyelid lift can be done on anyone, the highest percentage of patients are between the ages of 50 and 65, once age has begun to take a significant toll on the skin around the eyes. Reasons for undergoing the procedure may include:
- Feeling unsatisfied with the aging appearance of your eyes
- Sagging or drooping upper eyelids
- Excess skin on your upper eyelids that interferes with your vision
- Excess skin on your lower eyelids
- Permanent bags under your eyes
Whatever your reason, if you are experiencing any of the above issues, it may be time to discover how eyelid surgery at New York Group for Plastic Surgery can benefit you by lifting the heavy curtains from those eyes!
Lift Upper Lids
Excess skin on the upper eyelids can be a real nuisance. Aside from perpetually puffy and heavy-lidded eyes, folds of skin on the top lid can obscure the original shape and contour of the eyelid. Skin can even start to sag low enough to start spilling over the upper lash line, obstructing your vision.
Surgery on the upper eyelids aims to remove or rearrange any extra skin, muscle, or fat pockets weighing down your lid. Your surgeon will make a small incision across or near the crease of your eyelid to limit any visible scarring. Once the extra tissue has been removed, the remaining skin will be lifted and tightened, restoring a more youthful and well-rested appearance to the eyes.
Smooth Lower Lids
Dark circles, undereye bags, and wrinkles aren’t just symptoms of a miserable night of sleep — without the collagen and muscle support we need as we get older, they can become a permanent part of our eye’s appearance. Gravity may even pull lower lid skin down enough to reveal the whites of our eyes, causing chronic dryness.
Similar to the upper eyelid procedure, lower eyelid surgery also works to remove any sagging skin tissue or fat from the lower lid but also can eliminate bags and tighten fine lines and wrinkles found around the eyes. An incision is cut along the lower lid, typically along the lower eyelid crease or lash line to prevent visible scarring. Depending on your needs, the excess skin may be trimmed, or to reduce the bags under your eyes, your surgeon will remove or rearrange the excess fat found there.
Improve Vision
Not only do droopy eyelids make us appear older, but they can also interfere with our vision. While most health insurance companies rarely cover cosmetic procedures, you may be eligible for coverage if your eyelids are interfering with your vision and impairing function. You’ll have to schedule an appointment with an optometrist to test if skin folds are creating obstacles within your eyesight. If they are, your insurance may cover at least a portion of the cost.
Customized Results
The beauty of selecting New York Group for Plastic Surgery for your eyelid surgery is that our surgeons will work with you to design a personalized treatment plan to ensure that you receive the rejuvenation results you desire. Whether it’s an eyelid lift alone or choosing to add other procedures to enhance your results further, New York Group for Plastic Surgery is here to help.
There are countless numbers of combinations of procedures you can choose to complement your eyelid lift. Pairing eye surgery with a brow lift can give both your forehead and eyelids the extra lift they need for a smoother, more, youthful appearance. Some patients even find a brow lift procedure alone is enough to make their eyes appear more alert. If dark circles under your eyes are a problem, you may consider adding a chemical peel or other skin treatment to your lower lid blepharoplasty to help to correct skin tone and look more well-rested. You may even settle on a neck lift or facelift for total facial rejuvenation.
Less Risk, More Reward
Eyelid surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure that uses local anesthesia to numb the eyelids and surrounding areas. Local anesthesia comes with less risk and less recovery time, and the process itself lasts no longer than three hours, providing it is the only surgery taking place. If more procedures are selected, general anesthesia will typically be used, and both your surgical and recovery time will increase.
While bruising, swelling and some discomfort are the most common side effects, these are mild and temporary. Most patients who undergo an eye lift are ready to return to work or resume their normal routine in just ten to fourteen days; however, a few more weeks of healing are sometimes required before resuming more strenuous physical activity, or if any additional procedures were added. Be sure to follow your surgeon’s post-operative care instructions to ensure the best possible results.
Restore Confidence
Your eyes not only serve to help you see but also to connect with others and convey your emotions. Eye contact is a daily occurrence, and strong eye contact is often an indicator of high self-confidence, especially during an interview or while meeting new people.
Unfortunately, because of the delicate skin around your eyes, they are also the first facial feature to start displaying visible signs of aging. If the appearance of your eyelids interferes with how you feel about yourself or interact with others, or the excess skin frequently conveys the wrong emotions— like fatigue, stress or anger— an eye lift can help restore your confidence in the way you look.
If you’re tired of looking tired and are eager to bring some life back into your eyes, look no further than eyelid surgery at New York Group for Plastic Surgery. Request your consultation online, or call us today at 888-834-2075 or 914-366-6139 for Tarrytown. We’ll find a solution that works for you, helping you reach your goal of achieving natural, younger-looking eyes.