It makes sense that what we use to look at others — our eyes — also happens to be the area of the face that others look at to see signs of aging in us. Our eyes are responsible for a lot, after all. Besides seeing, they also convey how we’re feeling, expressing emotions as we experience them. And there’s a reason romantic comedies usually feature the guy telling his friends the thing he noticed about a certain girl was her eyes. The downside of being so intricate to our lives and our looks is the delicate nature of the components that they consist of. That delicate nature makes the eyes, and skin around them, susceptible to the effects of the sun (ultraviolet light exposure), gravity,
and repetitive movements. In other words, wrinkles, drooping, and bags under the eyes. As we age, these effects only become more pronounced, which in turn makes the signs of aging more obvious. A cosmetic procedure called a lower lid blepharoplasty can go a long way toward correcting these signs of aging around the eyes, especially the dreaded under eye bags, which is one of the major reasons the procedure has become so popular.
The procedure — Eyelid lifts can refer to either the upper or lower eyelids (or both). For this discussion, the focus is on lower eyelid surgery, or lower lid blepharoplasty. Your GLOW cosmetic surgeon has options available to her when it comes to choosing where to make the incisions. That choice will depend on what you want and what your goals are for the procedure, something you will cover with your cosmetic surgeon before surgery is performed. Incisions can be made either directly below the lash line or on the inside of the eyelid itself. The latter is called a “transconjunctival approach,” which allows for access to the eyelid fat without visible incisions. Again, depending on what your goals are for the procedure, your GLOW cosmetic surgeon will be able to either remove or add fat or remove skin from the eyelids. Technically, the eyelid is not “lifted” during an “eyelid lift,” but the visual changes can easily lead to that perception.
Why lower lid blepharoplasty? The simple answer: to improve the way you feel about how your eyes, and the skin around them, look. To others. To yourself. It’s up to you.
Specifically, lower lid blepharoplasty procedures are performed to reduce wrinkles, and improve the shape of the lower eyelid by removing excess skin and fat. Or, alternatively, fat or dermal filler can be added to combat and improve a “hollowed” appearance around your eyes.
Recovery and results — Recovery times will be different for every individual. In general, you can expect some swelling, bruising, irritation, and/or dry eyes and mild discomfort afterwards. The healing process is fairly straight forward, however. Lubricating ointments and cold compresses may be applied, but a return to work and normal life fairly quickly (7-10 days) is typical. Thin bandages are usually placed over the incision sites and removed after a few days, while any stitches can remain in the skin for around a week (if they’re self-absorbing stitches, then of course removal isn’t necessary). You and your GLOW cosmetic surgeon will have a tailored recovery plan especially for you going into the procedure. As for the results, you’ll notice them within several weeks, although it could take up to a year for full-fledged results to become 100 percent refined. Results will be permanent, although you’ll of course continue to age naturally.
Is lower lid blepharoplasty an option for you? If you’re in relatively good health, chances are you make a good candidate for the procedure, yes. Everyone is different, though. And everyone has different goals in mind when they choose to pursue a cosmetic procedure. A GLOW cosmetic surgeon will work with you — for free, with no obligation — to determine whether or not you and your goals make up a good match for a procedure like lower lid blepharoplasty. Your eyes do a lot for you, and they’re one of the first things others notice about you, too. If you have begun to wish you could change the way the skin around and underneath your eyes looks… just know that you can!
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