The eyes account for a large part of your face’s expression. They project an array of emotions, including happiness, sorrow, and fear. The eyes themselves are virtually expressionless structures. It is the contour of the skin – the tissue, muscle, fat, hair and lashes around the eyes – that conveys expression. Wrinkles and deep lines, as well as puffiness on the lids, begin to develop with the passage of time. These physical changes can create an aged or tired appearance and produce anxiety and actual visual impairment.

Today, several remarkable surgical techniques, including blepharoplasty, or eyelid lift surgery, have been developed to reduce many of these problems. Upper blepharoplasty addresses excess skin and fat on the upper eyelids to lift the eyes while lower blepharoplasty corrects puffy under-eyes, The blepharoplasty procedure involves the removal of excess skin and fat on upper and lower eyelids and is often done in conjunction with other surgical procedures, including a facelift, brow lift, and forehead lift.

The best candidates for blepharoplasty surgery have:

• good overall health with no underlying medical conditions
• drooping or sagging eyelids
• fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes
• dark circles or heavy fat pads below the eyes

Exposure to the sun and genetic predisposition can be contributing factors to these conditions. If you are experiencing these skin contour changes, you may be a good candidate for eyelid surgery in Nashville.

Before your eyelid surgery, your medical history and general health will be evaluated. A thorough examination of the eyes and face will be made to determine the most effective surgical approach. The amount, distribution, and type of excess skin to be removed is carefully noted. One of our doctors will discuss the procedure, what results might realistically be expected, and possible risks and complications. An examination by an ophthalmologist may be recommended. Antibiotics may be prescribed for a few days before eyelid surgery to prevent infection.

The eyelid surgery procedure can take from 30 minutes to two hours depending upon the extent of the surgery. It is performed in our on-site surgery facility. It can be done under general anesthesia with the patient asleep, or under local anesthesia in which the area is numbed, and the patient remains awake. Before surgery, premedication to relax the patient is administered.

The doctor, following natural lines and creases, makes very fine incisions from the inner to the outer edge of the eyelid. For upper eyelid surgery the incision is made in the fold of the lid or the natural eyelid crease. For lower eyelid surgery, the incision is made directly below the eyelash or, in selected cases, inside the lid. Excess fat and skin are then removed from the underlying compartments. The amount of fat excised is determined by the degree of protrusion of fat when pressure is gently applied to the area. Small sutures are used to close the incision, and special ointments and dressings may be applied.

After blepharoplasty procedures, patients can expect mild to moderate swelling and bruising that lasts about three weeks. However, discomfort and swelling will improve significantly during the first week. After this time, patients can return to work and light activities. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for at least three weeks. To limit swelling, sleep with your head elevated, use ice packs and take anti-inflammatory medication as prescribed. Makeup cannot be applied for two weeks to protect your healing incisions.

If you want to refresh your youthful appearance with blepharoplasty in Nashville, TN, schedule a consultation today at Marvel Cosmetic Surgery. Our four office locations in Nashville, Tullahoma, and Clarksville, TN, and Hopkinsville, KY make us easily accessible to patients seeking exceptional results from facial plastic surgery.

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