Tampa locals can open up and refresh their appearances with blepharoplasty. This surgical procedure is designed to eliminate loose and sagging skin at the upper lid so that the eyes look focused and alert. It can also be used to eliminate vision obstructions. It can correct droopiness, sagging, and puffiness at the lower lids as well. Depending upon the severity of the patient’s condition, this can be both a cosmetic and a functional procedure. Different patients have their own concerns and goals when scheduling these procedures. As such, there are many ways in which eyelid surgery can be performed, and the procedure can be customized based on the patient’s wants and needs.
What is Eyelid Surgery and Why Do People Get It?
The eyes are easily the most noticeable feature on the face. Unfortunately, they are also the very first feature to show signs of advanced facial aging. For this and many other reasons, blepharoplasty is currently one of the most requested plastic surgeries in the world. As you grow older and your skin starts losing its elasticity, the skin around your eyes can become loose and saggy. Moreover, sagging skin at and around the eyes can make you look tired, depressed, or even angry, even when you are focused, happy, and alert. Given that the world is becoming increasingly youth-obsessed and appearance-conscious, regaining a bright-eyed and alert look could be important for maintaining your marketability.
Beyond ensuring that you always look your best, blepharoplasty can also eliminate any loose and sagging skin that’s making it difficult for you to see clearly. When the breakdown of the skin’s integrity is especially severe around the eyes, some people have a hard time driving their cars safely, performing complex tasks at work, and operating certain forms of machinery. In these cases, blepharoplasty is largely performed for its functional benefits. Removing excess sagging skin and tightening up lax muscles at and around the eyes can greatly improve a person’s overall life quality.
There are other reasons to seek eyelid surgery in Tampa as well. Whether you are interested in the procedure for cosmetic or functional reasons, you owe it to yourself to learn as much about the procedure as you possibly can.
How Eyelid Surgery is Performed
It’s important to understand that the exact details of eyelid surgery vary from patient to patient based on a number of factors. Oftentimes, both the upper and lower lids are done at the same time. Local anesthesia will most likely be used to ensure that you are comfortable, relaxed, and blissfully unaware of the work that’s going on.
The doctor may need to separate this skin from all of the excess fat and tissue that lies beneath it. If loose or lax muscles are present in the area, these may be separated as well. The excision of excess tissue is what gives the eyes their younger and more alert appearance post-treatment.
Eyelid surgery for the upper and lower lids can be performed using a variety of techniques. Depending upon the approach that the doctor uses, it may not be necessary to use invasive techniques. This will provide the perfect, small-sized opening for eliminating loose muscle, fat, and excess skin.
Getting Ready for Your Eyelid Surgery in Tampa
There are a few things that you should do in advance of your blepharoplasty procedure. To start, you want to make sure to give the doctor a complete list of all medications that you are currently taking. This includes both over-the-counter medications and any dietary or herbal supplements that you take for good health. Many of these products have the ability to make your surgical procedure unnecessarily complicated. Surprisingly, even store-bought pain relievers like Ibuprofen and aspirin should be discontinued ahead of the treatment. These are known as NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They thin the blood and sometimes cause difficulties with clotting. Anytime you plan on undergoing a surgical treatment, you will want to stop using NSAIDs and other blood thinners like them in the weeks ahead of your appointment.
If you are a tobacco user, you’ll want to quit smoking before your treatment day. Smoking constricts the blood vessels, and it inhibits optimum blood flow. It additionally slows the healing process and increases the level of risk associated with treating you. What’s more, most forms of anesthesia are considered to be much safer for use with non-smokers than smokers. This is because their nervous system, heart, lungs, and blood vessels tend to function better. If you need help finding the right cessation plan ahead of your procedure, be sure to mention this to the doctor during your consultation.
You should also make arrangements for a ride to and from your appointment. Although this is a short, simple, outpatient treatment, you certainly won’t be in any position to drive yourself home. In fact, it is also beneficial to have a friend or family member stay with you overnight on your first day of recovery, if not the first couple of days. This way, you’ll have help ready and on hand if any problems or complications arise. If you are responsible for caring for any pets or small children, be sure to outsource these responsibilities to someone else for at least two to three days so that you can set yourself up for success.
What to Expect When Recovering From Blepharoplasty
The doctor will provide you with a comprehensive list of instructions to follow for ensuring proper aftercare and rapid healing. You will likely receive special antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection. These should be used exactly as advised until the entire recommended course is complete. You should follow the guidelines that the doctor provides carefully. Although you can get a lot of helpful information about post-treatment recovery other places, the instructions that you receive from the surgeon will be needs-specific and reflective of your personal treatment plan.
You’ll be able to head home following your procedure after your anesthesia has worn off. Your eyes may be covered with gauze and your vision will likely be blurry. This is the time when it is definitely important to have a friend or family member on hand. As with all other plastic surgeries, the first 24 hours post-treatment are the most important. You want to avoid any physical strain and high-energy activities. Instead, this time should be spent lying down with your head slightly elevated. The gauze that’s placed over the eyes can have a remarkable cooling effect on eyes that feel swollen and tight. You can also use any over-the-counter medication that is not classified as a blood thinner. An eye-shaped cooling pack or any other cold compress can help promote comfort as well. The immediate swelling should go down within just days, but you may have some residual puffiness for a couple weeks or longer. As your eyes recover, always be sure to wear dark-colored sunglasses when going outside. This will protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays while they are still vulnerable and healing. You should be able to see the full benefits of your procedure in the weeks and months that follow. At this time, all residual swelling and discoloration will have abated, and your new and far more refined eye appearance will be readily apparent.
Pairing Your Eyelid Lift Surgery with Other Anti-Aging Procedures
Whether having just your upper lids done, or both the upper and lower lids, this procedure will not tighten or eliminate any loose and sagging skin in other facial areas. It is solely meant to improve the appearance of the eyes, eliminate obstructions, and make people look more focused and alert. The good news is that there are many other procedures in Tampa that can be safely combined with this one. Moreover, if you are interested in having an additional skin tightening surgery, it may be possible to schedule both treatments at once. This can shorten your total downtime and allow for truly seamless results with this approach. For instance, you may be able to pair blepharoplasty with a brow lift, a face lift, or another type of facial procedure. We are proud to offer an endoscopic brow lift and other innovative procedures. Combination treatments like these can utterly rejuvenate your appearance.
There are also non-invasive and minimally-invasive measures that you can take to brighten up the visage and make it more youthful following your blepharoplasty procedure. During your consultation visit, you will have the opportunity to discuss all of your age-related and other cosmetic concerns. The doctor may tell you about the benefits of dermal fillers for reducing the appearance of static wrinkles, and injectable solutions that are designed to relax dynamic creases. As you get ready for your treatment, it’s important to think about all of the other elements that you want to add to your personal rejuvenation plan.
Is Eyelid Surgery in Tampa Right for You?
You may be a suitable candidate for eyelid surgery if you are in good general health and do not have any known bleeding or clotting disorders. People who suffer from loose, excess skin at the upper eyelids and chronic droopiness or puffiness just beneath the eyes may be able to recognize an impressive range of both cosmetic and functional benefits from this treatment. Whether you want to improve your appearance or enhance your vision, this procedure could work for you.
Reach out to The Mack Cosmetic Center to learn more about blepharoplasty and to find out if this type of surgery is right for you. Our office is conveniently located right here in Tampa. Contact us today to set up an appointment and get started!