PATIENT IS DELIGHTED TO HAVE HER UPPER EYELID PROCEDURE PERFORMED BY AWARD-WINNING SURGEON, AND IS EVEN HAPPIER WITH THE RESULTS.
Anne Castens is happy she chose Dr. Mack for her eyelid surgery.
To determine the “Best of” award winners, the Tampa Tribune gives its readers the opportunity to vote for their preferred providers in multiple categories. After voters send in their choices, the Tribune calculates the highest scores and alerts the winners. For Dr. Mack, a board-certified ophthalmologist who is fellowship trained and specializes in oculoplastic and facial cosmetic surgery, this honor is especially gratifying as it represents the cumulative effort of many individuals.
“I would like to thank the community, our loyal patients and my dedicated team at the Mack Center for helping us win these awards in South Tampa,” acknowledges Dr. Mack.
Dr. Mack’s sterling reputation was one of the main reasons Anne Castens made an appointment. Once the animal lover and Animal Protection League volunteer decided to start being more active and getting healthier, she noticed a few things about her appearance that she felt made her look older than the youthful retiree she was becoming.
“I spoke to my ophthalmologist about my droopy eyelids because they were getting worse and worse,” recalls Anne. “He said, I recommend Dr. Mack.”
Another ophthalmologist she saw for a second opinion also recommended Dr. Mack, so Anne took to the internet to investigate. She liked what she read about him and his office.
“There were glowing customer reviews not only about Dr. Mack and his skills but about the staff.
“I thought, Well, that’s it. When I get this done, it will be Dr. Mack.”
Anne went for her consultation and got a very positive first impression. She left more confident than ever to be in the highly rated surgeon’s hands.
“He was soft-spoken. He was very friendly,” reports Anne. “He made me comfortable, though his staff had already made me feel very comfortable when I walked in and met them.
Before & After – Anne Castens
“I’ve seen that throughout this whole procedure. They’ve called me. They’ve said, Please keep our number. Call us if you have questions. And I have had. Every time I’ve called, I’ve gotten a call back. I’ve gotten the answers to my questions.
“I’m very comfortable with everything that his staff and he have done for me, but Dr. Mack himself is a pleasure,” she offers. “He’s congenial. He explained the whole procedure to me ahead of time. This is what we can do, and this is what we can expect. You’ll have a little bruising here. We’re going to put the sutures in this.”
Feeling well prepared and very reassured, Anne was scheduled for upper eyelid blepharoplasty.
“It all started out with getting healthier and wanting to feel healthier and then to look healthier and to look younger,” muses Anne.
Blepharoplasty basics
“The eye region is the most important aesthetic component of the face,” observes Dr. Mack. “When eye contact is made, we immediately begin forming our first impressions. Judging someone to be tired, sad, angry, or pleasant are all based on the appearance of the area around the eyes. With aging, the upper eyelids may become droopy or baggy, giving patients a tired look that decreases the overall attractiveness of a person’s eyes.”
“The condition affects both men and women,” continues Dr. Mack. “It is often hereditary and becomes more pronounced with age, but exposure to the sun, wind, and other extreme weather conditions can make the problem worse for patients of any age.”
Cosmetic upper eyelid blepharoplasty refers to the surgical procedure that reduces the tired, heavy appearance of the upper eyelids. During the blepharoplasty surgery, incisions are made in the crease of the upper eyelid to remove excess skin and fat. The advantage of making the incision in the eyelid crease is that the scar is barely noticeable after a few months.
“Patients tolerate this eyelid surgery very well and get dramatic improvement,” notes Dr. Mack.
Dr. Mack performs the blepharoplasty as an outpatient surgery. If appropriate, upper eyelid blepharoplasty can be combined with other cosmetic surgeries, such as lower eyelid transconjunctival blepharoplasty, endoscopic brow lift, and facelift to achieve maximum aesthetic results.
“My ultimate goal is to create a natural, more youthful, refreshed appearance,” states the doctor.
Functional effect
Dr. Mack adds that heavy, sagging eyelids not only have a cosmetic impact but also can reduce a person’s functional vision.
“Patients may not realize that a reduction in functional vision will often make blepharoplasty a covered procedure with most insurance carriers,” he points out. “If a patient looks in the mirror and sees the eyelids resting on the eyelashes, there is a very good chance that the patient qualifies for medically necessary blepharoplasty.”
Anne Castens
Anne understood. She experienced functional impairment due to her sagging eyelids.
“I just thought it was ugly,” confides Anne, “but when they put me through the vision field testing, I did qualify because I could not see the flashes that were in the upper field. I could see everything in the lower field, but when they taped the eyelids up, I could see much more.”
Safe and effective
Blepharoplasty, whether performed for cosmetic or functional reasons, is a safe, effective, and cosmetically appealing option for removing excess tissue from the eyelids.
According to Dr. Mack, blepharoplasty is performed under local anesthesia. The patient typically has the sutures removed seven to ten days following the surgery. Postoperatively, the patient is instructed to use cold compresses for two to three days and antibiotic ointment for one week.
“No pain. No pain at all,” adds Anne. “The most difficult part of this whole procedure was keeping up with my proper ice applications, and I say that with a smile.”
Anne also appreciates the fact that she doesn’t look like she’s had cosmetic surgery.
“He said to me, I do things very subtly. I don’t want people to realize what’s been done,” she remarks. “I know I’m looking a lot younger. My husband knows it. My grown children know it. My close friends do, but other people never seem to question the changes in my face, and that’s what I prefer.
“I’m very pleased with the results, very pleased. It was so properly done.”
Anne believes Dr. Mack deserves the Best Cosmetic Surgeon and Best Eye Surgeon awards. She says the proof is in the results.
“I do work with seniors,” she relates. “I’ve seen some ladies in their eighties who come through the door with skin so tight they look like a water-filled balloon and everybody says, Oh my, gosh. She’s had a facelift. When Dr. Mack finished with me, the eyes looked completely normal. It just looks completely natural and there’ve been no questions asked.
“I’m happy that my choice was Dr. Mack. I think had I gone somewhere else, they may have done something more drastic and I would not be as happy as I am.”