Blepharoplasty (Eye Lid Surgery)
As we get older, our skin starts to lose some of its elasticity causing excessive “hooding” of the upper eyelids. In some patients this maybe severe enough to impair their visual function. Other patients may experience increasing “bags” under their eyes. Blepharoplasty surgery addresses these issues by correcting excess upper and/or lower eyelid skin, removing excess orbital fat, and improving eyelid contour, resulting in a more youthful appearance.
How is Blepharoplasty Procedure Performed?
The surgery is done on an outpatient basis in a surgical facility. It is done under local anesthesia with mild sedation, provided by an anesthesiologist. Excess skin is carefully measured and incisions are placed in natural eyelid creases, optimally camouflaging final scar lines. After removal of excess skin and fat, all incision lines are closed with a combination of fine absorbable and permanent sutures.
What is the recovery like following Blepharoplasty? When will I be able to return to Work?
It is normal to experience bruising for 1-2 weeks after surgery. To minimize swelling and bruising, the patient is asked to use ice and special creams in the immediate few days that follow. After the operation, most blepharoplasty patients experience only a mild to moderate discomfort, and may require prescription pain medications in the first 24-72 hours. Regular Tylenol is typically taken after that time frame, on as needed basis. The patient is asked to return to the office after approximately 5 days for suture removal. Make-up maybe applied a week after surgery to camouflage any residual bruising. Most patients return to work within 1 week of surgery.
At Miami Eye Institute, Dr. Inna Ozerov offers two most popular non-surgical cosmetic enhancement treatments in the U.S. BOTOX® Cosmetic and JUVÉDERM® are injectable cosmetic treatments designed to help you look more youthful and refreshed. These effective treatments can be performed over your lunch hour, and there is typically no downtime necessary after the procedure.
BOTOX® Cosmetic can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, frown lines, and crow’s feet for a smoother and more rejuvenated facial appearance. Wrinkles and creases in the face are typically caused by muscle contracture. BOTOX® Cosmetic contains a highly-diluted form of botulinum toxin type-A, which works to temporarily paralyze muscles in the treatment area, stopping them from contracting and preventing them from causing fine lines and wrinkles to appear.
The BOTOX® Cosmetic procedure is performed with an ultra-fine needle used to inject the solution into the targeted areas. These areas can be numbed with a local anesthetic to make sure you are as comfortable as possible during the injections. Treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Although there may be some redness and swelling around the treatment sites after the procedure, these side effects should quickly dissipate. Most patients resume normal daily activities right after treatment. BOTOX® Cosmetic results generally last from three to six months, and the effects can be maintained with occasional “touch-up” treatments.
In addition to smoothing out facial skin and reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, JUVÉDERM® can be used to plump up the lips and add volume to the cheeks. This injectable dermal filler can also fill in folds between the nose and mouth for a smoother appearance. JUVÉDERM® is composed of hyaluronic acid, a naturally-occurring substance in the human body, and is not associated with any negative reactions therefore does not require an allergy test.
JUVÉDERM® injections are made with a very fine needle. A local anesthetic can be administered in the target areas so that the treatment is as comfortable as possible. With JUVÉDERM®, the lips can be more defined, wrinkles and fine lines can be smoothed out, and volume can be added to cheeks that have taken on a hollow appearance. Most JUVÉDERM® treatments take about 30 minutes or less here at our practice. There may be some swelling and bruising after the injections; however, this should fade relatively quickly, and most patients return to normal daily routines right after the procedure. Results from JUVÉDERM® are often immediately apparent. The effects of JUVÉDERM® typically last six to nine months, and even longer in many cases.
