Eyes Facial aging first becomes apparent around the eyes with the development of excess skin, wrinkles and puffiness. With time, the eyebrows descend creating to a tired and scowling appearance that is accentuated by the development of deep wrinkles at the base of the nose and around the lateral portion of the eye. At your consultation the various components contributing to the appearance of aging will be assessed and a treatment plan designed to correct these individual problems. Blepharoplasty A blepharoplasty is an operation that removes excess skin and fat from the eyelids. This eliminates the “puffiness”, wrinkles, and loose skin giving a more rested and youthful appearance to the eyes. This procedure is frequently done on both the upper and lower eyelids and can be done in the office operating room on an outpatient basis. The upper incision is placed in the crease of the upper eyelid and the lower incision is placed immediately below the eyelashes, resulting in nearly invisible scars. Younger patients who have a lot of puffiness around the eyes, but little or no excess skin can be helped with a modified procedure called a trans- conjunctival blepharoplasty. This is an operation for the lower eyelid, during which excess fat is removed through an incision made on the inner surface of the eyelid. This leaves no visible scar and has a shorter recovery period. Resolution of the bruising and swelling from eyelid surgery usually requires a week to ten days. A combination of a brow lift and blepharoplasty is frequently necessary to restore a brighter, more youthful appearance to the eyes. The addition of a brow lift adds approximately one hour to your surgery and no additional recovery time. See below for additional details regarding the brow lift procedure. Brow Lift The gradual sagging of the eyebrows is responsible for many of the changes around the eye associated with aging. Brow ptosis, or sagging, creates excess upper eyelid skin, narrowing of the eye and a tired and angry appearance. A brow lift is a procedure that elevates the eyebrows back to their youthful position. This operation has an enormous impact on the face, giving it a much more youthful and rested appearance. With the aid of an endoscope, this operation can now be done through three small incisions hidden in the hair. The end result is elevation of the brow and elimination of the wrinkles commonly seen between the brows and around the lateral eye. This outpatient surgery can be done in the office surgical suite and the recovery time is approximately a week to ten days. This surgery is commonly done in conjunction with eyelid surgery or a facelift and eyelid surgery. A small group of patients with high hairlines, or significantly receding hairlines, may benefit from an open brow lift procedure. In this situation an incision is made along the hairline to allow access to the brow. Excess skin is removed and the muscles that cause frown lines are weakened. This results in brow elevation, elimination of wrinkles and can actually lower the hairline to a more normal position. To find out more about Eyes, please call our office, or fill out our Contact Form to receive a free brochure.