blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty – Traditional Scalpel Method vs CO2 Laser

Face, Plastic Surgery , ,

BlepharoplastyLike any plastic surgery procedure blepharoplasty is traditionally performed using a surgeon’s scalpel. The surgeon makes incisions with the scalpel in the crease of the upper eyelid or close to the lashes on the lower eyelid and proceeds with removing excess skin and underlying fat tissue. Underlying muscles can be tightened too depending on the patient’s needs. Though the scalpel method is still widely used there is a modern technique that is gaining popularity due to its many advantages over the traditional method.

The CO2 laser plastic surgery technique uses a laser to make the cuts during surgery and thanks to the unique qualities of the laser patients can expect a number of improvements and advantages over the traditional scalpel method.

One of the most marked advantages of the laser method versus the scalpel method is that laser blepharoplasty patients can return to work following the procedure much sooner than traditional scalpel method would allow. The reasons for this are twofold. Firstly, laser blepharoplasty results in far less bruising and swelling following plastic surgery. Secondly, there is no need for laser blepharoplasty patients to go under general anesthetic as local anesthetic can be used and even patients with underlying conditions do not have to be monitored overnight in a hospital as sometimes would be the case with general anesthetic.

Laser blepharoplasty also allows the plastic surgeon to be even more precise in his work and there is a smaller chance of resultant bleeding using the laser. Finally, it is important to mention the costs of laser blepharoplasty versus scalpel blepharoplasty. Since there is no need to undergo general anesthesia there are no costs incurred for having an anesthesiologist on site and there are no costs incurred for an outpatient surgery center or hospital. Furthermore, laser blepharoplasty patients are outpatients and can go home following surgery without the need for costly overnight stays in clinics or hospitals.

Double board certified Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Warren Lent can carry out laser blepharoplasty plastic surgery procedures from his Beverly Hill plastic surgery clinic.

Experienced Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon for Blepharoplasty

Plastic Surgery , , ,

Dr. Lent, Beverly Hills Plastic SurgeonPotential plastic surgery patients should take a number of factors in consideration when choosing their procedure and clinic. Of course it is of paramount importance that the best and latest plastic surgery techniques and methods should be used and that the consultation should be thorough and detailed. Patients should also consider the costs involved in the planned procedure including the time lost from work during the recovery period. The most important factor, however, is to choose the right Beverly Hills plastic surgeon.

A good plastic surgeon is the single most important part of any plastic surgery. A well-educated and highly trained plastic surgeon with plenty of experience in the field is going to make the entire process more successful. From the initial consultation, where the patient and plastic surgeon discuss expectations and make a plan for a realistic outcome, through the actual plastic surgery itself where great skill and plenty of experience is paramount, to the post-surgery follow up, a plastic surgeon you can trust should be the patient’s number one concern.

When it comes to delicate procedures such as the laser blepharoplasty I rely not only in my extensive training in the field but on the experience I gained from performing over 3000 laser eyelid plastic surgeries. With each surgery I gain more knowledge and a better understanding of the procedure and with each patient I am confident to suggest the best possible treatment plan.

I pride myself on the fact that my plastic surgery patients can rely on me 100% and I understand the responsibility this entails. Choosing a plastic surgeon can be a daunting task but always make sure to ask about the number of procedures the plastic surgeon has performed successfully as the plastic surgeon’s experience will make an incredible difference to the final results of any plastic surgery procedure.

Dr. Warren Lent is a double board certified Beverly Hills plastic surgeon and as such has a huge amount of plastic surgery experience behind him to ensure that all Beverly Hills plastic surgery patients receive the past possible treatment.

Blepharoplasty – The key to a Youthful Appearance

Face, Plastic Surgery , , ,

laser eyelid surgeryDouble board certified Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Warren Lent has all the plastic surgery skills and experience necessary to help plastic surgery patients appear more youthful than ever before.

When considering plastic surgery to help achieve a more youthful appearance, patients often think about their facial skin as the key to a better look. Though there is no doubt that plumper and smoother skin will make your face look younger and well-rested, it is important to remember that eyes are the focus of attention when it comes to looking at a person’s face and they often can give away one’s age more than wrinkles on the forehead.

A great option for Beverly Hills plastic surgery patients looking to achieve a more youthful, open and approachable overall aesthetic on their face is blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery. More

Plastic Surgery in the Office – Saving on Surgery Costs

Face, Plastic Surgery , , ,

eyelid surgery costsThe financial element of plastic surgery is, without doubt, a very important component patients need to consider. There is no denying the fact that plastic surgery will cost money and with anesthesiologist fees, overnight fees and other extra costs patients are always searching for ways to make the procedure more affordable. However, it is important to note that no patient should compromise on the quality of the service they are receiving and everyone is entitled to the best possible care available. So how does one try to keep plastic surgery costs manageable?

With procedures such as laser blepharoplasty the answer lies in location. While many eyelid surgery procedures take place in large clinics or even hospitals where fees can run fairly high, laser eyelid surgery can be performed in the comfort of my surgical practice. The reason for that is that there is no need for general anesthesia, which in turn saves more money as no anesthesiologist fees are added to the patient’s final bill, and patients are able to go home straight after the procedure. In some cases patients undergoing traditional eyelid surgery will be advised to undergo general anesthesia and might have to stay in hospital overnight to be monitored further. This can be a rather costly option for patients looking to keep their procedure costs at a reasonable level. Having the procedure in an office setting can dramatically cut down on that cost, as well.

Laser blepharoplasty performed in my office offers the best of both worlds. On the one hand an experienced plastic surgeon performing a cutting edge procedure with the best tools available, on the other hand lower costs and more comfort thanks to shorter recovery time and local instead of general anesthesia. As a result, it is in fact possible for plastic surgery patients to have the best possible care while saving some money in the process.

Beverly Hills Blepharoplasty in Depth

Face, Plastic Surgery , ,

Blepharoplasty

Beverly Hills plastic surgery patients are often looking for ways to make themselves appear younger. Fully board certified Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Warren Lent can offer all the latest techniques, including Beverly Hills blepharoplasty and laser eye surgery to achieve fantastic results.

What is Blepharoplasty?

Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery is a plastic surgical method designed to correct the aesthetic appearance and functionality of the area stretching from the eyebrow down to the upper portion of the cheek. Blepharoplasty patients often suffer from excess tissue, skin and underlying fat around the eye area which can result in a droopy eyelid and in its extreme form can lead to vision problems. The basic idea behind blepharoplasty is the removal of the excess tissue and in some cases the smoothing out of underlying muscles as well as the tightening of sub-skin structures to achieve a more open and youthful look for the eye area.

Blepharoplasty can be performed on both the upper and lower eyelids. It can also help with smoothing out wrinkles around the eye area as well as tackling the tired appearance by removing dark circles caused by the “hollowed out” shadow effect. In some cases blepharoplasty can also help to achieve the “double eyelid” look with patients with no eyelid crease. The eyelid plastic surgery operation can be performed in the office, a clinic or hospital setting. Both local anesthetic and general anesthesia can be used depending on the plastic surgeon’s recommendation and the plastic surgery patient’s preference.

Who can benefit from blepharoplasty?

Plastic surgery patients who are after a more youthful, radiant look often find that the key to improving their overall appearance lies in blepharoplasty. Eyelid surgery is recommended for plastic surgery patients who are genetically predisposed to heavier lids and fat build up around the eye area or plastic surgery patients who lost elasticity in their skin due to age or excess sun exposure. Beverly Hills plastic surgery patients suffering from a reduced field of vision due to excess skin on their eyelids are also good candidates for blepharoplasty.

Blepharoplasty can also be paired with other plastic surgery procedures. Patients who complain about the look of their eyelid skin can benefit from laser resurfacing on the eyelid area itself. This method allows plastic surgeons to vaporize the sun damaged, loose, wrinkled skin resulting in a smoother, tighter and younger looking appearance in the eye area.

Asian plastic surgery patients looking to achieve a more pronounced eye crease as well as a more open look to their eyes are also good candidates for blepharoplasty. By performing delicate plastic surgery on the eye area the patient’s eyes appear larger improving the overall aesthetic balance of the face.

It is important to remember that all plastic surgeries should be preceded with careful and detailed consultation with the plastic surgeon so that realistic goals can be discussed for the surgery. The patient’s overall health and genetics also determine the final outcome of the surgery. Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Warren Lent is a fully board certified plastic surgeon who can offer patients the latest and best plastic surgery techniques.

Laser versus scalpel method

Traditionally blepharoplasty is performed by using a scalpel. However, the most cutting edge technology available to plastic surgeons today means that there is an alternative to the scalpel method – the CO2 laser. When using the traditional scalpel method plastic surgeons make incisions, usually on the outside of the eyelid, using a scalpel. The CO2 laser eyelid surgery works in a similar way as a laser is also a cutting tool. However, laser blepharoplasty has a number of benefits over traditional blepharoplasty.

Laser eyelid plastic surgery allows much greater control for the plastic surgeon which in turn ensures a much safer operation. External incisions on the lower eyelid can be avoided. When using a CO2 laser there is a markedly lower risk of bleeding in the operated area. Furthermore, compared to the traditional plastic surgery method there is reduced bruising and swelling in the eye area when working with the CO2 laser and the plastic surgery patient can return to work and other day to day activities sooner. Another important advantage of laser eyelid plastic surgery is the ability to perform it under local anesthesia. Since general anesthesia comes with its own set of risks and possible complications it is a marked advantage to be able to perform laser eyelid plastic surgery without the need for the patient to go under. Finally, it is important to mention that CO2 laser blepharoplasty costs are lower than traditional blepharoplasty surgeries as the incurred costs are generally much lower and there is no need to pay for the services of an anesthesiologist.

Basic rundown of the operation

When opting for laser blepharoplasty plastic surgery there is no need for the patient to stay in hospital and the procedure can be performed at the plastic surgeon’s office. Local anesthetic is administered and the eye area is numbed. The plastic surgeon then makes an incision with the laser that he carefully places either behind the eyelid or along the eye crease so there is no visible scarring after the plastic surgery. Excess skin and fat is removed as necessary and the incision is closed. The plastic surgery patient can leave the same day and there is no need to stay overnight. The plastic surgery procedure can also involve laser resurfacing of the eyelid area for a more youthful and bright eyed look.

Stitches will be removed after about seven days following plastic surgery unless self-absorbing stitches are used. Light bruising and swelling is normal after surgery but most patients recover within one to two weeks after the operation.

Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Warren Lent is fully board certified and can carry out all blepharoplasty plastic surgery procedures from his Beverly Hills clinic.

Advantages of Local Anesthesia over General Anesthesia

Body, Breast, Face, Plastic Surgery , ,

Anesthesia: Local vs GeneralIt is an unavoidable reality of any plastic surgery that some form of anesthesia has to be used during the procedure. For traditional blepharoplasty patients this often means general or sedation anesthesia, which holds its own set of risks and possible complications that all people looking into plastic surgery should be aware of. The more advanced CO2 laser eyelid surgery allows for local anesthesia to be used as an alternative to more invasive anesthesia methods which makes the overall procedure much safer and easier to recover from.

General anesthesia, a method of putting the patient under by injecting intravenous anesthetic drugs combined with a control of the patient’s breathing through mechanical ventilation, is essential in some plastic surgery procedures but in case of laser eyelid surgery local anesthesia is advised. It is agreed by all medical professionals that if at all possible general anesthesia should be avoided. The reason for this is that there are a number of risks associated with general anesthesia that should ideally be avoided. These include cardiovascular collapse, respiratory depressing, hypoxic brain damage, damage to teeth, nausea and vomiting as well as pain among others. Sedation carries the added risk of respiratory failure.

Local anesthesia is a much safer option for laser eyelid surgery patients in specific, as well as all medical patients in general. By injecting local anesthetic to the area that is to be worked on it can be completely numbed. The pain is blocked by stopping brain signals being carried by the nerves to the brain. There is no need for an external breathing machine as the muscles are not paralyzed during local anesthesia. It is very uncommon to develop side effects during local anesthesia though a few patients can experience headaches and dizziness as a result. In addition, while general anesthesia can be problematic for patients suffering from underlying illnesses, local anesthesia is often still an option.

Undergoing a blepharoplasty with the CO2 laser, using local anesthesia, has the added benefit of a faster recovery. Patients do not have to wait while their body metabolizes and clears general anesthetics. The effects of general anesthesia can often last for several days following surgery, a factor, which is not present with local anesthetics.

Beverly Hills Laser Eyelid Surgery

Face, Plastic Surgery , ,

Laser Eyelid Surgery blepharoplastyWhat is Laser Eyelid Surgery?

Laser eyelid surgery, or as it is otherwise known blepharoplasty, is a plastic surgery solution to improve the appearance and functionality of the upper and lower eyelids. Eyelid plastic surgery focuses on the eye-area of the face where the effected eyelid is treated by removing excess skin and fat tissue as well as the tightening of muscles and tendons surrounding the eyelid area.

Before having any plastic surgery it is essential to find and consult with a fully certified plastic surgeon. Dr. Warren Lent is a Beverly Hills certified plastic surgeon fully approved by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He will carry out a full evaluation and then guide you through all steps of the plastic surgery.

Who should have Laser Eyelid Plastic Surgery?

Blepharoplasty is often recommended to patients wanting to get rid of the “your eyes are so tired” look and who wish to reduce the bags under their eyes. In some cases the appearance of the eyes is not the only factor in opting for eyelid plastic surgery. Patients suffering from extreme excess skin can have trouble with their field of vision while extreme droopiness of the lower eyelid can result in dry eyes and potential infection.
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