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.

Beverly Hills blepharoplasty allows the plastic surgeon to drastically improve the appearance of the eye area by removing excess loose skin and fat from drooping eyelids with a relatively delicate procedure that will leave little to no noticeable scars. The procedure is performed using the most cutting edge Beverly Hills plastic surgical technique, the CO2 laser. There is no need for patients to go under general anesthesia as the procedure can be done with local anesthetic which means that there are much less associated risks, complications and costs to consider. In addition, blepharoplasty patients can look forward to a fairly quick recovery as the majority of plastic surgery patients report feeling completely back to normal within one week of the procedure.

It is possible to perform Beverly Hills blepharoplasty as a stand-alone cosmetic procedure but some patients could also benefit from pairing blepharoplasty with laser skin resurfacing. This allows for sun damaged, saggy skin with wrinkles to be transformed into smoother, glowing and overall more youthful skin which in turn means that the patient will be complimented for looking better than ever. If you are after an even complexion and well-rested look around the eye area and a more harmonious, balanced overall appearance then blepharoplasty could be the perfect option for you.

As a double board certified Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, Dr. Warren Lent can provide patients will all the plastic surgery procedures necessary to ensure the best possible and longest lasting plastic surgery results.

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.

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.

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.

Heavily hooded upper eye lids can be caused by aging or excess sun exposure and result in loss of elasticity of the delicate eyelid skin. Saggy lower eye lids can be attributed to external factors as well but there are a number of patients who are genetically predisposed to saggy or baggy, swollen eyelids even at a young age. In addition, laser eyelid surgery patients can include Oriental patients who are looking to acquire a “double eyelid” effect which generally characterizes Caucasian eyes.

Laser Eyelid Plastic Surgery vs. Traditional Scalpel Plastic Surgery

In the blepharoplasty plastic surgery procedure the laser is often used very much like a scalpel and the two types of procedures can, at first glance, appear to be very similar. However, there are a number of advantages to laser eyelid plastic surgery over the more traditional scalpel procedure.

During traditional lower eyelid plastic surgery an incision is placed on the outside of the lower eyelid which can result in the drooping or dragging down of the affected area. This can be avoided in by opting for the laser procedure. Due to the precision and minimally invasive nature of laser plastic surgery there is very little swelling, bruising or general discomfort experienced by laser eyelid surgery patients. In addition, laser plastic surgery allows the combination of two techniques – the cutting laser is used as a scalpel, allowing for the removal of extra skin and fat from the upper or lower eyelids, while the pulse mode laser can be used to improve the texture of the surrounding skin to reduce fine wrinkles and smooth the eyelid skin. Finally, patients undergoing laser procedures can look forward to a significantly shorter recovery period and can expect to return to work and other every day activities sooner.

Procedure – Step by Step

Eyelid plastic surgery procedures are most often performed under local anesthetic without the risks associated with general anesthesia. In upper eyelid surgery the surgeon makes incisions along the natural creases of the eye so that any scars remain well camouflaged after surgery. On the lower eye lid there is a possibility for the plastic surgeon to make an incision on the inside of the lower eyelid to extract fat from the area. The treatment of excess skin is performed by vaporizing the wrinkled skin with the laser, causing it to tighten. This is far safer than using a scalpel to remove skin.

Most blepharoplasty plastic surgery procedures take only 1-2 hours and the patient is free to leave the clinic on the same day. Although swelling and bruising often appears in the eye area directly after the operation, this subsides within one or two weeks. It is important to keep in mind that the final results of the laser eyelid surgery appear after a few months when all the incisions are completely healed and there are no more swollen areas.

As with any type of plastic surgery the patient’s individual characteristics will also determine the final outcome of the surgery. The patient’s age, skin condition and other underlying medical issues will all influence the recovery time and the final result of the surgery.

The longevity of laser eyelid surgery results is also individual to most patients. Lifestyle factors such as diet, sun exposure, smoking and exercise habits all make an impact on the delicate eyelid skin. Wrinkles and further loss of elasticity may happen with aging but fatty bags typically do not return over time, as fat cells do not have the ability to reproduce themselves.

Possible Side Effects

Although laser eyelid plastic surgery is a relatively low risk procedure, as with any plastic surgery there are risks and complications that all patients should be aware of. Possible complications include abnormal eyelid position, dry eyes, scarring, the inability to close the effected eye, infection and problems with vision.

To best understand all the factors involved in laser eyelid plastic surgery it is best to book a full consultation with Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Warren Lent, a double board certified plastic surgeon who operates in the Los Angeles area.