Eyelid Surgery
Question & Answers - Eyelid Surgery
When waking in the morning and looking in your mirror, are you tired of looking at drooping eyes?
Tired of the loose skin over your eyes and the fat bags under your eyes that make you look more tired and older.
If so, eyelid surgery may be for you.
Question: What is an eyelid lift?
Answer: An eyelid lift, also known as a blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure used to correct sagging eyelids, remove fatty pouches beneath the eyes and to remove excess skin from the upper eyelids restoring a more youthful and energetic appearance. Blepharoplasty can be done alone or in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures such as laser skin resurfacing.
Question: What is done during an eyelid lift and is it done in Dr. Sigler's office?
Answer: Blepharoplasty or an eyelid lift can be performed in the doctor�s office under local anesthetic (awake but have medication so you are relaxed). Dr. Sigler places fine incisions in the crease above each eye to correct problems of the upper eyelids. Then a thin crescent of excess skin and muscle is removed. The incisions are closed with very fine sutures.
To remove the fatty deposits beneath the eyes the incisions are place just inside the lower eyelid. After the fat is removed the incisions may be closed with absorbable sutures or may be left to heal naturally. When excess skin and muscle needs to be removed from the lower lids, incisions are placed in the natural smile crease below the lashline.
Question: How long does an eyelid lift take?
Answer: An eyelid lift can take between one and two hours depending on the extent of what needs to be corrected.
Question: Does insurance cover eyelid lifts?
Answer: Eyelid problems are even common in younger individuals. Correcting eyelid problems that interfere with your vision may be covered by your health insurance. However, when eyelid surgery is performed for cosmetic reasons it is not covered by your insurance.
Question: What is involved in the recovery from an eyelid lift?
Answer: The eye area is usually bruised and swollen for approximately two weeks. Patients need to keeps their heads up and place cold compressed on their eyes periodically. Antibiotic eye drops are sometimes prescribed for several days. Patient cannot wear contact lenses for approximately two weeks due to stiffness and soreness. After 10 days make-up may be worn. In approximately two months the hairline scars which follow the natural contour of the eyelids tend to fade.
Patient Education
