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As we age, our skin begins to thin and lose elasticity, and our eyelids are often an early victim of aging due to their almost constant use. They are exposed daily to damaging UV rays and are a vital piece of our facial expressions — smiling, laughing, squinting, and frowning all cause repetitive movement in the delicate skin around your eyes.
As gravity pulls at your lids, the stretched-out skin and weakened muscles can cause drooping and sagging, and pockets of excess fatty tissue become more prominent, forming unsightly under-eye bags.
Beyond just being a cosmetic issue, sagging eyelids can also cause functional problems, as the excess skin can hang over your eye and obstruct your vision.
Whatever your concerns, eyelid surgery (known as an eye lift or blepharoplasty) can refresh and rejuvenate your eyes, improving their appearance and restoring function.
What Is Eyelid Surgery?
Eyelid surgery lifts and rejuvenates the skin and soft tissues around your eyes, leaving you looking rested and refreshed. An eye lift is designed to remove and reposition sagging skin and excess fat around your eyes, tightening the skin and eliminating puffy under-eye bags. You can undergo blepharoplasty alone or with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as a brow lift or facelift.
Eyelid surgery can be performed on your upper lids, lower lids, or both.
Upper Eye Lift
During an upper blepharoplasty, your provider makes a small incision that follows the natural contours of your upper lid. Excess skin and tissue are removed, eliminating sagging and correcting vision impaired by droopy skin.
Lower Eye Lift
During lower blepharoplasty, an incision is made below your lash line to remove any excess skin or fatty deposits. If you also want to smooth out troublesome crow’s feet, the incisions are extended to the outer corners of the eyes. The result of your lower eyelid surgery is reduced sagging and puffiness under your eyes.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Eyelid Surgery?
Unlike many cosmetic surgeries, eyelid surgery is appropriate for nearly any age. For those concerned about the appearance of aging, it’s best to wait until your 30s or 40s to undergo an eye lift. However, because some people may be genetically predisposed to have drooping or heavily hooded eyelids, they may undergo surgery earlier. Sagging skin around your eyes can impede peripheral vision, making it difficult to perform everyday tasks. In these cases, an eye lift may be the solution to improved functionality.
Ideal candidates for blepharoplasty are those with one or more of the following issues:
- Upper eyelid skin that is loose or sagging, creating folds or affecting the contour of the lid
- Drooping upper lids that affect vision
- Pockets of excess fat causing puffiness in the eyelids
- Lower eyelids that droop enough to expose the white below the iris
- Excess skin on the lower eyelid
- Bags under the eyes
Whether you simply want to improve your appearance or are experiencing functional problems because of your eyelids, blepharoplasty is an excellent option to restore a more appealing contour to your eyes.
What Are the Benefits of Eyelid Surgery?
Eyelid surgery is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that requires up to two weeks of downtime. The incisions are strategically placed to reduce the visibility of scarring, so once the swelling has subsided, you’ll see the gorgeous results of your eye lift.
Some of the benefits of eyelid surgery include:
- Reduction or elimination of visual impairment
- A younger and more alert look
- Slowing of the overall signs of aging around the eyes
- Results lasting up to ten years
- Increased confidence in your appearance
- More room to experiment with eye makeup trends
After eyelid surgery, your eyes will continue to age naturally, but if you care for the fragile skin around your eye area, you can maintain your results longer.
Want to Learn More About Eyelid Surgery in Tampa?
Don’t let sagging eyelids or excess skin and fat around your eyes cause embarrassment or discomfort. Contact the experts at Premiere Center for Cosmetic Surgery today at 813-400-1465 to learn more, or fill out our contact form online.
Let one of our board-certified surgeons customize a treatment plan to refresh your eyes and restore your youthful outlook on life.