Our eyes are often one of the first things people notice about us. So when sagging, baggy eyelids make us look older or more worn out than we are, it affects not only how people perceive us, but how we feel about ourselves. That may be why so many people visit board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Thomas Mustoe and Dr. Sammy Sinno for eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) at their plastic surgery practice in Chicago.
Year after year, eyelid surgery consistently ranks among the top 5 plastic surgery procedures in the U.S., according to The Aesthetic Society®. People of all ages, genders, and ethnicities can benefit from this quick and effective anti-aging solution.
Wondering if you may be a candidate? Read on to find out if eyelid surgery is right for you.
What Are Some Signs I May Need Eyelid Surgery?
Eyelid surgery is ideal for those looking to rejuvenate their upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both to achieve a younger and more rested look.
You may be ready for eyelid surgery if you have any of the following:
- Sagging skin in your upper or lower eyelids. This may even cause vision issues if drooping upper eyelids obstruct your field of vision.
- Bags under your eyes, or puffiness in your lower eyelids. This happens when fat shifts under the eyes, typically as part of the aging process.
- Deep hollows under your eyes. To correct this, Dr. Mustoe and Dr. Sinno typically combine eyelid surgery with fat transfer to add natural volume in the tear troughs.
Overall, if you feel you look tired or worn out, even after a good night’s rest, blepharoplasty may be your best solution.
Am I a Candidate for Eyelid Surgery?
The best candidates for eyelid surgery are people who are:
- In generally good health. You should be fit to safely undergo and recover from a surgical procedure. Dr. Mustoe and Dr. Sinno typically use local anesthesia for eyelid surgery, but other surgeons may use general anesthesia. Make sure you are in good enough health to put under whichever anesthesia type your surgeon recommends.
- Nonsmokers: Smoking increases your risk of surgical complications and negatively impacts the healing process. If you are a smoker, your surgeon will ask you to abstain for at least 3 weeks before and after your surgery.
- People without serious eye conditions: Eyelid surgery may not be safe or comfortable for you if you have certain conditions, such as uncontrolled glaucoma or dry eye. Talk to your ophthalmologist about whether the surgery would be safe for you.
In addition to medical requirements, there are also some mental and emotional recommendations. You should only have the surgery done if you have a positive outlook, a healthy self-image, and realistic expectations for your results.
What Is the Best Age for Eyelid Surgery?
People seek eyelid surgery at many different ages. The most common age range is 55 to 69—48% of all procedures fell into this age range in 2020, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
However, younger people also opt for eyelid surgery to correct drooping eyelids, puffy bags, or hollow tear troughs caused by genetics.
Ultimately, age is not a major consideration. As long as you are healthy enough to undergo surgery, you can have the surgery done at just about any age.
How Do I Know Whether I Need Eyelid Surgery or a Brow Lift?
It’s common for people with drooping upper eyes to wonder whether they would be better off with eyelid surgery or a brow lift. A low brow is often partially to blame for droopiness or puffiness in the upper eyelids.
If you are unsure which option would be better for you, try raising your eyebrows in the mirror. If you notice most of your sagging goes away, you may be a candidate for a brow lift. If sagging in your upper eyelids remains, you are likely a better candidate for eyelid surgery.
Often, the most effective eye rejuvenation approach is to combine both of these procedures within the same surgery. This elevates the brow and forehead and lifts the eyelid itself, creating a more awake and revitalized appearance.
Take a look at our previous blog post to learn more about combining upper blepharoplasty with a brow lift.
Are There Any Nonsurgical Alternatives to Eyelid Surgery?
You do have several options for rejuvenating your eyes nonsurgically. A few of the most popular and effective treatments include:
- Dermal fillers: Hyaluronic acid gels add volume to the tear troughs to fill in hollows and create a more rested and refreshed look.
- BOTOX® Cosmetic: BOTOX smooths away fine lines around the eyes, such as crow’s feet and glabellar lines between the eyebrows, for an anti-aging effect.
- Laser skin resurfacing: Lasers stimulate collagen production to reduce crepey texture around the eyelids and subtly tighten the surrounding skin.
These options require little to no downtime and are less invasive than surgery. However, they may not be as effective or produce results that last as long as surgical results. Rather than replacing blepharoplasty altogether, nonsurgical treatments often work best as a way to enhance or maintain the results you achieve with surgery.
If you have significant drooping or puffiness and are looking for long-term results, surgery is often the better option. Fortunately, the quick recovery techniques Dr. Mustoe and Dr. Sinno use keep downtime to a minimum so you can enjoy long-lasting results without significantly more recovery time than a nonsurgical treatment.
How Do I Find Out if Eyelid Surgery Is Right for Me?
Ultimately, the best way to determine if eyelid surgery is right for you is to consult one-on-one with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Your surgeon will perform a thorough assessment of your face, discuss your goals, and work with you to create a customized treatment plan to achieve them.
Remember that a consultation is not a commitment to surgery. It is your opportunity to ask questions, learn about what is possible, and create a personal connection with your potential surgeon. You should leave your consultation feeling informed, empowered, and excited to take the next step for you, whether that means scheduling your surgery or exploring other options.
To see examples of the transformations real people like you have achieved with eyelid surgery, please visit our before-and-after photo gallery.
If you would like to discuss your best options with a facial plastic surgeon in Chicago, please contact us online or call (312) 788-2560.
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