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Eye lift surgery and how to prepare for it

The basics of eye lift surgery

If your eyes seem to lack the energy and youth they once held, and especially if you have physical difficulty in opening them all the way, you may be in need of eye lift surgery in Charlotte, NC. Upper eyelid surgery to correct sagging eyelids has been going on since the early nineteenth century, if not much earlier. Its purpose was to correct sagging eyelids that obstructed vision. Only in the twentieth century did it begin to be performed as a strictly cosmetic procedure. There are different procedures for the upper and lower eyelids. Today we’ll be looking at upper eyelid surgery.

 

Sometimes the tissues within the eyelid, such as the muscles and fascial layer, need to be tightened, using sutures thinner than eyelashes. Different surgeons prefer different methods of eye lift surgery. Many perform it under local instead of general anesthesia. The surgeon has to make a very precise judgment about how much skin and muscle to remove in order to keep the eye safe while making it look younger.

 

Other times, the skin above the eyelids has sagged into their space, forcing them down. In these cases, instead of eye lift surgery, the surgeon does an endoscopic brow lift, first by inserting a tiny light and camera at the end of a very thin tube under the skin of the brow through small incisions to see how everything is connected inside this particular forehead, then by drawing the skin, muscle and connective tissue back into place.

 

How to prepare for an eye lift

Only an experienced facial plastic surgeon can say for sure if upper eyelid surgery is right for you. You should have well-recessed eyes and no medical conditions such as blurry vision, dry eye, double vision, diabetes or thyroid problems. As with any plastic surgery, if you smoke, you should stop well before the surgery, and avoid aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, or herbal supplements. Tell your surgeon early on about any other medications you take, and follow his or her advice.

 

There will be some bruising and swelling for several days after eye lift surgery, and possibly some itchiness and dryness. Have some music or books on tape, so you can rest your eyes. The stitches will dissolve or be taken out in about five days.

 

Charlotte’s most experienced facial plastic surgeon

Dr. Sean Freeman is Charlotte’s best facial plastic surgeon. He has practiced only facial plastic surgery since 1988, including procedures on the eyelids. He runs a state-of-the-art facility and has made a YouTube video that explains the procedure and shows several before and after photos of his eye lift patients. If you’re interested in an eye lift, make an appointment or request an online consultation today.

Contact Dr. Sean Freeman at Only FacesCharlotte’s most experienced rhinoplasty surgeon and top facial plastic surgeon, to schedule a consultation to find out what procedure is right for you. Call today.