Eye lifts and brow lifts
There are two different ways that aging can give your eyes an older and more tired appearance, and two ways that a cosmetic surgeon in Charlotte can restore the appearance of youth.
In some cases, the problem isn’t with the eyelids themselves, but above them. The skin on your forehead loses elasticity with age and gradually sags downward and a little to the center, forcing its way into the space of the upper eyelids. In these cases, an endoscopic brow lift will correct the problem. The surgeon inserts a tiny light and camera at the end of a very thin tube under the skin of the brow through small incisions, then draws the skin, muscle and connective tissue back into place. After the surgery, pain medication will be needed for one to two days. Swelling and bruising should be gone in no more than two weeks.
In other cases, an upper eyelid blepharoplasty is called for. This is the procedure that is generally called an eye lift. The surgeon makes an incision along the natural fold of the upper eyelid, so the normal contour of the eye hides the incision. He or she then removes excess skin, fat and muscle. The procedure is done under general anesthesia. Afterward, you can expect some mild swelling. This may go away in the first week, or take several weeks. There may also be some itchiness and dryness, which will also go away. The stitches will dissolve or be taken out in about five days. Bruising should disappear in seven to 10 days, and can safely be hidden by makeup during that time. Ask your doctor about any post-operative concerns you may have during your initial consultation.
An eye lift is sometimes accompanied by lower lid surgery, a brow lift, laser skin resurfacing, injectables, or other cosmetic treatment. In cases where it is being done for medical reasons, it may be covered by Medicare. Be sure to talk with an experienced facial plastic surgeon to determine if you should undergo this procedure. There are some medical problems, such as blurry vision, dry eye, double vision, diabetes or thyroid problems, which make an eye lift a bad idea.
Eye lift surgery in Charlotte
The first step is to find out which procedure you need, and what else should be done. Sean Freeman, MD, is Charlotte’s most experienced 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 are interested in an eye lift, make an appointment or request an online consultation today.
Contact Dr. Sean Freeman at Only Faces, Charlotte’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.
