Unleash Your Soul to the World.
It has been said that the ‘eyes are the window to the soul.’ What happens when your facial feature issues interfere and people are unable to see your eyes? When people look at you, they make millions of computations in their head about what you are feeling or thinking. Our eyes will tell others whether we are angry, sad, happy, joyous, and so many more emotions. Blepharoplasty may be the answer you are seeking to open your window to the world.
What is Blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty, more commonly known as eyelid surgery, is quickly growing as a sought-after facial cosmetic procedure. According to the 2019 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report, nearly 300,000 people chose eyelid surgery to improve their overall appearance.
Blepharoplasty is the fourth largest requested cosmetic surgery. As a top Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Schusterman will improve the function and look of your eyes by working on your upper lid, lower lid, or both. Once you meet with Dr. Schusterman, he will personalize your look to give the best beauty plan designed for you. His goal is always to deliver the very best blepharoplasty Houston has to offer.
How do I know if Blepharoplasty is right for me?
As you age, the skin will naturally sag and lose elasticity on the face. It is very common for eyelids to start drooping, often giving that ‘droopy eyelid’ look found in older adults. Coupled with gravity, excess skin begins to collect on both the upper and lower eyelid, and an extra layer of skin forms.
When this happens, the excess skin on your upper eyelid can hang over your eyelashes and impede your vision. If the skin folds form on the lower eyelid area, it produces an unwanted bulge, and again, your vision may be affected. If you experience any of these issues, you will want to consider Blepharoplasty:
- Eye Infections
- Drooping eyelids
- Getting debris in your eye
- Excessively dry or watery eyes
Blepharoplasty Procedure
Once you begin this process, you will need to complete a vision exam to have your vision tested and have your eyes photographed from different angles. This information will help Dr. Schusterman to create a map of the area in preparation for the surgery. During a blepharoplasty, the extra eyelid skin is removed. Keep in mind, nothing is actually ‘lifted” on your face, but with the removal of the excess skin, your results may appear that way.
Blepharoplasty Recovery
Blepharoplasty is an outpatient procedure, and while you are not under local anesthesia, you will still need someone to drive you home because there was numbing medication put in your eye. Your vision may be slightly blurry after surgery.
It is normal to experience the following as you heal:
- Puffiness
- Numb eyelids
- Light sensitivity
- Swelling or bruising
Blepharoplasty Results
After a blepharoplasty Houston patients will be given a complete post-surgical regimen to follow on how to keep your eyes cleaned and alleviate any pain or discomfort. It is important to avoid swimming or getting your eyes wet for 7-10 days, avoid rubbing your eyes, and not wearing contacts for at least two weeks. Once the swelling subsides, you will see the results of a more rested and youthful appearance.
Schedule Your Houston Blepharoplasty Consultation
To learn more, schedule a Houston eyelid surgery consultation with Dr. Mark Schusterman to learn more about how this procedure will work for you. Dr. Schusterman will create a personalized plan to give you stunning results.
Blepharoplasty FAQs
While there is always some risk when getting cosmetic surgery, overall, Blepharoplasty is a safe and proven procedure that delivers excellent results. It is crucial you work with only a board-certified surgeon to have the best and safest experience.
All surgery carries some inherent risk, but complications are rare. Possible risks of Blepharoplasty include:
- Dry or irritated eyes
- Injury to eye muscles
- Infection and bleeding
Eyelid surgery can help correct the hooding or heaviness of your upper eyelid. If you’re having a hard time putting on eye shadow because of the skin excess or skin laxity in your upper lid, upper blepharoplasty can help with that.
Lower eyelid surgery can help to correct excess fat bags under the eye, loose crepe skin under the eye, and also help to smooth the transition between your lower lid and your cheek.
If you are having your eyelid surgery performed in our clinic procedure room, you can expect the following.
You’ll arrive at our office with a driver. Prior to surgical markings, you’ll be given a valium. After markings, you’ll be given another oral sedative called an MKO melt.
After being given the opportunity to use the restroom, you’ll be escorted to our procedure room. There, you’ll receive some Pro-box (laughing gas) while the local anesthesia is injected. After this, we will play some music and start the procedure. Once your procedure is completed, we will put cool compresses over the eyes and Occumend pads on your cheeks to help with bruising and swelling. We will review pertinent information with your caregiver/driver, and you’ll be free to travel home.
Most patients feel comfortable returning to work or social obligations 7-10 days following their eyelid surgery. On average, about 50% of your swelling will be gone in one week. In two weeks, about 80% of your swelling will be gone.
After two months, about 90% of your swelling will be gone. Adjunctive procedures, like fat grafting or CO2 laser, may slightly prolong this timeline.
Done in isolation, many patients tolerate eyelid surgery with oral sedation, local anesthesia, and laughing gas in our clinic procedure room. If upper lid surgery is proposed in conjunction with a brow lift, patients will be given the option of having general anesthesia or in-office sedation, depending on their tolerance. If lower lid surgery is proposed in conjunction with fat grafting or fat repositioning, patients will be given the option of having general anesthesia or in-office sedation, depending on their tolerance. Certainly, if eyelid surgery is proposed with face or neck lifting procedures, general anesthesia is preferred for patient comfort.
An in-person exam is best to determine what specific procedures are recommended in your unique case.
During the exam, Dr. Schusterman can demonstrate in the mirror what a brow lift could accomplish, which will allow you to visualize how this impacts the appearance of the upper lids. In some cases, a brow lift alone may suffice. In others, a brow lift and upper eyelid surgery may be recommended simultaneously.
Most patients feel comfortable going to a restaurant or store or visiting friends around 7-10 days post-op depending on how much swelling and bruising remain.
Blepharoplasty surgery cost varies from place to place. The exact price of the procedure depends on a variety of factors, including the extent of the work, the type of anesthesia you need and the number of employees involved in your surgery.
The average cosmetic eye surgery cost is around $3,000. That’s just a guide, however. For some people, the procedure costs closer to $2,000. More complicated cases that require extensive work on both the upper and lower lids may cost closer to $5,000 or even higher.
While some clinics may promise to perform the surgery for $1,500 or less, remember inexperienced doctors may do substandard procedures. Paying a reputable plastic surgeon to repair a botched blepharoplasty can cost thousands of dollars and cause unnecessary discomfort.
