Do you wake up, even after a good night’s sleep, and find that the loose skin above your eyes or bags below your eyes make you look tired? Do the wrinkles and frown lines on your forehead and the heaviness of the brow bother you? Do you look tired but feel awake? If you answered ‘yes,’ you are not alone. Eyelid (blepharoplasty) and a brow lift procedures are commonly performed to help restore a more energetic and youthful appearance.

The upper eyelid procedure involves removing the excess skin in the shape of a crescent. Next, the excess or bulging fat is removed, typically from the areas next to the nose. Fine sutures are used to close the incision. The scar blends into the fold above the eye and is very difficult to see.

The lower lid procedure usually involves making an incision behind the eyelid. Next, the bags or excess fatty tissue is removed. This allows the skin to take a more attractive curve rather than bulge. If there are wrinkles or slight lower lid skin excess, laser resurfacing of the area may also be performed for correction. Occasionally, patients have enough skin excess on the lower lid that an incision under the eyelash is necessary. Skin can be removed and the final scar is hidden under the eyelash and is difficult to see.

The brow lift is performed through small incisions in the hair above your forehead. The muscles between the eyebrows are partially removed which improves the frown wrinkles. The brows are elevated which improves the overall eye appearance, especially the lateral part of the eyelids where the heavy brow is most visible. An endoscope and special instruments are used during this procedure.

Other procedures may be combined with eyelid and brow surgery to enhance results. The most commonly associated procedures are facelifts and mid-facelifts. Other patients will include laser resurfacing, lip augmentation, neck liposuction, etc.

During a consultation, your plastic surgeon will discuss your goals and expectations with you. Then, the surgeon will discuss the options available and what you might expect from surgery. Risks of the procedures are then reviewed in detail. You should review before and after pictures. I perform my surgery in a certified facility with a board certified anesthesiologist.

Dr. Ronan is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. His specialty is aesthetic or cosmetic surgery. If you would like to discuss this or any other aesthetic procedure in detail, please call (925) 736-5757 for a complimentary consultation. Or, email Dr. Ronan at ronan@blackhawkplasticsurgery.com.

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