303-951-5829
Our LocationDespite claims you may have read, there’s little that can be done with any over-the-counter cream to reverse the loss of elasticity in the delicate eye area. Sagging eyelids are a common sign of aging—they often create a tired-looking appearance. Older skin thins, muscles weaken, and eventually eyelid skin starts to look crepe-y. Tired eyes don’t always appear from the aging process, however; sometimes heredity can affect the appearance of the eyelids in younger persons, too, making them look older than they really are.
If friends say you look tired, even though you are fairly young or feel pretty energetic on the inside, eyelid rejuvenation may create a more youthful look.
The eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) may be one of plastic surgery’s best-known procedures and can make a real difference in the appearance of your entire face. An eyelid lift can take several forms, addressing the upper, the lower, or both lids at the same time. Are you trying to decide why your eyes look so tired? Here are some clues, along with some possible solutions:
- Are your irises disappearing? Your heavy upper lids are sagging over your eyes. Droopy lids and excess skin are addressed by an upper eyelid lift.
- Do you have bags under your eyes? Sagging skin and muscles may be allowing fat deposits to accumulate. Puffy bags can be corrected with a lower blepharoplasty.
- Do you have puffy lids? Excess fat may be present in your upper lids. Puffiness can be corrected with an upper eyelid lift.
- Can you see the white below your iris? Your lower lids are drooping. You may be a candidate for a lower eyelid lift.
- Is the skin around your eyes wrinkled? This may be related to sun damage or the aging process. Fine wrinkles can often be removed through a lower eyelid lift.
- Do you look tired all the time? Drooping upper lids and bags under the eyes are making you look older than you feel. Your needs may be best met by both procedures—an upper and lower eyelid lift.
The surgery itself is performed through carefully placed incisions: in the natural crease of the eye for an upper eyelid lift and along the lower lash line or just inside the lid for a lower eyelid lift. Fatty deposits can be repositioned, muscles and tissue tightened, and excess skin removed. Generally the recovery is fairly quick and relatively pain-free for eyelid lifts, with patients back to work in 5 to 7 days, looking refreshed and youthful.
To further enhance and maintain the results of an eyelid lift, Dr. Buford suggests additional therapies after surgery. Laser skin resurfacing helps tighten and firm the skin following blepharoplasty, while medical skin care products keep the skin smooth and youthful. These therapies are part of Dr. Buford’s “Eye M Beautiful” nonsurgical eye rejuvenation package that can also be added to the surgical procedure, as can others. Although very few surgeons recommend these extra steps, Dr. Buford feels that this integrated approach produces a better result than surgery alone.
Dr. Buford can help you decide which surgical approach is best for your individual concerns, but the final results from any variation of an eyelid lift is a brightened, more alert appearance. The twinkle in your eyes will be back!