Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is a procedure to remove fat and/or excess skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. Double-board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Somenek regularly performs blepharoplasty for Washington DC, patients to rejuvenate the appearance of the eyes and face.
The eyes are the first feature that someone will gravitate to when looking at a face. They also happen to be the most impressionable feature of the face. As we age, excess skin begins to form on the upper and lower eyelids with bulging of fat around the eyes.
Eyelid surgery, sometimes also called undereye bag surgery, can correct drooping upper lids and puffy bags below your eyes. These are features that make you look older and more tired than you feel, occasionally interfering with your vision.
However, it’s important to know that blepharoplasty will not remove crow’s feet, eliminate dark circles under your eyes, or lift sagging eyebrows. Blepharoplasty can be done alone, or in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures such as a brow lift and/or facelift.
Is Eyelid Surgery Right for Me?
An ideal candidate for an eyelid lift is someone in good health and displays certain characteristics listed below:
- Puffy areas or “bags” under the eyes
- Excessive skin or sagging of your upper eyelids
- Excessive skin on your lower eyelids
- Loss of your natural upper eyelid crease
For some people, the puffy appearance is an inherited condition and can affect individuals starting in their early 30s.
Your Consultation with Dr. Somenek
Prior to scheduling your eyelid lift, you will have an extensive consultation with Dr. Somenek. As a Washington DC facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Somenek will evaluate your facial structure and proportions to determine whether an eyelid lift will give you the facial enhancement you desire. This will also provide an opportunity to thoroughly explain the procedure and its expected results and answer any questions you have.
Dr. Somenek may also recommend combining your eyelid lift with another procedure, such as a brow lift, to meet your cosmetic goals.
During the consultation, Dr. Somenek will review the various options for an eyelid lift as well as discuss the potential risks of the procedure. The procedure is discussed in great detail so you understand what to expect before and after. You will also be able to view blepharoplasty before and after photos.
It is always the doctor’s top priority to answer all of your questions and make you feel as comfortable as possible before proceeding forward with the procedure.
Where Will the Surgery Be Performed?
Eyelid surgery is an outpatient procedure that may be performed in a surgeon’s office-based facility, an outpatient surgery center, or a hospital. Dr. Somenek can perform the upper eyelid surgery in his office.
Several options exist for anesthesia during a blepharoplasty. Upper blepharoplasty can be performed under local anesthesia. To address both the upper and lower eyelids, sedation or general anesthesia is preferred, as this is more comfortable.
What Happens During Eyelid Surgery?
Blepharoplasty usually takes one to three hours, depending on if both upper eyelid surgery and lower eyelid surgery are being performed.
Dr. Somenek begins by making incisions that follow the natural lines of your eyelids; in the creases of your upper lids, and just below the lashes in the lower lids. The incisions may extend into the crow’s feet or laugh lines at the outer corners of your eyes which follows the natural contour of the eye.
Dr. Somenek then separates the skin from underlying fatty tissue and muscle, removes excess fat, and often trims sagging skin and muscle. The incisions are then closed with very fine sutures.
If you have a pocket of fat beneath your lower eyelids but don’t need to have any skin removed, Dr. Somenek may create a transconjunctival incision as part of lower blepharoplasty. In transconjunctival blepharoplasty, the incision is made inside your lower eyelid, leaving no visible scar. It is usually performed on younger patients with good skin tone and elasticity.
After Your Surgery
Once the eye lift procedure is over, patients return home to start their recovery process. You will need to arrange for a ride home in advance from a friend or family member.
Blepharoplasty incisions heal remarkably well and are virtually imperceptible. The eyelid skin is the thinnest skin on the body and heals with minimal scarring. The incisions are placed in the same orientation as the naturally existing creases around the eye.
How Much Does a Blepharoplasty Cost?
The price of eyelid surgery determined by a number of factors. Blepharoplasty cost is impacted by the techniques involved, the anesthesia used, and the time it takes to perform the surgery.
Contact Our Office Today About a Washington DC Blepharoplasty
If you have further questions, you can learn more about blepharoplasty in Washington, D.C., from acclaimed medical professional Dr. Michael Somenek. Please call or contact our office today to schedule your initial consultation.
Check out some of our work in these before and after galleries for eyelid surgery.
