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Blepharoplasty for Eyelid Rejuvenation in Birmingham, Alabama

 An Introduction to Eyelid Surgery

Sagging upper eyelids and bags under the eyes are the two most common reasons for eyelid surgery which is called blepharoplasty. Generally all four eyelids are treated simultaneously with blepharoplasty, but a patient may choose to treat only the upper lids or only the lower ones. Blepharoplasty is often combined with either a forehead lift or endoscopic brow lift in order to obtain the best result, and it is also often performed with a face lift . “Crow’s feet” or dark circles under the eyes are not treated by blepharoplasty.

Dr. Eich will recommend a specific solution for your concerns at your consultation in our Birmingham, Alabama office. Blepharoplasty has been performed by Dr. Eich many times for patients all over the Birmingham, Gadsden, Anniston and Tuscaloosa, Alabama areas.  You can rest easy knowing he will recommend the most attractive and longest-lasting result for your eyelid surgery.

Are You an Ideal Candidate for Blepharoplasty? 

The perfect patient for eyelid surgery is a healthy man or woman who desires an improved appearance to their eyes. Blepharoplasty can give patients a more awake, upbeat and youthful appearance. Blepharoplasty may also be performed on younger patients who have a genetic predisposition to saggy upper lids or puffy lower lids (“bags” under the eyes), and it is also frequently performed with other facial procedures as a part of facial rejuvenation. It is effective in patients who find that drooping upper lids interfere with their vision.  Though not generally covered by health insurance, it may be possible to obtain coverage if you have significant vision problems due to drooping upper eyelids.

The Blepharoplasty Procedure

Blepharoplasty is performed under either sedation with local anesthesia or general anesthesia in our accredited on-site cosmetic plastic surgery suite in Birmingham. Eyelid surgery generally requires about 90 minutes for all four eyelids. The upper and lower eyelids are reshaped during blepharoplasty by removing fat, extra skin and tightening lax muscles to recontour the eyes for a more youthful appearance. Incisions in the upper lid are made in the crease of the lid. Lower eyelid incisions are usually made just below the lash line, but in certain situations they may be made inside the lower eyelid, producing no visible scar from the eyelid surgery.
If the lower eyelids are weak, then a canthopexy is usually performed to improve the support of the lids. This procedure involves a permanent internal suture placed through a small incision in the outer corner of the eyelids.

Recovering from Your Eyelid Surgery

Whether you live in Birmingham, or come from a distance such as Anniston, Gadsden or Tuscaloosa for eyelid surgery, you will need someone to drive you home following the blepharoplasty procedure.

With blepharoplasty, the bruising and swelling of the eye area usually resolves in about one to two weeks. You may find that your vision is slightly impaired for a few days due to the swelling. You will want to use ice packs to bring down the swelling and to ease any discomfort.  Looking at bright lights such as a computer or television and reading fine print strains the eyes, so doing these things can significantly increase the recovery time from your eyelid surgery.

Sutures remain in place for 5-6 days on average after blepharoplasty. The sutures are removed at your post operative office visit at our office in Birmingham.  Blepharoplasty sutures are often placed in the crease or just inside the lower lid area, so the scars from blepharoplasty are generally minimal.
The majority of the results of a blepharoplasty are visible in 2-3 weeks, but it can take up to six months to see the final results. As with other surgical procedures, we advise that you refrain from strenuous activity for 3-4 weeks to avoid the possibility of injury to the eye area.

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