How a Blepharoplasty Can Make You Look Younger

Gordon Sasaki, MD, FACS of Sasaki Advanced Aesthetic Medical Center in Pasadena, California, is one of the world’s leading cosmetic plastic surgeons and often sets the standard of care for professionals in his field.

His practice is known for providing the highest quality surgical and nonsurgical aesthetic services available in a premier spa-like setting that’s centered around your comfort and satisfaction.

Read more about blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and why Dr. Sasaki might recommend it to counter the effects of aging on the delicate skin around your eyes.

What is blepharoplasty?

The skin of your eyelids is some of the thinnest in your body and is often the first area of the face to show the effects of aging. Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that can dramatically improve the appearance of your upper eyelids, lower lids, or both.

What problems can blepharoplasty correct?

The muscles and skin of your eyelids naturally weaken and stretch as you age.

This can lead to cosmetic changes that give the appearance of premature aging and perpetual fatigue. Your symptoms may include:

• General eye puffiness
• Sagging brows
• Drooping upper lids
• Complete loss of upper lid line
• Excess wrinkling/skin folds in the upper and lower lid area
• Undereye fatty deposits (bags)
• Fatty deposits at the inner corner of the upper lids

In some cases, these changes can make the upper eyelids sag severely enough to block your side (peripheral) vision. They may also cause your lower lids to pull away from the eye. This can result in significant eye irritation, redness, inflammation, and dryness.

During blepharoplasty, Dr. Sasaki removes the excess skin, muscle tissue, and fatty deposits to improve the function of your lids and restore a more alert and youthful appearance to your eyes.

Does blepharoplasty require hospitalization?

Dr. Sasaki creates a surgical plan based on the results of a careful evaluation that includes a detailed discussion of your expectations and cosmetic needs. He provides information about the procedure, recovery process, and other specifics of blepharoplasty before scheduling your surgery.

He may, for instance, recommend upper eyelid blepharoplasty that’s generally performed in the office surgical suite and takes one to two hours to complete. Should your lower lids require correction, he performs the surgery in a hospital operating room for your comfort.

In either case, however, blepharoplasty is an outpatient procedure that’s usually performed under local rather than general anesthesia to prevent discomfort and intravenous (IV) sedation to help you relax during the surgery.

Following the surgery and a carefully monitored recovery period, Dr. Sasaki sends you home with detailed instructions regarding aftercare. Because of the sedation effects, plan for someone to drive you home and offer supportive postsurgical care at least overnight.

Your care plan includes strategies for speeding up the healing process following blepharoplasty. Carefully following Dr. Sasaki’s instructions offers you optimal postsurgical results.

How long is the recovery from blepharoplasty?

Every individual heals at a different rate, but most return to work or routine activity within 7-10 days. Depending on the type of incisions and surgical approach Dr. Sasaki selects for your procedure, the sutures either dissolve or are removed in 10 days.

You can expect some bruising about the eyes for a few days following blepharoplasty. Thanks to Dr. Sasaki’s surgical skill and expertise, however, the incision lines are carefully tucked out of sight and fade quickly.

Dr. Sasaki continues to provide care throughout the recovery process and may eventually recommend nonsurgical treatments such as Botox® injections or other restorative therapies to enhance and preserve the results of your eyelid surgery.

Schedule your evaluation today for more information about blepharoplasty or any of the outstanding treatments offered at Sasaki Advanced Aesthetic Medical Center.