As you age, your face changes, and the appearance of your eyes changes, too. At Advanced Dermatology Center in Wolcott, CT, we understand that baggy lower eyelids and loose eye skin can diminish self-confidence. That’s why we offer blepharoplasty CT, a rejuvenative procedure designed to enhance the appearance of the upper and lower eyelids.
How Does Blepharoplasty Work?
Blepharoplasty CT works by eliminating excess tissues from around your eyes, such as skin, muscle, and fat tissues. Additionally, depending on your goals, some of your tissues may be rearranged to give you a more youthful appearance.
Things You Need To Know About This Rejuvenative Procedure
This Procedure Is Customizable
We all age uniquely, but people usually lose collagen and elastin around the brows and upper eyelids by the time they reach their 40s, leading to extra skin tissue and weak eyelid muscles. These factors result in the upper eyelids looking heavy and drooping This procedure contours the eyelids, restoring a youthful countenance.
Your eyes will look brighter, fresher and younger after sagging muscles and skin are tightened. However, no pair of eyes is identical, and each procedure is unique and customized to the individual. Each procedure is tailored to provide ideal results in response to unique aesthetic concern. Some of the results you can expect from this procedure include:
- Firming the lower eyelids
- Tightening skin that led to brow and eyelid folds
- Erasing wrinkles by eliminating excess lower eyelid skin
- Restoring youthful, naturally attractive lines to the upper eyes
- Eliminating excess fat from the eyelids
- Eliminating bags beneath the lower eyelids
This Procedure Is Convenient
Even if you are restoring the appearance of your upper and lower eyelids, your procedure will only take approximately one or two hours. Since it is so convenient and minimally invasive, it is performed on an outpatient basis using either a local anesthetic or intravenous twilight anesthesia to keep you comfortable.
Siince this restorative procedure is so safe, you are free to return home after nothing more than a brief monitoring period. In other words, instead of spending the night at a hospital, you are free to recover comfortably in your own bed.
You Can Shorten Your Recovery
During your brief monitoring period after your procedure, we will review your post-op recovery steps. However, it is important to understand that if you adhere to your recovery guidelines strictly, you can shorten your recovery period significantly. For example, if you want to recover from your procedure as quickly as possible, you should stay indoors as much as possible.
When you go outside, make sure you wear sunglasses and a hat with a brim to protect your eyes from both wind and sunlight. We will also advise you on how to use sunscreen appropriately to protect your skin as it heals. Relax your eyes as much as possible during your recovery period. Listen to audiobooks instead of reading, refrain from checking your email for roughly seven days, and don’t binge-watch television. Also, make sure your eyes stay hydrated.
Make Rest a Priority
If you want to recover as quickly as possible, it is imperative you prioritize rest. While it is important you rest your eyes and keep them moist, it is also essential you sleep as much as possible. While this procedure is minimally invasive, you will feel unusually tired during the first 24 hours post-op. It requires a lot of energy for your skin to recover after the procedure, and your body heals most efficiently during the REM phase of sleep.
Whenever you feel sluggish, take a nap or go to bed early. During the first one to three days after your procedure, you may need to nap throughout the day and go to bed early. You may feel like you’re wasting time by focusing on rest and recovery for seven days, but we assure you your healing process will end sooner if you don’t push yourself during your first-week post-op.
Obviate Tension
Another way to ensure you recover as quickly as possible is to do your best to avoid stress. Before your procedure, consider the things that occur in your daily life that stress you out. Do you hate cleaning your kitchen after you cook dinner? Have someone else responsible for keeping your home clean for a week. Do you hate getting work emails at all hours of the night?
Turn off your work phone and tell your coworkers to not call, text or IM you for five days. If you feel generally stressed, meditate. If you’re not sure how to meditate, download a free app on your phone to take you through a guided meditation session. When you’re stressed, your body produces a hormone called cortisol that slows your body’s ability to heal.
Don’t Engage in Vigorous Exercise
You may feel good after a long, hard workout. However, vigorous exercise elevates your body temperature and stress levels. If you engage in strenuous exercise, your recovery period will take longer than you should. That said, many people find walking to be meditative. If you feel restless, we strongly recommend that you walk at a moderate pace. You should not break a sweat or have difficulty breathing.
If you start to feel tired during your walk, make sure you aren’t walking so quickly you can’t sing. If you can talk but not sing, you need to walk at a slower pace or stop walking. Walking is a great way to relax and exercise because it supports your cardiovascular system which will facilitate a rapid recovery.
The Results of This Procedure Will Make You Look Younger
The University of York conducted a study that looked at 65 facial features deemed important when making a first impression. Fairly universally, people reported the area around the eyes was the most important part of the face regarding youthful attractiveness. In other words, people feel they look young and attractive when their eyes are large and open. This procedure results in eyes that look larger and more open, as well as tighter, brighter eyes.
While the results are subtle, you will look as young as you did years ago. Note, the goal is to provide natural results. The goal is not to make you look like someone else. Rather, we help you look years younger without changing your fundamental facial structure. If your underlying tissues need to be rearranged, they will be rearranged subtly.
This Procedure Can Do More Than Improve Your Aesthetic
Notably, most people opt for this procedure because they feel their eyes look tired and heavy all the time. However, we can also correct your vision if your vision is impaired due to drooping upper eyelids.
You Will Notice an Immediate Improvement
Your eyes will look brighter, tighter and years younger as soon as your procedure is complete. Depending on the type of job you have and the scope of your procedure, you may return to work after a week or two. That said, you will need to wait patiently to enjoy your ideal results. Most people enjoy their final results four to six weeks after their procedure. Until this time, your tissues will be healing.
We will advise you on when it is safe for you to drive, wear cosmetics and engage in vigorous exercise. Typically, you can expect to wear contact and light makeup safely two weeks after your procedure is complete. Factors that affect how quickly you will see your ideal results include:
- How old you are
- How healthy you are overall
- How strictly you adhere to your post-op recovery guidelines
- How healthy your skin is
This Procedure Is Comfortable
People are often wary of cosmetic procedures because they think the procedure and recovery will be painful. Rest assured, you will be numbed before your procedure. Therefore, you won’t feel any discomfort or pain during your procedure. Remember, this procedure is minimally invasive. We do not need to make any deep cuts to provide you with desirable results. Furthermore, your recovery process will be comfortable and fairly easy.
You just need to make sure you have someone to drive you home once your procedure is over. Ideally, you should have someone to stay with you at least the first 24 hours post-op.
Your Vision Won’t Be Impaired
People also feel apprehensive about this procedure because they think they won’t be able to see for a number of weeks as they recover. However, your vision will not be impaired. You don’t need to wear any type of covering or patch that will obscure your eyes completely. In fact, your vision will improve as soon as your procedure is over if your vision was previously impaired due to drooping upper eyelids.
The Results of This Procedure Are Durable
One of the most incredible advantages of this procedure is the results are durable. In fact, the results of this procedure usually last decades and can last a lifetime. Once excess skin is excised, it won’t grow back. However, muscles can weaken over time and local fat cells can store adipose tissue if you eat above maintenance.
If you have this procedure performed in your 40s or 50s, you shouldn’t expect to need a follow-up procedure for at least 10 or 15 years. However, there is a chance you never need a follow-up procedure. Notably, the results of your procedure will last longer if you moisturize your skin and wear sunscreen daily.
Most People Are Considered Candidates for This Procedure
If your eyes look heavier and more tired than they should, there is a very good chance you will be considered a good candidate for this procedure. You don’t have to be in your 40s or 50s to be considered a good candidate for this procedure. During your initial consultation, we will review your health and lifestyle to determine whether this procedure is safe for you.
Typically, we look for individuals who don’t smoke or drink alcohol and have realistic expectations about the results. However, if you are a smoker or drink alcohol regularly, you may be considered a good candidate for this procedure if you can refrain from consuming alcohol or tobacco for two weeks before and after your procedure. Furthermore, anyone considering this procedure should be in fairly good physical and mental health.
Enhance the Appearance of Your Eyes
Blepharoplasty CT is a convenient, comfortable way to enhance the appearance of your eyes. It works by eliminating excess skin and fat and tightening the underlying supportive tissues and skin. Contact us today at Advanced Dermatology Center in Wolcott, CT to schedule your initial consultation and see if this procedure is right for you.