The eyes are the first place to show signs of aging. What do yours reveal? A youthful sparkle or premature aging? If you have sagging, puffiness or pockets around your eyes, we offer a number of options that can help.
An eyelift (also called blepharoplasty) can reverse these effects and leave you with a youthful look you will love for years to come. Because everyone ages differently, however, this form of cosmetic surgery is not one-size-fits-all. The surgeons at UMass Memorial assess each person individually, taking his/her current situation and desired look into account before designing a custom solution.
Find the best solution for your eyes
Eyelifts fall under three main categories:
- Surgery on the upper eyelids
- Surgery on the lower eyelids
- Surgery on the upper eyelids and lower eyelids
Your ideal treatment depends not only on where signs of aging appear, but what kind they are.
Look in the mirror to see what features stand out: Is it the bags under your lower eyelids, or are crow’s feet and other wrinkles to blame? Knowing where your trouble spots lie can help you anticipate what will happen during cosmetic surgery.
Reverse the aging process
Over time, the eyelids stretch and muscles weaken, making eyes look older. The skin around the eyes can become loose and puffy, occasionally obscuring the lids’ natural folds. Loose skin can even impair vision when it is on the upper eyelid. In this case, eyelid surgery may be covered by insurance. During blepharoplasty surgery, cosmetic surgeons remove excess skin, muscle and fat from wherever it exists. For one person, this may be underneath the eyes. For another, it may be above and below. The procedure is an outpatient surgery, done under local anesthesia. Patients often experience mild swelling and bruising for up to two weeks after surgery.
How to reduce wrinkles and fine lines
If wrinkles are your primary concern, you may be able to treat them without surgery. Dr. Douglas Rothkopf, director of the Plastic Surgery Residency Program at UMass Memorial Medical Center, often recommends that patients with wrinkles try Botox®. “When injected into problem areas like crow’s feet, Botox prevents the muscles from forming fine lines,” he says. “It’s a minimally invasive procedure that works well for restoring a youthful appearance.” You can trust the cosmetic surgeons at UMass Memorial Medical Center to help you make the right decision.
Schedule a consultation or appointment at 508-334-5990.