The peri-ocular anatomy (about the eyes) is very complex and delicate.There are many muscles, nerves and blood vessels within this region. A common error which is often made in the pre-operative evaluation of the patient is whether or not the patient has "eyebrow ptosis or brow ptosis" in combination with their eyelids concerns. If the patient has ptosis (drooping) of the eyebrows a discussion of a "brow lift" should be performed by your surgeon. If the patients issue is accurately determined to be excessive eyelid skin, then an upper eyelid blepharloplasty should be reviewed. In some cases the patient requires a combination of an eyelid lift along with a browlift. For a comprehensive review of cosmetic eyelid surgery, please review our website at: www.plasticsurgerynewjersey.org/
A second common error is for a patient to believe that a lower belpharloplasty will treat or remove "dark circles" underneath the eyes. In actuality, in most cases, it will not. These circles are commonly caused by a combination of factors including blood vessels and the optical appearance of blood and shadowing beneath the skin.
After your initial evaluation is complete, the issue of whether you need only an upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery or both. In younger patients, about age of thirty-five, fatty deposits beneath the lower eyelid skin or laxity of the upper eyelid skin needs to be addressed. In older patients, it is commonly seen that both the upper and lower eyelids needs to be addressed. When Dr. Chidyllo treats patients requiring either lower eyelid surgery or upper and lower eyelid surgery, he recommends that a complete eye exam be performed prior the planned surgery. For additional information on Dr. Stephen Chidyllo and surgical facial rejuvenation, please review : www.plasticsurgerynewjersey.org
Dr. Chidyllo performs his cosmetic eyelid surgery as a "same day surgery" under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation. An upper and lower blepharloplasty requires between 1-2 hours of surgery. The post-operative period is between 1-2 weeks and it sometimes takes as long as one month before one can wear their contact lenses after surgery.
One of the unfortunate sequale of upper eyelid surgery is the over treatment and removal of upper eyelid skin. Dr. Chidyllo states that he would rather remove less upper eyelid skin with the possible need for a revision in 4-6 months that to treat the complications associated with chronic dry eyes.
