Studies have shown that your eyes are the usual focal point when you meet a new person. They also communicate lots of your expressions. Unfortunately, your eyes are surrounded by some of the thinnest skin on the entire body. And, with the exception of when they are hidden behind sunglasses, your eyes and the skin around them are exposed to the sun and the elements, especially here in sunny South Carolina. As the years add up, so does that exposure.

Is it any wonder then that your eyes can look older than your age?! Eyelid surgery with Dr. Smith, however, can take over a decade off of your eyes. Eyelid surgery removes excess skin and fat and tightens the underlying muscles as needed to replace that tired, saggy look with a more rested countenance.

A popular procedure

Every year when the statistics from the prior year come out, blepharoplasty (the clinical term for eyelid surgery) is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries worldwide. This is likely due to a couple of reasons. First, the eyes are so visible when compared to areas such as the abdomen that is usually covered by clothes. Second, eyelid surgery provides very dramatic results, but they are subtle at the same time. That may sound ridiculous, but it’s true. Eyelid surgery takes a decade off of your face, yet people can’t put their finger on why you look younger. That’s a far cry from more obvious procedures such as a facelift or breast augmentation.

For men and women

There’s another part of eyelid surgery that is unique. Unlike procedures such as a tummy tuck or breast augmentation, eyelid surgery is in demand for both women and men. That’s because drooping eyelids, wrinkles, and puffy bags under your eyes aren’t privy to one sex over the other. As men age, they want to stay competitive in the workplace, and eyelid surgery is a key to that.

The surgery

Dr. Smith can perform blepharoplasty on the upper and lower eyelids or just one of them, depending on your unique needs. Due to this variation, the procedure can run as short as 45 minutes or as long as two hours.

In the upper eyelids, Dr. Smith makes a small incision in the natural crease of the eyelid to conceal any scarring. He then tightens the muscles as needed, repositions fat, and removes any excess skin.

In the lower eyelid, he usually makes the incision just below the lower eyelash. An alternate location is inside the lower lid, where there won’t be any visible scarring. Excess skin is removed to lessen wrinkles, bags, and general puffiness that is so prevalent in many aging lower eyelids.

Recovery isn’t hard

Recovery from blepharoplasty is one of the easier recoveries of all plastic surgeries. When compared to involved recoveries from procedures such as tummy tucks, recovering from eyelid surgery is not hard at all. When you get home after your surgery, your eyes will be covered with light gauze. We’ll provide you with an eye lubricant and a cold compress. If you are attentive with your compress, your swelling can be very minor. Bruising usually isn’t bad, either. After one week, your stitches will come out, and you’ll look pretty good. There can be some residual swelling, but it’s not serious. Your new, younger eyelids will be ready for the public very quickly.

Eyelid surgery with Dr. Smith is one of the most rewarding of all cosmetic procedures because no one knows you’ve had something done. They just know you look different. So, what are you waiting for? The South Carolina sun isn’t going to suddenly take it easy on your eyelids. Call us at 843-705-8940 to schedule a consultation.