As the old saying goes, your eyes are the windows to your soul. They convey your emotions, capture attention, and show you the world around you — but the natural aging process can make your eyes and eyelids look unrecognizable.
All too often, the years make the skin around your eyes look saggy and puffy. These changes can not only make you look tired but also affect your self-confidence and even your vision quality.
Fortunately, eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, offers a solution to rejuvenate your eyes and restore a youthful, refreshed appearance. Board-certified plastic surgeon Walter D. Gracia, MD, specializes in eyelid surgery at his practice in Fort Worth, Texas.
Here’s what you need to know about this minor surgical procedure that can deliver big results.
Blepharoplasty is a type of plastic surgery that focuses on improving the appearance of your upper and/or lower eyelids. It’s a customizable procedure that involves removing excess skin, fat, and muscle from your eyelids to create a more alert and youthful look.
Before Dr. Gracia recommends eyelid surgery, you have a detailed consultation with him. You discuss your goals, expectations, and medical history, and Dr. Gracia examines your eyelids and eye health.
If you choose blepharoplasty, our team takes measurements and photographs for preoperative planning. Dr. Gracia can do eyelid surgery on your upper lids, lower lids, or both, depending on your needs.
Since the skin around your eyes changes so much as you age, eyelid surgery has the power to dramatically transform your appearance. A few of the biggest benefits of this minor procedure are:
Blepharoplasty effectively addresses the most common signs of aging around the eyes, including drooping eyelids, under-eye bags, and wrinkles. By removing excess skin and fat, Dr. Gracia tightens the skin around your eyes and smooths the area.
These changes help you appear more alert, well-rested, and rejuvenated.
Excess fat deposits under your eyes can create puffy and unsightly under-eye bags. Blepharoplasty removes or repositions those fat pads beneath your eyes, creating a smoother and more refreshed contour.
This helps diminish the appearance of tiredness, making you look more vibrant and youthful.
Sometimes, sagging upper eyelid skin can obstruct your vision, especially around the outer edges. If your vision is compromised by sagging skin, blepharoplasty not only enhances aesthetics but also improves your vision by lifting and tightening your upper eyelids.
This can significantly enhance your quality of life, particularly if your vision impairment affects daily activities like driving or reading.
Last but not least, blepharoplasty can have a profound impact on your self-confidence. Your eyes play a crucial role in facial aesthetics and self-confidence, and when you look in the mirror and see a more rested and youthful appearance, it can boost your self-esteem and lead to a more positive outlook on life.
Depending on your needs, Dr. Gracia may perform blepharoplasty under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. After you receive anesthesia to keep you comfortable, Dr. Gracia begins the procedure by making incisions along the natural creases of your eyelids to minimize visible scarring.
He carefully removes and repositions excess skin, fat, and muscle around your eyes to achieve the desired aesthetic outcome. Next, he may tighten underlying tissues and address any bulging fat deposits to create a smoother contour around your eyes.
After the procedure is complete, we close your incisions with fine sutures and/or adhesive glue. The closure technique aims to minimize scarring and promote proper healing, and we give you specific instructions for recovery at home.
While individual recovery experiences may vary, most of our patients recover completely in about 10-14 days. Contact our office if you have questions at any point during recovery.
The rejuvenating effects of eyelid surgery are long-lasting, and choosing the procedure can significantly enhance the overall appearance of your eyes. To find out if you’re a good candidate for blepharoplasty, call our office at 817-336-9450 or request a consultation online now.
