Would you like to refresh the appearance of your eyelids? Blepharoplasty is the answer, because it firms the eye area and gives it a more youthful appearance. In addition to traditional blepharoplasty in which a scalpel is used to perform the operation, laser blepharoplasty is now and option. But is there any benefit of laser blepharoplasty over traditional eyelid surgery.
Understanding Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty also known as an eyelid lift is a surgical procedure that is done to improve the appearance of the eyelids. It gets rid of excess skin and fat along the eyelids. Blepharoplasty can be done to correct droopy upper eyelids that can often interfere with vision, as well as bags under the eyes and nearby wrinkles.
Upper blepharoplasty reduces the appearance of saggy eyelids by removing or repositioning excess skin, fatty deposits, and muscle above the eyes. The incisions for surgery are made along the natural crease of the eyelids, so post-surgical scars are usually indiscernible.
Lower blepharoplasty gets rid of puffiness and bags beneath the eyes by removing or repositioning fat pads. Wrinkles below the eyes can also be reduced by taking away some of the excess skin. The incision for lower eyelid surgery is usually made on the inside of the lower lid.
Recovery
Recovery after blepharoplasty can take up to 6 weeks, depending on the extent of the procedure. However, most of the swelling should be down within 2-3 weeks.
Upper and lower blepharoplasty can be done at the same time or separately.
How laser blepharoplasty works
A laser eyelid lift is typically done using a CO2 laser to make the incisions, and therefore replaces the scalpel blade used in traditional blepharoplasty. The CO2 laser is considered ideally suited for blepharoplasty because it is gentle on the skin.
Laser blepharoplasty is done on an outpatient basis at under local anesthesia. Patients may experience a little discomfort during laser blepharoplasty, but the procedure is not painful. Surgery can take 1½-2 hours, depending on whether one or both eyelids are being treated.
Normal activities can be resumed within 2-4 days of surgery.
What are the benefits of laser blepharoplasty vs traditional blepharoplasty?
en it comes to making the incisions for eyelid surgery, it can be done using a laser or a scalpel. Once the incisions have been made, the steps used to carry out laser and traditional blepharoplasty are the same. The incisions are closed with sutures when the procedure is complete.
Benefits of laser eyelid lift
- Reduces bleeding: There is less bleeding during laser blepharoplasty because the laser vaporizes the tissue, and immediately seals the blood vessels. As a result, blood does not get a chance to pool in the tissue, so the surgeon has a much better view of the treatment area, and this ensures very precise tissue removal.
- Less bruising: The reduction in bleeding also helps to minimize bruising. It is very convenient when there is less bruising with eyelid surgery, because it won’t be obvious to anyone looking on that you’ve had work done.
- Reduced risk of scarring: There is usually minimal scarring with laser blepharoplasty.
- Faster recovery: Recovery after laser blepharoplasty is usually faster as there is less trauma to the tissue during surgery and minimal bleeding. Consequently, there is a smaller amount of post-operative swelling and discomfort.
Despite the benefits of laser blepharoplasty the skill and experience of the surgeon is more important in ensuring that patients get optimal results from an eyelid lift.
Are you a good candidate for laser blepharoplasty?
If you have droopy upper eyelids or bags below the eyes you would probably be a good candidate for eyelid surgery. Candidates for surgery should also be in good overall health and have realistic expectations about surgery.
While laser blepharoplasty and traditional blepharoplasty can deliver equally beautiful results, laser blepharoplasty is preferred by some surgeons, because in many cases it removes the soft tissue more efficiently.
If you are in the Guilford or New Haven, CT areas, contact The Langdon Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery, for more information on laser blepharoplasty and traditional blepharoplasty.
Call (203) 408-1396 today to schedule a consultation.