At his state-of-the-art cosmetic surgery Baltimore facility, Dr. Summers helps Baltimore eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) patients. In the paragraphs below, the procedure is explained and before and after pictures can be seen on the photo page.
One of the first things noticed about a person is their eyes. Whether in business or romantic situations, we are all attracted to large, bright, youthful eyes. Unfortunately, eye bags and droopy eyelids, caused by aging or genetics, are a very common problem. During the aging process, wrinkles, lines, and puffiness contribute to a tired or aged appearance. Removal of the extra tissue brings your eyes back into view, causing them to look larger and younger, brightening your entire face.
Blepharoplasty is an outpatient surgical procedure at the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center which removes excess skin, fatty tissue, and muscle from the eyelids both above and below the eyes, creating a more youthful appearance. The incisions made by Dr. Summers are frequently so small that they cannot be seen.
Upper Eyelid: If droopiness above the eye is to be corrected, the incisions are made in the eye crease. Occassionally a forehead or brow lift will be recommended for optimal results.
Lower Eyelid: If puffiness, loose skin or fat of the lower eyelid is to be corrected, the incisions are made along the lower lash line. Sometimes, Dr. Summers can even make the incisions inside the lower eyelid, hiding them completely. If slightly loose skin and/or fine lines are the primary concern, a non-surgical option such as Fractional Laser Resurfacing (e.g. Fraxel) may be used.
Unlike some procedures which only last a few months or years, the results of blepharoplasty are permanent. However, it will not prevent future wrinkles from developing.
At the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center, Dr. Summers usually performs upper eyelid blepharoplasty under a local anesthesia. Lower eyelid blepharoplasty typically is performed with sedation or under a general anesthetic.
The surgical procedure includes tiny incisions made in the natural contours around the eyes to minimize visible scarring. Excess skin and fat will be removed. The skin will be tightened and a new contour will be obtained. After the excess tissue is removed, tiny sutures are used to close the incisions.
Lower eyelids are completed next to eliminate puffiness and reduce dark circles. In some instances, laser technology (complete resurfacing or fractional resurfacing) may be used to smooth lower eyelid areas.
The surgery generally takes about one to three hours.
The healing process for a blepharoplasty is typically 1-2 weeks. However, patients with a lower eyelid lift may have bruising and/or swelling that lasts for several weeks. fortunately, the results are long-lasting and patients typically enjoy a rested and youthful appearance for many years.
After a blepharoplasty at the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center, you will be able to return to work within a week or two. Your vision will be slightly impaired for a few days, so be sure to have someone drive you home. You should avoid driving until your eyesight is clear and your eyes no longer water. Your eyes may itch, water, and feel somewhat sticky for a week or two after the blepharoplasty surgery, but this can be relieved with eyedrops. You may experience blurred or double vision for the first few days after surgery.
Your eyes may be more sensitive to light for a few days, which will make reading or watching television uncomfortable. You may have to apply an ointment after surgery to prevent dryness. You may experience some swelling and bruising, which can be relieved by elevating your head and/or applying a cold compress or ice pack. Stitches that are non-dissolving will be removed a week after surgery by Dr. Summers at the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center. Contact lenses should not be worn for at least two weeks after surgery. Eye makeup should not be worn until all of the stitches are gone. The blepharoplasty incision areas may be red for a few weeks but will eventually disappear.
In addition to assisting eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) patients, Dr. Summers offers other facial procedures at his Baltimore plastic surgery center. Please visit these pages to learn about how Dr. Summers helps Baltimore rhinoplasty, facelift, forehead lift, chin and cheek implant and neck lift patients.
Click on a question below to see the answer.
A: It is very common to have a variety of procedures performed simultaneously with a blepharoplasty. For example, both upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasties are commonly performed. Similarly, browlift procedures are frequently performed at the same time as an upper eyelid blepharplasty. Finally, many patients having facelift procedures decide to have their blepharoplasty procedure performed simultaneously.
A: Patients of any age may have a blepharoplasty procedure. Very young patients may suffer from eyelid ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid) – these individuals typically are embarrassed and avoid socializing. Older patients may find that their upper eyelids begin to droop over time, ultimately resulting in a loss of peripheral vision.
Patients in their 30’s and older may notice fat “bags” of their lower eyelids. This can make a person appear tired even when they are not.
Patients with any of these symptoms or concerns may benefit from a blepharoplasty procedure.
A: During your consultation we will discuss your desired changes and expectations, review your medical history and current health, and make an assessment on whether the procedure(s) in question are right for you. This is a good time to ask specific questions about the procedure so that you are fully prepared, mentally and emotionally, for surgery. We will discuss the results that can be achieved, with the aid of photos and/or computer imaging. When a final decision is made, you will need to sign an informed consent stating that you are fully aware and understand what is entailed by your pending operation, including the potential complications and secondary effects.
A: Typically there is very little (or no) bruising and swelling with upper eyelid blepharoplasty procedures. However, bruising and swelling are common with lower eyelid blepharoplasty procedures. When present, bruising and swelling can take several weeks to fully resolve. In rare cases, swelling can be present for several months.
A longer recovery may also be necessary if the lower eyelid needs to be tightened (e.g. canthopexy) or if the cheek needs to be lifted to help prevent lower eyelid droop (ectropion).
In general, patients are able to return to most social activities within 7-10 days.
A: It is possible that your insurance company may provide reimbursement for an upper eyelid blepharoplasty procedure if you have ptosis (sagging) of the upper eyelid, especially if you have a reduction in your peripheral vision. To obtain reimbursement, you will need to first have an ophthamologist perfom a visual field analysis to document the peripheral defect. Then, if necessary, pre-certification may be obtained.
Following surgery, patients are provided with all of the paperwork they wil need to file a claim for reimbursement.
Note: Patients are responsible for paying their surgical fees in full prior to their surgery. The insurance reimbursement will be made directly to the patient. Due to insurance company discounts, insurance reimbursement is typically less than the full amount paid by the patient.
A: The type of the anesthesia varies with each procedure. For some procedures, only local anesthesia or local anesthesia with intravenous (IV) sedation is needed. This method will allow you to be awake, but insensitive to any pain. In more complex procedures, general anesthesia is needed and you will be asleep during the entire procedure. The anesthesia used in your operation will depend on the type and extent of the procedure(s), your age, and the surgeon’s preference.
A: Maryland Plastic Surgery is Maryland’s premiere cosmetic surgery center and medical spa. The Center’s director, Dr. Adam Summers, is an expert cosmetic surgeon who uses advanced techniques to achieve natural looking results. Just 15 minutes from Baltimore, Howard County (Columbia) and Annapolis, the Center specializes in tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), breast augmentation, breast lift, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and facelift procedures. © Baltimore Maryland Plastic Surgery Center and Medical Spa.
Dr. Adam Summers performs the Most Facelift a long lasting minimally invasive facelift procedure which he developed at the Maryland Plastic Surgery Center. The Most Facelift is a customized variation of the Threadlift Face Lift (eg. Silk Lift, Aptos Lift, Featherlift, Soft Lift, Curl Lift). The Maryland Plastic Surgery Center is just minutes from Ellicott City, Towson, Rockville, Silver Spring, Bethesda, Annapolis, Baltimore, Columbia and Washington DC. Copyright 2007 Maryland Plastic Surgery - One Hour Threadlift Facelift in Maryland.