Botox Vs Dysport

Blepharoplasty Surgery for Eyebag Removal in Salt Lake

Written by Dr. Dayne Petersen

With a new year we often approach the world with a more adventurous, committed, open perspective. We feel like we can do something new and change our lives for the better. That may mean a friendlier outlook, a healthier lifestyle, better nutrition, or even a more youthful appearance. Your face is the palate you present to the world, so seize the opportunity to refresh your look.

There is a lot of confusion out there about face and eyelid surgery. Can I get my insurance to pay for it? Do I need a blepharoplasty or a brow lift? What is the difference? What will I look like afterwards? Does a facelift fix my droopy eyes? I had a younger woman approach me about having a facelift. She said she had wanted it done for years. But I could not see any sagging skin around the jawline and she had wonderful cheek bone structure. I was baffled. As I pressed her further, it turns out she only wanted a brow lift to raise up her hanging eyelids. With so many different options out there it is easy to get confused about what you really want from your plastic surgeon. But knowing the right terms to use can help you get the most out of your consultation and make sure your desires are heard.

eyelid plastic surgery What is a blepharoplasty, or a bleph? This is simply eyelid surgery. During a bleph excess skin is taken from the eyelids. This can be done on the lower eyelids or the upper eyelids. In a lower eyelid blepharoplasty the fat bulge under the eye that often grow as we age may be removed or re-contoured to smooth the skin from eye to cheek. As we age the tissues that hold the fat around the eye begin to slack (like so many other tissues) and the fat around the eye pushes forward. That fat can be removed along with extra skin, or the fat may need to be re-draped over the bone around the eye socket.

An upper blepharoplasty is usually the only procedure that insurance might cover. It can be done for non-cosmetic purposes when excess skin in the upper eyelids hangs down enough to obstruct your vision. Every insurance company will have their own rules about proving this is a health need, but it usually involves going to your eye doctor and performing some tests to evaluate your visual field. Test results are sent to your plastic surgeon and the insurance company. Then you wait to see if insurance considers the obstruction severe enough to pay for upper eyelid surgery. While upper eyelid surgery will open up the eye to some degree, the results are often subtle compared with a brow lift. It may dramatically improve your vision, but it will more subtly improve your appearance.

So what is a brow lift? Interestingly, when we look into mirrors or pose for pictures, we automatically and involuntarily lift our brows. Inherently we know that a lifted brow is a more open and attractive appearance. A low brow is associated with scowling or anger. Your plastic surgeon can make small incisions in your hair line and anchor your brows up higher on your forehead. The result is a more open eye. People say that after a brow lift eyes look brighter and you look more refreshed. &This procedure can be done in conjunction with a blepharoplasty or alone. Each kind of operation will have separate pricing. They can also be done with a facelift, but they don’t have to be.

Know your options and know what surgery can and cannot do for you. Botox and Juvederm are other face refreshers available and Botox can do some great things for the wrinkles around your eyes and brow. But understanding what surgery is right for you can help improve communication with your plastic surgeon and make sure you walk out into the world bright eyed and ready for anything.