Santa Monica and Beverly Hills Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

As the eye ages, patients frequently note an excess of skin and “puffiness” of the upper and lower eyelids. Beverly Hills eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty surgery usually involves removal of redundant skin and fat of the eyelids. It can also address the drooping upper eyelid and sagging lower eyelid. In a younger patient with “bags” of the lower eyelids, redundant fat can be removed with an incision inside the eyelid and not externally. Blepharoplasty surgery will not eliminate crow’s feet and dark circles. Eyelid surgery is often done in combination with brow lift. The redundant soft tissues of the aging upper eyelid are often the result of excess eyelid skin and fat in combination with brow soft tissues which have descended upon the eyelid as a result of gravity. Blepharoplasty may be done at the same time as facelift when appropriate.

• The Consultation
• The Surgery
• The Recovery
• What are some of the particular concerns regarding liposuction?
• Making the Decision

Beverly Hills Eyelid Surgery: The Consultation

Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Orringer will typically spend 45 minutes to an hour obtaining your medical history, examining you and discussing in detail your concerns, his observations and recommendations. In addition to eyelid contour and appearance, brow position and forehead contour will be assessed. Sometimes, brow lift will be recommended to potentially optimally enhance upper eyelid, brow and forehead appearance. Dr. Orringer usually does the brow lift using limited incisions and the endoscope.
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Beverly Hills Eyelid Surgery: The Surgery

The surgery is done at the stat-of-the art Surgery Center of Santa Monica. This modern, accredited facility is located two blocks north of Saint John’s Hospital. Anesthesia is a usually a combination of local with intravenous sedation. If the eyelid surgery is done in conjunction with brow lift or facelift, general anesthesia is used. Regardless, a Board-Certified anesthesiologist is in attendance monitoring the patient’s vital signs and comfort throughout. The redundant skin of the upper eyelids is marked and removed along with usually limited underlying excess fat. Lower eyelid fat and skin is removed using an incision beneath the lash line or an internal eyelid incision (for fat removal only).

Local anesthesia is placed in the eyelids at the time of surgery. Post-operative pain is usually well-controlled with oral analgesia and a cold mask or frozen peas in baggies. Sutures are removed on the fifth to seventh day. Swelling and bruising are usually largely resolved by 10-14 days after surgery. Makeup can be applied after one week. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for one month.
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Beverly Hills Eyelid Surgery: The Recovery

During the surgery, local anesthetic will be placed to the eyelids to decrease post-operative pain. Pain is usually well controlled with oral pain medicine and a cooling mask. With eyelid surgery alone, patients can usually go home the day of surgery with a responsible adult staying with them for at least that night. Patients undergoing eyelid in combination with brow lift or facelift will usually stay 1 or 2 nights at Serenity. Serenity is a warm, comfortable facility geared for the care of the post-operative plastic surgery patient. Ambulation is encouraged the night of surgery. However, any strenuous exercise should not be done for at least 2 weeks following surgery. Many patients can note an overall improvement in appearance after 5-7 days. However, it takes typically at least 2 weeks for most of the swelling and bruising to resolve. By two weeks patients generally feel that they appear more rested and that their eyes appear more “wide open” and more attractive. Driving should not be done until oral narcotics are no longer required for pain control.
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What are some of the Particular Concerns regarding Eyelid Surgery?

While most patients are quite pleased, blepharoplasty surgery, like any surgery, has potential risks that must be considered. Scars are present. While they usually fade notably, they are still visible to some degree. The scars are typically well concealed with makeup. Eyelid shape is changed and position can be altered. Inherent to eyelid surgery is the rare risk of temporary or permanent loss of vision. Occasionally dryness of the eyes can occur.
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Beverly Hills Eyelid Surgery: Making the decision

Every surgical procedure has inherent benefits, risks and limitations. Dr. Orringer wants you to feel comfortable asking any and every question that you may have at your initial consultation, pre-operative visit or at any time to assist you in determining whether facelift surgery is right for you. He believes that taking sufficient time needed to discuss, plan, individualize and perform your procedure is necessary time that is well spent.

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Complementary Procedures for you to consider:

• Beverly Hills face lift
• Beverly Hills brow lift and forehead lift

Before and after images:

• Beverly Hills eyelid surgery before and after images
• Beverly Hills face lift before and after images
• Beverly Hills brow lift and forehead lift before and after images