Refresh Your Gaze and Reveal Youthful Radiance
Eyelid Surgery
PREMIER PLASTIC SURGERY IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Eyes Transformed: The Power of Eyelid Surgery
Drooping upper eyelids, under-eye bags, and excess skin around the eyes can create an aged or tired appearance. Dr. Michael J. Lee offers blepharoplasty as a precise surgical solution to address these concerns, providing patients throughout the Greater Chicago Area with natural-looking results that restore a more youthful eye contour.
Understanding Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, rejuvenates the upper and lower eyelids by addressing common age-related changes such as drooping skin, excess fat, weakened muscles, and the appearance of dark circles or deep folds. These concerns can make the eyes look tired or older.
Through carefully placed incisions along natural creases, the procedure removes or repositions skin, fat, and muscle to restore a smoother, more youthful contour with minimal visible scarring.
Ideal Candidates for Eyelid Surgery
If you have developed aging changes to the eyelids or drooping eyelids, you may be a candidate for surgery. However, factors may increase your risk of complications, and one of the main factors is dry eyes.
Surgery on the eyelids can increase the risks and symptoms of dry eyes. If you already have significant symptoms, you may not be a candidate for surgery or may need a more conservative surgery. Bleeding problems or medications that thin the blood may also increase your risks of complications, as well as overall medical conditions. Ideal candidates for eyelid surgery have realistic expectations in terms of results.
Types of Eyelid Surgeries
Upper blepharoplasty can improve the upper eyelids. Dr. Lee performs three different techniques for upper Eyelid Surgery.
- For patients without an upper eyelid crease, Dr. Lee performs an invagination blepharoplasty to create a new crease, which gives the upper eyelid a more refined appearance.
- A traditional blepharoplasty can be performed only for those with excessive skin or skin and fat.
- A ptosis repair and blepharoplasty can be performed for those with ptosis and aging of the upper eyelid.
For lower eyelid surgery, Dr. Lee prefers Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty, which uses the inside of the lower eyelid to make the incision so there are no incisions on the skin itself. This procedure is most useful in patients with excessive fat and puffiness in the lower eyelid. If the lower eyelid skin is loose, it can be removed with a small incision underneath the eyelashes. Dr. Lee also performs canthopexies to elevate the lower eyelid itself if necessary.
The Eyelid Surgery Procedure
The blepharoplasty procedure begins with local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. Dr. Lee marks the surgical sites along the natural creases of your eyelids to guide precise incision placement.
When both upper and lower procedures are performed, Dr. Lee typically completes the upper eyelids first to assess symmetry throughout the surgery. The procedure concludes with antibiotic ointment and protective dressings.
The entire eyelid surgery procedure takes 1-3 hours, depending on the complexity and whether both upper and lower eyelids are addressed. Dr. Lee focuses on preserving natural eyelid function while achieving the desired cosmetic results.
Recovery Process After Eyelid Surgery
The upper eyelids will be bruised and swollen for 5-10 days. Sutures need to be removed within five days. The lower eyelids will be swollen or bruised for 7-14 days. The pain is usually not significant. Eye drops may need to be placed for a few days after surgery. Dr. Lee advises patients to sleep with their heads elevated for one week and to use ice packs for 3-5 days.
Cost of Eyelid Surgery
The cost of eyelid surgery in Chicago varies based on the specific techniques used, the anesthesia method, and the duration of the procedure. These factors differ from patient to patient, making individual pricing necessary.
Our practice also offers financing options to help manage the expense and make the procedure more accessible for patients throughout the Chicago area.
Why Choose Dr. Michael J. Lee for Blepharoplasty
Dr. Michael J. Lee brings extensive experience in facial plastic surgery to patients seeking eyelid rejuvenation. Dr. Lee’s philosophy is to create natural-looking upper and lower eyelids by avoiding too much skin removal or too tight a pull to the lower eyelid while maintaining good eyelid functionality.
Plastic surgery of the upper and lower eyelids can address one or all of these problems. The surgery can be complex and can affect the function of the eyelids. If you are considering surgery, Dr. Lee can explain the different procedures that may benefit you and help you find the best option.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the risks of Eyelid Surgery?
Like any surgery, bleeding, infection, and nerve injury are risks. The risk of nerve injury is very low because there are not many nerves in the area, although some nerves may affect the skin's sensation. Additional risks include dry eye problems, tearing, prolonged swelling of the eyelids, or scarring of the lower eyelid that can lead to pulling down the lower eyelid.
Why combine a facelift with blepharoplasty?
Combining a facelift with eyelid surgery addresses both mid-face sagging and eyelid concerns simultaneously, providing balanced results and usually allowing for a single recovery period.
What is Ptosis?
Ptosis of the upper eyelid occurs when the eyelid is low on the eyeball or pupil. It can be cosmetically unacceptable and affect vision. Ptosis may be only on one side or may affect both eyelids. There are many causes of ptosis, which relate to muscle function, muscle detachment, and nerve function, or may be congenital. Tests are performed to help determine whether surgery can help.
Can Eyelid Surgery be performed in the office?
Excessive eyelid skin on the upper or lower eyelid can be removed under minimal or local anesthesia in the office. If the amount of skin is not excessive and there are no problems with ptosis or significant fat, the surgery can be performed in the office.
Can other procedures minimize the aging of the eyelids without surgery or incisions?
Dark circles or deep folds between the lower eyelids and the cheek can be reduced in depth and darkness with hyaluronic acid fillers (JUVEDERM®, RESTYLANE®). Fine wrinkles around the eyes can be improved with BOTOX® injections; the eyebrows can also be elevated with BOTOX. Chemical peels and laser treatments like Fraxel can also improve fine and deeper wrinkles.
Schedule Your Blepharoplasty Consultation
Contact Dr. Michael J. Lee today to discuss your eyelid surgery options in Chicago, Illinois. During your comprehensive consultation, Dr. Lee will evaluate your concerns, explain the blepharoplasty procedure, and outline realistic results.
