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Article Series: Cosmetic Surgery
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About Cosmetic Surgery
Blepharoplasty:
Removing
Bags Under Your Eyes
A common side effect of aging is the development
of bags under the eyes. It generally occurs because the protective
layer of fat surrounding the eyes begins to sag in response
to gravity and decreased elasticity of the skin. This problem
not only makes the face look older, but it also gives the person
a perpetually tired look. Through an eye bag removal procedure,
the patient can look younger and wide-awake.
A Closer Look at the Causes of Eye Bags
A variety of factors can actually contribute to the formation
of eye bags. The pressure of the fat around the eyes can cause
the ligaments, skin, and muscles to become more lax. Sometimes,
there is extra fat behind the support wall of the eyelid, which
gives them a baggy appearance. In other cases, the relaxed
skin itself actually causes the bag because there is simply
too much skin in the area. For some, the muscle in the lid
has thickened or the upper eyelids form a bag because of drooping
eyebrows.
Each of these conditions have specialized names and procedures
for correcting them. In many patients, more than one of these
conditions exists and all must be fixed in order to improve
the appearance of the skin and to remove the bags. Blepharochalasis,
for example, is the combination of thinning eyelid skin, protrusion
of skin folds in the eyelids, and lid swelling. Dermochalasis,
on the other hand, is simply extra skin. Hypertrophy of the
orbicularis muscle is when there is an overgrowth of the eyelid
muscle and a protrusion of fat. Brow ptosis, on the other hand,
is when the upper eyelids are baggy because of drooping eyebrows.
A competent surgeon will be able to identify the cause or causes
of the eye bags before surgery and discuss options with the
patient ahead of time.
The Effects of Eye Bag Removal Procedure
Eye bag removal surgery is done to correct the puffy bags
that form below a patient’s eyes or drooping upper lids. These
bags make the patient look older and tired. For some patients,
these eye bags can even interfere with vision. Eye bag removal
surgery can remove the puffy and droopy look around the eyes,
but it will not eliminate crow’s feet or dark circles under
the eyes. In addition, eye bag removal surgery does not lift
sagging eyebrows.
The eye bag removal procedure can also be used to create an
upper eyelid crease in Asian eyes, but it cannot be used to
eliminate natural traits associated with ethnic or racial lineage.
This procedure is often used along with other surgeries, such
as a browlift of a facelift, to improve the overall appearance
of the face and the skin on the face.
Eye Bag Surgery Candidates
The best candidates for eye bag surgery are those who are
physically fit and realistic in their expectations of what
the surgery can offer. Most patients are 35 years or older,
but those with a history of baggy or droopy eyelids may have
the surgery at a younger age.
Patients coping with certain medical conditions are considered
to be more risky when it comes to undergoing eye bag surgery.
For example, thyroid problems such as Grave’s disease and hypothyroidism
have a greater risk of complications. Dry eye, glaucoma, and
a detached retina are also risk factors. Patients with other
medical conditions generally considered risky when undergoing
surgery, such as circulatory disorders, diabetes, and high
blood pressure, are also at a greater risk of encountering
complications when undergoing the procedure.
The Procedure
The eye bag removal procedure involves several small incisions
that are made below the eyelash. This allows the surgeon to
remove both excess skin and fat that is causing the bags to
appear. Generally, the procedure, which is called blepharoplasty,
is performed on both the upper and lower eyelids. In the case
of the upper eyelids, a strip of skin may also be removed,
but the skin is removed in a natural crease in the eyelid in
order to minimize the appearance of scarring.
The eye bag removal procedure usually entails staying the
day in the hospital or the night, depending on when the procedure
begins.
After the Procedure
After completing the eye bag removal procedure, stitches are
generally removed about 3 to 7 days after the surgery is completed.
After the stitches are removed, the patient can usually resume
normal activities.
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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