As we age, the muscles around our eyes tend to weaken and our skin begins to sag.  Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery (as it is commonly referred to) corrects droopy, puffy, or wrinkled upper and/or lower eyelids by removing excess fat, skin, and muscle.  The remaining skin is smoothed to create a more rested and youthful appearance.

If you’re considering blepharoplasty surgery, one of the first things, Dr. Alexander Sinclair MD, a certified plastic surgeon, will determine at your consultation is if both your upper and lower lids need to be treated, or one or the other.  As you can imagine, the cost of blepharoplasty surgery will vary depending on the extent of your surgery, so the average price range we offer takes into account one or both lids, with the upper bound pricing implying both. Sometimes, to achieve the desired results, Dr. Alexander Sinclair, will only have to work on your upper lids; however, with more extensive cases, he  may need to improve the look of both lids to have them appear symmetrical and balanced.

In older patients, eyelid surgery often becomes a necessity as excess skin can block their field of vision.  In such cases, insurance may apply and you would need to check with your insurance provider to learn if you’re covered.  Your plastic surgeon, Dr. Alexander Sinclair, can often help you submit your claim, deeming the procedure as medically necessary.

Time Required for Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty):
Eyelid surgery time can last for about 1 to 3 hours, depending on if both the upper and the lower lids need to be treated.

Is Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) an Inpatient or Outpatient Procedure?
Outpatient.

What are the Side Effects of Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)?
Blepharoplasty side effects can include temporary discomfort, swelling, bruising, temporary dryness, burning, itching, and watering of eyes, excessive sensitivity to light for the first few weeks.

How Long do Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) results last?
Blepharoplasty results can last for several years, often about 5-10, or permanently.

What is the recovery time for Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)?
Day 1-3- Mild to moderate pain and discomfort will be felt after eyelid surgery,but can be alleviated with a prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication (depending on what you and your doctor determine).
Day 4-6- Sutures are usually removed within about 4-6 days of eyelid surgery
Day 7-14- After blepharoplasty, recovery from bruising and swelling should take about 1-2 weeks. Some sensitivity to light will be apparent after the surgery, but should also fade over the course of a week or two.
Patients who wear contact lenses can usually return to using them about 7-10 days after surgery, depending on personal comfort level.
Please Note Application of eye makeup can be resumed about 4-6 days after surgery, after sutures are removed, but not before.

Will my insurance company cover Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)?
When the correction and widening of visual fields is the reason for pursuing blepharoplasty, insurance may be involved.

Is there much discomfort for Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)?
After your blepharoplasty procedure, pain and discomfort may be felt minimally, but if eyeball pain persists for more than several hours, the surgical staff should be contacted.
The persistence of other mild discomfort after blepharoplasty is normal, and should only last for a few days.

What types of anesthesia is necessary for Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)?
Blepharoplasty anesthesia of choice is usually local with sedation. In some cases, general anesthesia may be used.

A Brow Lift, also known as a Forehead Lift, removes frown lines or deep vertical and horizontal wrinkles between the eyebrows and corrects droopy skin underneath the eyebrows. Excess tissue and skin are removed, muscles are tightened, and remaining skin repositioned to create an invigorated, more youthful and rested appearance.
There are several types of brow or forehead lifts, and depending on the extent of your wrinkling and excess skin, Dr. Alexander Sinclair, will recommend a method that will give you the best results possible.  Also, many patients wish to re-arch their brows to a more flattering position.

Brow Lift surgery helps to correct or lift what are called the “lateral hoods” of the eyes–the flap or deposit of fat that sits right on your brow bone and hangs around the outside corner of your eye.
It should be noted that a brow/forehead lift will not improve wrinkles or puffiness around the eyes.  It is meant to lift up the skin only.  For these types of problems, you may want to discuss surgical and non-surgical wrinkle removing treatments (Botox Cosmetic® or eyelid surgery–blepharoplasty).

There are 3 types of forehead lifts that surgeons consider and they include:

1. Coronal Forehead/Brow Lift - This type of forehead/brow lift is the safest and most widely used technique that involves an incision across the top of the forehead.  This particular incision targets the forehead wrinkles that run horizontally, making you look like you’re scowling or upset when, in fact, you’re not.

2. Endoscopic Forehead/Brow Lift - This method is more recent, and involves only a few incisions.  Dr. Alexander Sinclair, would be able to use a small camera to look beneath your skin to determine the areas that need help.  One difference between this method and the coronal is that while, Dr. Alexander Sinclair, can help with scowl lines, the muscle itself cannot be altered in any way, so over time, those lines will return.

3. Subcutaneous Forehead/Brow Lift - Dr. Alexander Sinclair MD, as well as most surgeons today rarely use this brow lift technique because it results in highly visible scarring as the incision is made in front of the hairline.  One positive aspect is that it does not cause numbness after surgery.  If you don’t have bangs, or can’t wear your hair towards the top of the hairline, you will more than likely not be happy with the results of this technique.

Time Required for Brow Lift:
About 1-3 hours are usually needed for brow lift surgery. Time requirements can, of course, vary between each unique case.

Is Brow Lift an Inpatient or Outpatient Procedure?
Outpatient.

What are the Side Effects of Brow Lift?
Brow lift side effects can include temporary swelling, numbness (that may turn into itchiness), bruising, and temporary loss of sensation.

How Long do Brow Lift results last?
Brow lift results can be very long lasting, but may change as a result of aging and gravity, creating need for revision brow lift.

What is the recovery time for Brow Lift?
Day 1-7 Protective bandages are worn home from surgery, and usually for several days following
Day 5-7 Sutures usually removed about 5-7 days after surgery
Brow lift recovery usually progresses such that patients can return to work by the time of suture removal.
1 Month- Strenuous activity should be avoided for at least 3 weeks after surgery

Will my insurance company cover Brow Lift?
Because of the cosmetic nature of a brow lift, insurance does not apply. In rare circumstances, a brow lift may be necessary to widen visual fields, in which case insurance may cover a portion of the cost.

Is there much discomfort for Brow Lift?
Brow lift pain and discomfort will be experienced at minimal levels for a day or two following surgery, and can be easily controlled with standard pain medication.

What happens during brow lift surgery?

Step 1 – Anesthesia
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Dr. Alexander Sinclair, will recommend the best choice for you.

Step 2 - The incision
A brow lift may sometimes be performed using an endoscope (surgical video device) and special instruments placed through small incisions made within the hairline. This allows the tissue and muscle beneath the skin to be repositioned, altered or removed, correcting the source of visible creases and furrows in the forehead.
Correction of a low-positioned or sagging brow may be made with or without the use of an endoscope through incisions at the temples and in the scalp.
This technique may be done in conjunction with incisions hidden within the natural crease of the upper eyelids to eliminate frown lines between the brows, on or above the bridge of the nose.

An alternative brow lift technique is the coronal brow lift. The coronal brow lift can pinpoint specific regions of the brow to correct.
This technique involves an incision from ear to ear, lifting the forehead and removing excess skin from the scalp.
Recovery time is often longer than the endoscopic brow lift due to the size of the incision.
The incision lines from a brow lift are well concealed within the hair or natural contours of the face unless they are placed at the hairline to shorten the forehead.
Results appear gradually as swelling and bruising subside to reveal smoother forehead skin and a more youthful, restful appearance.

Step 3 – Closing the incisions
Brow lift incisions typically are closed with:
Removable or absorbable sutures
Skin adhesives
Surgical tape
Special clips

Step 4 – See the results
Brow elevation may be maintained by the use of:
Permanent sutures
Small surgical screws
Absorbable fixation device placed inconspicuously at the temple