Blepharoplasty Near Birmingham, AL

The eyes are a beautiful component of the face that deserves to be seen, but sometimes, an abundance of skin above or under the eyes can create an unflattering facial appearance or cause functional issues, like decreased peripheral vision. Board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Young H. Choi offers eyelid surgery (known as blepharoplasty) to lift and tighten the lower or upper eyelid, creating a younger and awakened facial appearance. Countless men and women in the Greater Birmingham area have an eyelid lift in Vestavia Hills, AL, at Young H. Choi, M.D. Eye Surgery Center to reduce puffy bulges, leading to improved function and appearance. Whether upper or lower, eyelid surgery creates a more awakened appearance and can give you subtle yet striking improvements. If you are interested in refreshing your eyes with eyelid lift surgery, contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Choi in Vestavia Hills, AL.

Upper or lower blepharoplasty is a facial cosmetic enhancement that is popular for both women and men. During your private consultation, treatment options will be explained by Dr. Choi based on your conditions that need to be addressed. Most often, ideal candidates have:

• Excess, hanging skin and folds on the upper eyelid
• Puffy skin just under the bottom eyelid
• Bags and/or circles under the eyes

Any of these may cause functional and vision difficulties that can get in the way of everyday activities. If you have excess skin around your upper or lower eyelids and/or bags under your eyes, blepharoplasty can provide a softer, rejuvenated appearance while improving your overall comfort.

Some people turn to nonsurgical treatments to reduce wrinkles and folds on their skin. However, these procedures only offer minimal results and are not long-lasting. Blepharoplasty produces more dramatic and life-changing results by removing excess skin, fat, and muscle from the eyelids. Surgery can also eliminate the embarrassment often associated with puffy eyes and dark circles, performing an eye bag removal. If you have problems seeing because of excess skin on your eyelids, Dr. Choi is proud to have helped countless patients also restore their vision once again. Consult our center about eye lift treatment in Vestavia Hill, AL.

Depending on the type of eyelid surgery performed, some form of either local or general anesthesia will be provided. Local anesthesia numbs the treatment area to prevent pain or discomfort and leaves you awake for the procedure. General anesthesia puts you to sleep for the procedure. Blepharoplasty may be done on the top eyelid by itself, on the bottom eyelid, or a combination of both upper and lower.

• Upper
  Upper blepharoplasty assists in decreasing the hanging of skin that droops over the eye, producing a more appealing eyelid appearance. An incision is usually made along the natural crease to trim away loose skin and fatty tissue.
• Lower
  Lower eyelid surgery is performed to reduce puffy and bulging skin under the lower eyelid. In most cases, an incision is made just under the lash line to surgically remove fat, and the skin is delicately lifted to allow for a softer, flatter look. In some cases, a nonsurgical laser procedure may be performed to assist with discoloration.

Blepharoplasty typically takes up to two hours, depending on whether both eyes or one is treated. It is performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home after your surgery.

After surgery, you should plan about a week to rest and recover. A cold compress can help reduce discomfort, swelling, and bruising. For any possible pain or discomfort, over-the-counter pain relievers can help. Often the stitches will dissolve on their own, but Dr. Choi will schedule a follow-up to check your recovery and remove the stitches if necessary. Two weeks after blepharoplasty, many patients still have some swelling and bruising but feel good enough to go out in public. After six weeks, you'll start to see the final results of your eyelid surgery. Full recovery will continue over the next 4 - 6 months. The results from blepharoplasty may last years, and while they are long-lasting, the aging process does not stop.

If hanging skin is compromising your vision, your insurance may cover some of your eyelid lift. Please talk to Dr. Choi during your consultation if you are considering applying for an insurance claim. A team member at Young H. Choi, M.D. Eye Surgery Center will help you get the needed paperwork and information to your provider to process your claim. Generally, you will need a diagnosis from an ophthalmologist that an eyelid lift is medically necessary to improve your vision.

Is eyelid surgery painful?

Among the various types of cosmetic surgeries, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) is one of the least painful. There is only minor discomfort on the day of your procedure (post-surgery), and recovery is fast, with many patients getting back out into the public after about two weeks. A cold compress and over-the-counter pain relievers will help relieve any possible discomfort you may feel.

What are some other benefits of an eyelid lift?
Eyelid surgery not only helps to rejuvenate your face, but it can also improve other aspects of your life. You may discover your field of vision expanding when loose, hanging skin on your upper eyelid is gone. It is also much easier to put on eye makeup once your upper eyelid is smooth. Getting rid of fine lines, paper-thin skin, puffy bags, and dark circles on your lower eyelid may make your eyes appear fuller and brighter without cosmetics.

Will an eyelid lift fix wrinkles and Crow's feet?
Wrinkles on your forehead and the corners of your eyes (Crow's feet) might be better treated with a brow lift or facelift as the improvements of blepharoplasty are limited to the eyelids only. Eyelid surgery can be performed with a nonsurgical treatment, which can smooth wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes. An injectable filler may help to add volume to hollow areas for a smoother appearance. During your consultation, Dr. Choi will create your personal treatment plan based on your goals.

What about nonsurgical treatments instead of eye surgery?
Skin tightening without surgery and injectable wrinkle treatments may give you some improvements. Although, if you have moderate to severe sagging skin or want results that last a long time, eyelid surgery would be better than nonsurgical treatment. When you have talked to Dr. Choi about your needs and goals for your eyes, he will give you his suggestions for a surgical or nonsurgical treatment plan.

If you are having a hard time seeing due to excess skin on your upper eyelids, or you suffer from puffy bags under your eyes, then blepharoplasty at Young H. Choi, M.D. Eye Surgery Center may be the answer for you. This surgery can help you look youthful and awakened while addressing your vision impairment concerns. We encourage you to get in touch with our office in Vestavia Hills, AL (near Birmingham) to make a consultation with Dr. Choi.