The reason blepharoplasty is done so frequently has more to do with the desire to offer patients a small, technically low-complex and fast solution than striving for optimal results perse. There are many clinics in the Netherlands that focus on this. For clients who have already decided they solely want blepharoplasty, we kindly refer to these clinics. For us, achieving optimal result is our main priority. For most patients over 40 years of age this means it is necessary to address more than just the eyelids. In some cases, blepharoplasty is sufficient. In other cases however, an eyebrow lift or fat injections are more suitable procedures. Treatment with Botox can also be sufficient to achieve the desired result. Hence, there are several ways to rejuvenate the eyes and forehead. The choice of technique depends entirely on the individual.
Dr. Wever uses various techniques to rejuvenate the forehead and eyes. When the eyebrows are in a normal position, there is no excessive activity of the forehead muscles, there is limited fat loss around the eye socket, and the eyeball does not lie too deep in the skull, blepharoplasty is a great option. This involves removing a strip of skin of usually 10-15 millimeters plus in most cases a small amount of muscle tissue, after which the wound is carefully closed with small stitches. These stitches are removed after one week; however, it can take a while before the desired result is achieved. During the first weeks, the skin will remain slightly swollen and stiff. Additionally, the scar may be red for some time. This usually takes around eight weeks to fully disappear.
Important things to remember with regards to blepharoplasty:
- Local anesthesia;
- Takes around 40 minutes;
- No smoking before and after surgery;
- Any use of anticoagulant drugs must be discontinued;
- No serious problems with dry eyes;
- Report previous Lasik surgery;
- Report blindness in one eye.
This is a general description of an eyelid correction. Oftentimes, there are additional factors that change the nature of the technique slightly. In some cases, for example, there may be excess fat in the inner corner of the eye or the lacrimal gland is too prominent. In other cases, the eye muscle may be elongated congenitally or due to aging (called ptosis). It also regularly occurs that the eye socket has become too hollow due to the loss of fat or previous blepharoplasty. If these problems are not addressed, the final result is likely to be disappointing.
If the excess eyelid skin is especially prominent in the lateral corner, the tail of your eyebrow is too low, and if you do not suffer from deep frown lines above your nose, Dr. Wever often performs a so-called minimally invasive lateral brow lift. Usually done under local anesthesia, a small incision is made along the hairline, after which skin is removed. This procedure slightly lifts the tail of your eyebrow and reduces excess eyelid skin. We regularly combine this procedure with blepharoplasty.
If the position of the eyebrows is low across the entire length and there are also undesirable frown lines, an endoscopic eyebrow lift is recommended. This procedure is always performed under general anesthesia and takes around 60 minutes. It can be combined with normal blepharoplasty. Usually, we recommend using Botox injections before deciding to operate. During an eyebrow lift, five small incisions are made behind the hairline. Through the use of an endoscopic camera, the forehead is detached up to the rim of the eye socket and the frown muscles are cut. The result is a fresh, open look with permanently weaker frown muscles. If the hairline is naturally high, it is sometimes decided to place the incisions in the hairline.
During the first six months after surgery, there is always some relapse of the eyebrow position. This risk is greater among patients with thicker skin and those under the age of 40. Minor hair loss in the scar can take place. Failure of the motor nerve with which you move the eyebrows may occur in rare cases, but this generally recovers within three months.
Important things to remember with regards to an endoscopic eyebrow lift:
- General anesthesia, takes around 60 minutes;
- Often combined with blepharoplasty;
- No smoking before and after surgery;
- Any use of anticoagulant drugs must be discontinued;
- No serious problems with dry eyes;
- Report previous Lasik surgery;
- Report blindness in one eye;
- Any existing eyebrow asymmetry usually persists.
