Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is performed to correct the signs of aging that affect the appearance of the eyes. With age, the contour of the eyelid may change significantly due to the loss of firmness in the uppermost layers of skin tissue. The decrease in skin elasticity can lead to hooding of the upper eyelid and the prolapse of fat on the lower lids, leading to persistent puffiness.
Dr. Krummen is a board-certified plastic surgeon who offers friendly, professional care to men and women from Cincinnati and surrounding areas. Her extensive training makes her an excellent resource for patients seeking eyelid and forehead rejuvenation.
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Benefits of Eyelid Surgery
- Restores a youthful, refreshed appearance.
- Improves vision impaired by sagging upper eyelids.
- Reduces puffiness and bags under the eyes.
- Enhances the natural contour of the upper eyelids.
- Allows easier makeup application.
Candidates for Eyelid Surgery
Several factors may influence you to seek eyelid surgery, such as:
- The natural fold of the upper eyelids is obscured due to sagging skin.
- Loose skin on the upper eyelids is impairing vision.
- The surface space of the upper eyelid has gradually decreased, making it difficult to apply makeup.
- Puffiness on the upper eyelid makes the eyes appear tired and heavy.
- The skin on the lower eyelid has become extremely thin-looking and loose.
- Bagging and dark circles under the eyes have become a persistent problem.
Ideal candidates for blepharoplasty are in good general health and understand what is possible – and what is not – with their chosen form of eyelid rejuvenation.
Types Of Blepharoplasty
Upper Blepharoplasty
Upper blepharoplasty focuses on rejuvenating the appearance of the upper eyelids. During this procedure, incisions are made within the natural crease of the eyelid, ensuring that scars remain discreetly hidden once healed. This technique allows for the removal or adjustment of excess skin, fat, and sometimes muscle that contribute to drooping eyelids. By restoring a smoother, more defined contour to the upper eyelid, this procedure not only enhances appearance but can also improve vision in cases where sagging skin obstructs the field of view. Upper blepharoplasty is particularly effective for individuals who find it difficult to apply makeup due to limited upper eyelid space.
Lower Blepharoplasty
Lower blepharoplasty addresses issues such as puffiness, bags, and loose skin beneath the eyes. This procedure can be tailored to the patient’s unique needs. In many cases, incisions are placed just below the lash line, allowing for the removal or repositioning of fat deposits and tightening of sagging skin. In some instances, especially when fat repositioning is the primary focus, incisions may be made on the inside rim of the lower eyelid (transconjunctival approach). This technique leaves no visible external scar and is ideal for patients with good skin elasticity. Lower blepharoplasty smooths the transition between the lower eyelid and cheek, creating a refreshed, youthful appearance while reducing the look of tiredness and under-eye shadows.Types of Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty Procedure Details
Blepharoplasty may focus on the upper eyelids or the lower lids, depending on need. In some cases, we rejuvenate both the upper and lower lids in a single procedure. Prior to the day of surgery, Dr. Krummen will determine and discuss the appropriate treatment plan, including how much fat, muscle, or skin tissue to remove. We typically perform blepharoplasty on an outpatient basis.
After the administration of local and/or IV anesthesia, the surgeon makes marks on the eyelids to indicate the location of tissue removal. Excess fatty tissue is removed if necessary and excess skin is excised through incisions. In some instances, Dr. Krummen will redistribute fat across the lower lid to create a smoother appearance. Dr. Krummen uses invisible sutures to close incisions. Adjunct treatments, such as laser, may be performed to reduce skin wrinkling around the eyes for maximum results.
Eyelid Surgery Recovery
Immediately after blepharoplasty, excessive tearing may occur for a short period of time. The eyes may also feel sensitive to light, and vision may be slightly blurry. You typically experience swelling and bruising after eyelid surgery. These side effects diminish over the course of a few weeks. Until then, you can manage swelling by applying ice and taking over-the-counter pain reducers like Tylenol for comfort. You can expect to return to work a week or two after your surgery.
Eyelid Surgery Results
The results of blepharoplasty become increasingly noticeable as swelling and bruising subside. After a few weeks, the full effects of eyelid rejuvenation should be obvious. One of the reasons patients choose eyelid surgery is because they desire long-lasting results. The surgical tightening of the skin around the eyes can take years off the appearance of the face. This more youthful appearance can last several years, especially with good skin and sun care. Of course, aging continues to affect the tightness of the skin, and some patients choose to manage this with follow-up treatments such as laser resurfacing, injectable wrinkle-reducers, or another eyelid surgery.
Eyelid Surgery Costs
Eyelid surgery costs vary based on the type of procedure, the complexity of the procedure, and whether it addresses functional concerns, such as vision impairment. Financing options are available.
Can Eyelid Surgery Be Combined With Other Procedures?
Most patients often combine a browlift with eyelid surgery. This is a great option for someone who feels they are not yet ready for an entire facelift but would benefit from a reduction in wrinkles that have developed in the uppermost part of the face. At your consultation Dr. Krummen will address your personal goals and determine whether a surgical or non-surgical brow lift may be best to achieve your desired outcome.
Forehead Lift
As the name implies, a brow lift targets the brows and the forehead. Also called a forehead lift, this procedure repositions or adjusts the muscles above the eyes and across the forehead to smooth lines and raise the eyebrows. It also relieves the muscles that create the vertical lines, colloquially known as the 11s, between your eyebrows.
When Would I Need a Brow Lift Instead Of Using Botox?
Botox is excellent for erasing the 11s, crow’s feet, and forehead lines. But it can’t do anything about the sagging and drooping of your forehead skin and the underlying support muscles. To reposition those, Dr. Krummen needs to perform a surgical brow lift.
How will you know what you need? If wrinkles are your concern, then Botox is a great treatment and it doesn’t require any surgery or recovery. But if your real concern is sagging, drooping brows and forehead skin, surgery is the only way to change this.
Benefits of a Forehead Lift
Across our bodies, gravity and aging seem to make everything droop and descend to some degree. Our foreheads aren’t immune. The combination of weakening support muscles, declining collagen production, sun damage, and other factors team up to cause our brows to droop and lines to form across our forehead. The effect can give you the appearance of being perpetually tired, sad, or even angry. In some cases, the sagging is extreme enough to begin to affect your field of vision.
A brow lift can eliminate the sagging, bring the supporting musculature back up, and leave the upper third of your face looking younger and more alert. Specific benefits include:
- Elevates sagging brows for a more youthful, alert appearance.
- Smooths forehead wrinkles and reduces frown lines (11s).
- Addresses drooping that may interfere with vision.
- Provides long-lasting rejuvenation of the upper face.
Candidates for a Forehead Lift
Candidates include individuals who:
- Experience sagging or drooping brows.
- Have pronounced forehead wrinkles or frown lines.
- Seek a permanent solution beyond Botox or fillers.
- Are in good overall health and have realistic goals.
Forehead Lift Procedure Details
Dr. Krummen uses various techniques depending on the patient’s areas of sagging:
- Coronal Brow Lift: This method involves a single coronal incision that runs from one ear, wraps up around the forehead, and terminates at the other ear. The incision is hidden within the hairline. The forehead skin is lifted away, and underlying muscles are trimmed and repositioned as appropriate. If necessary, the eyebrows may be lifted. The final step is to trim excess skin. Then the skin is re-draped and the incision is closed.
- Endoscopic Brow Lift: In this method, Dr. Krummen makes three to five short incisions within the hairline. An endoscope, a tiny instrument with a camera on the end, is inserted into one of the incisions. This provides excellent visuals of the area to be addressed without the need for the longer coronal incision. Tools are inserted into the other small incisions to manipulate the skin and muscles.
During your consultation with Dr. Krummen, the two of you can discuss if she thinks the endoscopic method will enable the degree of correction necessary for your situation.
Forehead Lift Recovery
Your recovery will be dictated by the method Dr. Krummen used for your brow lift. With either method, there will be swelling and bruising, and this can migrate down into your cheeks and around your eyes. While unpleasant, this should run its course in a week to 10 days. For the first two or three days after your surgery, you’ll need to keep your head elevated, even while sleeping.
Traditional brow lifts involve more numbness and discomfort along the incision. Initial numbness will be replaced by itching that can last up to six months. Often, the hair near the incision will fall out or thin, but normal hair growth should return within weeks or a few months.
Endoscopic brow lifts will also involve some numbness due to the tissue manipulation, but there is far less itching than with a traditional lift. Most patients can return to work within 10 days, but heavy lifting and vigorous exercise will need to wait for around one month. You need to try and keep your blood pressure from elevating in the forehead area.
Forehead Lift Results
The goal in a brow lift is to give permanent improvement to the transverse lines and frown lines of the forehead. Aspects of a brow lift will remain. For instance, forehead lines will never again be as severe. But the brows will continue to descend with age. The average brow lift patient can expect the effects of the procedure to visibly last from 10-12 years.
Brow Lift Costs
The cost of a forehead lift depends on the surgical technique and extent of correction required. Since it is a cosmetic procedure, it is not typically covered by insurance, but financing options are available. A consultation with Dr. Krummen will provide an accurate quote.
Why Choose Us for Facial Rejuvenation
Dr. Donna Krummen is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with two decades of experience in her own practice. She has extensive experience with these procedures, plus they have been performed for decades and have proven to be effective and safe. Patients benefit from:
- Personalized consultations.
- State-of-the-art techniques.
- Compassionate care and support throughout the surgical journey.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are interested in blepharoplasty or a brow lift surgery, contact our office in Cincinnati, OH at 513-547-5751 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Donna Krummen today.
