Q&A: Male Procedures
Posted May 30, 2018
AT from Pittsburgh writes:
“I will be turning 54 this fall and find myself looking older even though I work out and eat a healthy diet. No matter what I do I cannot improve on this perpetual look of exhaustion that is most noticeable around the eyes. People ask me all the time, “Am I tired?” even though I feel great. What can you do to make me look more rested and what would be the downtime involved?”
Dr. Antimarino:
Thank you for your question. First, we would need to do a thorough exam of the upper and lower eyelids as well as the level of the eyebrows. Many people do not realize that if the level of the eyebrows is too low, it can add to the appearance of the excess skin of the upper eyelids. If this is the case, then a brow lift may be required to correct the tired appearance. However in most cases, the eyebrows are in good position and the patient has excess skin of the upper eyelids which is due to aging and genetics.
I would also have to measure the upper eyelids to be sure they are not sagging or hanging too low. In most cases, to correct the excess skin of the upper eyelids would require a simple upper blepharoplasty. This means that the excess skin of the lid can be surgically removed, resulting in a more youthful, rested appearance.
The lower eyelid can also be a problem by making the patient appear older and tired due to excess skin and bulging of fat which creates bags under the eyes. In this case, an examination of the tone of the lower lid would be assessed to determine how much skin would need to be removed as it is critical to remove just the right amount. A lower lid blepharoplasty for most patients requires two incisions to acquire a more youthful and rested appearance. The first is on the inside of the eyelid on the mucosa to remove the excess fat. The second incision is placed under the eyelashes and removes the excess skin.
These procedures may be done together and can be done under twilight anesthesia. The typical downtime is about a week with mild to moderate swelling for the first several days. There can also be some mild bruising of the lower eyelids. A patient may not wear contact lenses for the first two weeks. There is minimal pain associated with this surgery and the results are immediate. The shape of the eyes does not change; therefore, the patient will look just like themselves, only more rested.
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