A blepharoplasty is a type of cosmetic eye surgery that improves the appearance of your upper or lower eyelid area. Age can cause you to develop bags under your eyes or cause your upper eyelid to droop. Excess fat can accumulate in these areas too and keep your eyes from being wide and youthful.
You might want to improve the appearance of your eyes, or you may be frustrated with the way the excess skin feels or blocks your vision. Talk to a cosmetic doctor about ways to treat your eyelids and to see if a blepharoplasty might be right for you. Here are four things to know about this cosmetic surgery.
1. You May Not Need General Anesthesia
Your doctor might perform this surgery with a local anesthetic to your eyes and IV sedation to relax you. This might put your mind at ease if you avoid surgery because you don't want general anesthesia. However, your doctor will choose the right anesthesia for the procedure and your health and discuss the options with you.
2. You Can Do the Upper And Lower Lids At Once
Heredity plays a role in how your eyes age. You might not have problems with bags under your eyes, but your upper lids may sag more than you like. You might have noticeable issues with both your upper and lower lids. The cosmetic surgeon assesses your eyes and listens to your goals to decide the procedure you'll need to have done. If both upper and lower lids need surgery, you can have both surgeries on the same day.
3. Other Procedures Can Be Done Too
When you discuss your goals with your surgeon, the doctor can help you understand what type of procedures you may need in addition to an eye lift. A brow or forehead lift might also be needed to lift the top part of your face so your eyes widen at the same time.
You might also undergo other cosmetic treatments at the same time, such as laser or chemical resurfacing, so you get all your work done at once rather than having to make multiple visits.
4. Insurance May Pay If Your Vision Is Affected
Insurance usually doesn't pay for cosmetic procedures. If the only reason you want a blepharoplasty is to be happier with your appearance, you'll need to pay for the surgery yourself. If you have an eye exam that confirms the excess skin impairs your vision, your insurance might pay for your eye lift, so it's worth checking into if you're having a blepharoplasty for medical reasons.
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