With the effects of gravity and time, your eyelids may start to droop and sag, even to the point of impairing your vision. You may also develop a puffy appearance and wrinkles around your eyes. These changes may cause you to look tired or angry even when you are feeling rested and happy.
Dr. Herbstman performs blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) for patients as a way of significantly improving the aesthetics of the eyes and creating a rejuvenated, youthful, fresh appearance. The procedure can help patients at different stages of life with different cosmetic concerns. Whether you are frequently asked by co-workers whether you are getting enough sleep, or you look much older than your true age, blepharoplasty can resolve these issues.
A Patient’s Story
The reason I decided to get the surgery on my eyes was because I was having this tired look about me, and I think it was the long struggle through menopause and it was rough, and I kind of decided that I was going to do something to treat myself because it took its toll on me. What bothered me actually was underneath there was a little puffiness. I really didn’t feel there was anything wrong with the top part of my eyes, but when I went to the surgeon and spoke about it, he said, oh, maybe we’ll take a little bit from the top two and we’ll open your eye a little more and you look a little more refreshed. When I did go in for the eye surgery, they just prep you. The next thing I knew I was sleeping, and then I woke up and in the background I heard my sister and the doctor laughing, and then I knew everything. I must be fine. The doctor told my sister that she had to stay with me that night, and she had to put some kind of a sve on the top of my eye. I believe she just had to do that for one day, and the next day I had to go back to the doctor and he checked everything. Everything looked fine, and then he said, you could come back in one week and we’ll take out the stitches. I had no pain. That was the best part, and I was not black and blue. I was purple, but it was fine and within one week I went back to work. Preferably I like myself better now with no makeup. I’m very comfortable without it because my eyes don’t need all kind of puffiness creams, and so I go to work a lot of times with just lipstick and just let it be.
Meet Mary Ann, who underwent blepharoplasty with Dr. Herbstman to make her eyes look brighter and less tired.
“I like myself better now with no makeup,” she says. “I’m very comfortable without it because my eyes don’t need all kinds of smoothing creams. I go to work most of the time only wearing lipstick, looking and feeling natural.”
Dr. Herbstman’s Approach to Treatment
Even without addressing other facial features, revisions to a person’s eyes can completely refresh their appearance. With blepharoplasty, Dr. Herbstman uses techniques that minimize recovery time, reduce the chance of complications, and help patients look youthful and well-rested.
Some of the patients who visit Dr. Herbstman’s practice are excited about the benefits of blepharoplasty but want to make sure that their results will appear natural. Dr. Herbstman will spend extensive time in consultation helping patients understand how he will conduct the procedure and achieve this type of outcome. The approach that he takes often depends on the age of the patient:
Younger patients usually consider blepharoplasty because they genetically have prominent circles or puffiness beneath their eyes. This is often the result of fat protrusion rather than the development of excess skin. During blepharoplasty, Dr. Herbstman can remove or reshape fat in these areas from within the eyelid, leaving behind no visible scars.
Older patients often have lax or excess skin around their eyes as well as areas of collected fat. In these cases, Dr. Herbstman will usually perform both upper and lower blepharoplasty: removing the excess skin, smoothing the eyelid to get rid of a bulging appearance, and eliminating the circle below the eye.
Our patients sometimes benefit from additional procedures along with blepharoplasty. These treatments and surgeries can add lift or support to the lower eyelid to maintain its shape. Some examples include:
- Fat grafting: Dr. Herbstman can remove fat from areas where you do not want it and reposition this natural fat in the places where subtle contour improvement will result.
- Chemical peels for the lower eyelid: This treatment can provide you with smoother skin texture and naturally blend the transition from eyelid into the cheek, eliminating prominent grooves and wrinkles beneath the eye.
What to Expect With Blepharoplasty
Dr. Herbstman generally performs the procedure within 2-3 hours, though patients will require more time if they have blepharoplasty in conjunction with a facelift or brow lift. You will receive local or twilight anesthesia so that you can feel relaxed and comfortable throughout the procedure.
Depending on your individualized treatment plan, Dr. Herbstman may take several of the following steps during your blepharoplasty:
- He may make inconspicuous incisions to remove skin from the upper lid, and/or below the lashes of the lower lid. These incisions will trace the natural lines of the eye.
- Herbstman will remove excess fat, trim sagging skin, and tighten the underlying tissue to support the lower eyelids for a natural looking result.
- For many patients, he may use a hidden incision inside the lower eyelid to remove excess fat pads.
Patients who are looking for more comprehensive improvement can combine eyelid surgery with other procedures such as a facelift. They may also include non-surgical cosmetic rejuvenation as part of their treatment; our practice offers both BOTOX® Cosmetic and Fraxel® Laser to patients. Dr. Herbstman has had great success correcting aesthetic problems and naturally enhancing the overall appearance of the face through eyelid surgery. He looks forward to meeting you and developing a personalized treatment plan for your care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Herbstman places blepharoplasty incisions in locations that make signs of surgery very inconspicuous.
Most of our patients report very little discomfort after their surgery. Younger patients, who tend to have a less involved procedure, will typically recover faster. You can anticipate some bruising and swelling following blepharoplasty; our practice will help limit and treat these symptoms through a regimen of nutritional support products. Our patients typically have about 7-10 days of social downtime and return to work and normal activities afterward, but you can be out and about within a couple of days.
Blepharoplasty offers some of the longest-lasting aesthetic benefits of any plastic surgery procedure. There are some cases in which a patient’s brow will lower over time, and this can affect the appearance of the eye area. As a result, these patients may at some point benefit from a brow lift. A patient’s skin texture may also change over the years, in which case they may want to explore treatment with a chemical peel.
Get a more youthful, rested, and approachable appearance.
Find out more about blepharoplasty by scheduling an appointment at either of our offices.
Dr. Herbstman takes a personal approach to each patient’s care. See the difference when you visit his practice in East Brunswick and Red Bank. To learn more about eyelid surgery, request a consultation online or give us a call.