When you’re considering cosmetic surgery, your first thought may be that you want to slow your aging process and make yourself look younger with surgery or possibly injectables. While surgeons perform many procedures for only cosmetic purposes, others have functions purposes, as well.
After talking to your surgeon, you might conclude that the procedure is an excellent idea to improve a health or medical issue.
An eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, is a perfect example of a cosmetic procedure with both cosmetic and functional benefits. Many people have an eyelid surgery to transform the upper or lower eyelids to make them look younger. Or, you can have the blepharoplasty procedure to correct an issue that affects your vision.
Goals Of A Cosmetic Eyelid Lift
The goals of a cosmetic eyelid surgery depend on where the surgery is performed and the issue that concerns you. Blepharoplasty eyelid surgery can be done on the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both.
The upper blepharoplasty eyelid surgery targets the muscles in the eye’s upper area and removes excess eyelid skin in that area. You could opt for an upper eyelid surgery if your upper eyelid feels or looks heavy and droop over the eyes. Heavy, droopy eyelids can make you look tired and also make you look much older.
Lower eyelid surgery is normally chosen when your lower eyelids change because of aging. The skin of your lower lids may stretch, and the muscles in that area can weaken, leading to droopiness under your eyes. Some patients also notice that excess fat deposits develop under the eyes as they age, which leads to a baggy, puffy appearance.
A lower eyelid lift can tighten your lower eyelids, smooth the skin and create a younger look. During this cosmetic procedure, your surgeon can remove excess fat deposits under the eyes to reduce the puffiness and bagginess you have there.
An eyelid lift can be done by itself, but some patients have a brow lift or facelift at the same time.
Goals Of A Functional Eyelid Lift
A cosmetic eyelid lift intends to enhance your appearance, but the goal of a functional eyelid lift is to improve a medical problem that affects the way your eyes function. One of the most common goals of eyelid lift surgery is to improve vision.
A functional eyelid lift usually focuses on your upper eyelids. The upper eyelids may droop or sag over your eyes and block your vision.
Sometimes, the sagging of the upper lids can make it hard to wear contact lenses or glasses to enhance your sight. You could need surgery on the upper lids if you have recurring pain in your forehead. When your upper eye skin sags, many strain their brows to keep the upper lids elevated.
Functional blepharoplasty can ease the strain on your forehead muscles to reduce pain. Also, this type of surgical procedure can reduce irritation when droopy eyelid skin rubs together.
Eyelid Lifts and Ptosis Surgery
Some patients with drooping eyelids develop ptosis when droopy eyelids fall or droop below where it should be. In the worst cases, ptosis may obscure your vision, which requires immediate attention.
Many things can cause ptosis. Some patients are born with drooping eyelids that tend to droop over one or both eyes. If the ptosis is bad enough to block a baby’s vision, surgery may be needed immediately to prevent long-term damage.
If the drooping skin doesn’t obstruct the baby’s vision, surgery could be delayed until the child is older. Many children born with ptosis may wait for an eyelid lift until about the age of five.
Adults also can develop ptosis as a result of aging, a muscle disease, or a tumor. If the ptosis is caused by aging, eyelid surgery can correct the problem. If a muscle disease or tumor is the issue, your surgeon will treat the tumor or disease before fixing the eyelid.
Insurance And Eyelid Lifts
Health insurance coverage doesn’t usually include plastic surgery for aesthetic reasons. If you want an eyelid lift to look younger, most eyelid surgery patients probably need to pay out of pocket for the eyelid surgery cost.
However, if you need a function eyelid lift, your insurance company may pay if you qualify for surgery. If you can prove that your surgery is for medical conditions, it’s possible you won’t need to pay for it.
If you’re interested in a functional eyelid lift, call your insurance company directly to determine the criteria for them to cover the cost. Depending on the policy, the provider could require documentation from your doctor to show that the procedure will provide a medical benefit.
Ideal Candidates For An Eyelid Lift
Whether you have functional or cosmetic reasons in mind, eyelid surgery isn’t for everyone. A good candidate to qualify for eyelid procedures is in good health.
If you have an underlying medical problem causing your eye issues, your doctor will probably deal with that first. Then, he or she may recommend eyelid lift surgery to correct any drooping or sagging that has impaired vision.
If you have any of the following issues, eyelid lift surgery could be for you:
- Vision impairment caused by drooping skin on the upper eyelids
- Puffiness under the eyes
- Bags under your eyes
- Sagging or folding excess skin over your eyes
- Constantly tired appearance maybe with dark circles
- Impaired peripheral vision
Questions and Answers
What is the criteria for upper eyelid surgery?
A minimum loss of 30 percent of the upper field of vision, involving the upper eyelid skin of the upper lid and/or upper lid margin in both repose and elevation (achieved through lid taping), must be present to showcase the potential correction achievable through the proposed procedure or procedures.
What makes eyelid surgery medically necessary?
Eyelid Ptosis occurs when the eyelid muscle weakens, while dermatochalasis refers to the presence of sagging skin or excess skin and fat. Regardless of whether it stems from ptosis or dermatochalasis, both conditions have the potential to cause vision problems such as double vision or blurred vision, necessitating eyelid surgery for medical reasons.
What is a field vision test prior to blepharoplasty surgery?
The Ptosis Visual Field Test is specifically designed to assess the extent to which your eyelids may be affecting your vision. This test is conducted solely for insurance qualification purposes. Both the right and left eyes will be tested twice during the evaluation.
What is the difference between an eyelid surgery and a brow lift?
The primary distinction between the two cosmetic procedures lies in which facial region they target: a brow lift focuses on the skin and soft tissue in the forehead, while a blepharoplasty targets to remove excess skin and fat from the upper and lower eyelid.
What do I need to do to prepare for my eyelid surgery?
Once it’s determined that you qualify for eyelid surgery most patients will need to stop taking certain herbal supplements, anti-inflammatory drugs, and quit smoking. You should be sure that you are living a healthy lifestyle and also be finding some help for your first few days of recovery time following surgery. This is an outpatient surgery, so you’ll need a safe ride back to the comforts of home.
Request An Eyelid Surgery Consultation Today
Interested in a Las Vegas eyelid surgery? Please schedule a consultation with Dr. Rachel Mason today! She will review your medical history and the options with you about eyelid surgery, your goals and help determine if you’re an ideal candidate for this procedure.
References
Eyelid Lift Procedure Overview. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-eyelid-surgery#1
What Is An Eyelid Lift? (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/eyelid-lift
What To Expect from Blepharoplasty. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.healthline.com/health/blepharoplasty