Eyelid and Facial Plastics

Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, may be performed to address both cosmetic and functional issues caused by excess or droopy eyelid skin (ptosis). Not only can excess eyelid skin obstruct the field of vision, but it can make a person look older and fatigued. Blepharoplasty can address all of these issues. Blepharoplasty, also called an eye lift, can rejuvenate the appearance of tired-looking eyes and help you look refreshed and youthful. An experienced oculoplastic surgeon has the extensive knowledge of the underlying structures of the eye needed to provide successful blepharoplasty results.

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BOTOX® & Dermal Fillers

Wrinkles are a common sign of aging, and it is possible to dramatically reduce the appearance of wrinkles using non-invasive treatments in cases where blepharoplasty or a brow lift is not necessary or optimal. Using BOTOX® Cosmetic or the dermal filler JUVÉDERM® we can smooth or fill existing wrinkles and prevent the formation of new creases such as crow’s feet, vertical lines between the eyebrows, frown lines, marionette lines, and other areas of concern.

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Forehead/Eyebrow Lift

The forehead is especially susceptible to signs of aging. The soft tissue and skin in this area can lose elasticity. Combined with repetitive facial expressions like smiling, frowning, and squinting, this can cause the eyebrows to sag and wrinkles to develop in the forehead and eye area.

A forehead/eye brow lift is a kind of plastic surgery that lifts the forehead, corrects drooping eyebrows, and smooths out the skin of the forehead, brow, and eye area. A forehead lift is essentially the only way to reverse these effects of aging.

The benefits of a forehead or brow lift include:

• Improved vision if the eyebrows droop over the eyelids
• Elevation of drooping eyebrows for a more youthful, refreshed, alert appearance
• Minimization of forehead lines, wrinkles, crow’s feet, and vertical lines between the eyebrows
• It is not uncommon for a forehead lift to be performed along with blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) to achieve the best surgical outcome and aesthetic appearance.

Obstructed Tear Duct Surgery

Tear duct obstruction may cause excessive watering, mucous discharge, eye irritation, and painful swelling in the inner corner of your eyelids. For some patients, the best remedy for an obstructed tear duct is a “watch-and-wait” approach. Other treatments include massage, flushing the eye, dilation, or probing. If these treatments are not successful, a balloon catheter may be used to dilate and unblock the tear duct or surgical treatment may be required.

Periocular Skin Tumor Removal

Skin bumps and lesions on or near the eyelids can either be benign (cysts, papillomas) or malignant (skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or melanoma). Sometimes the only way to differentiate between the two is to perform a biopsy. If a lesion is cancerous it can require complex excision and eyelid reconstruction to reduce the risk of recurrence and achieve a good cosmetic result. An oculoplastic surgeon is uniquely qualified to provide aesthetically pleasing and natural-looking results after a tumor excision.

Ptosis Repair

Ptosis is the medical term for drooping of the upper eyelid, a condition that may affect one of both eyes. When the edge of the upper eyelid falls, it may block the upper field of vision. Symptoms of ptosis include a decreased ability to keep the eyes open, eye strain and eyebrow fatigue from the increased effort needed to raise the eyelids, and fatigue—especially when reading. Acquired ptosis is treated surgically, with the specific operation based on the severity of the ptosis and the strength of the levator muscle. Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty is most often designed to reattach the stretched muscle to its normal location and remove excess skin to create a more smooth and youthful appearance to the eyelid.

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Eye and Orbit Reconstruction After Trauma

Eye socket (or orbit) reconstruction is a surgical procedure that repairs damage, restores function, and addresses any cosmetic issues that may result from trauma. Orbital trauma occurs when there is a blunt force injury to the eye, such as from a car accident, a fall, a blow to the eye by a hard object, or sports injury. Orbital traumas can fracture this bony cavity, cause problems with vision, affect facial muscles or sensations in the face, and damage cosmetic appearance.

Ectropion and Entropion Repair

Ectropion is the medical term used to describe an abnormal lower eyelid that turns outward and no longer touches the eye. As a result, the conjunctiva (the mucous membrane that lines the eyelid) may become red and exposed. This condition usually involves one or both lower eyelids and may affect the upper eyelid(s) in rare cases. If the ectropion is due to laxity of the eyelid’s supporting structures, surgery can restore the eyelid to its normal position against the eye.

Entropion is a condition in which an eyelid turns inward, rubbing against the eye, making it red, irritated, and sensitive to light and wind. If it is not treated, the condition can lead to excessive tearing, crusting of the eyelid, mucous discharge, and irritation. Serious inflammation could result in damage to the eye. The usual treatment for entropion involves tightening of the eyelid and its attachments to restore the lid to a normal position.

Thyroid Eye Disease Surgery

People with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism may experience some degree of eye difficulty caused by swelling of the soft tissues surrounding the eyes or enlargement of the muscles that control the eyes and eyelids. This may result in eyes that protrude forward, retraction of the upper eyelids that forces the lids apart, an inability to fully close the eyelids, the exposure of an abnormally large portion of the front of the eye, very wide or prominent eyes, a fixed staring expression, or infrequent blinking.

Surgery or aggressive medical management may be required to correct these problems if they begin to threaten vision or become cosmetically unacceptable.

Icon Palomar Laser

The Icon Palomar Laser is used to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and lighten brown spots. For optimal results, most patients require 3-8 treatments, which last about 5 minutes each. Laser treatments can be combined with cosmetic injectables for comprehensive rejuvenation.