Whether you want to restore an alert, youthful appearance or address facial symmetry, eyelid surgery at Chicago Oculofacial Consultants could be your optimal solution. Our options for blepharoplasty address a range of cosmetic concerns through precise adjustments for natural-looking results. Choose upper or lower blepharoplasty, or combine both procedures with quad blepharoplasty.
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Eyelid surgery, medically known as blepharoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure designed to improve the appearance of the eyelids by removing excess skin, fat, and muscle. This surgery is performed on either the upper or lower eyelids or both and aims to rejuvenate the area around the eyes, creating a more youthful and rested appearance. Eyelid surgery can also correct functional problems caused by sagging eyelids that may impair vision.
Additionally, a few things should be considered when discussing your candidacy.
Patients will need to take a few steps to prepare for their procedure. These include obtaining any necessary bloodwork and pausing certain medications. Also, avoid smoking and excess alcohol consumption in the weeks leading up to your surgery. Lastly, we recommend arranging your ride home ahead of time.
We start with administering an anesthetic to ensure a pain-free procedure. This may be only local anesthetic or sedation. Dr. Williams will move step-by-step through your agreed-upon plan. This will involve creating incisions, removing excess skin and fat, and tightening and repositioning tissues. All incisions are created in the natural crease of the eyelid to avoid visible scarring.
Dr. Williams provides comprehensive options for addressing any cosmetic or functional concerns related to the eyelids. At her practice in Chicago, she offers both upper and lower eyelid surgery, which can be adapted for both women and men to create results that match your aesthetic goals. As a board-certified oculofacial surgeon, she has refined her technique with years of experience to produce transformative results that go beyond those of a traditional plastic surgeon.
Upper eyelid surgery addresses excess or uneven skin in and around the upper eyelid. Here, the typical signs of aging involve the skin beginning to sag or droop, which can create a tired or aged look. The procedure restructures the eyelid skin and tissues to create a more youthful expression to the eyes.
Benefits:
Lower eyelid surgery targets signs of aging under the eye. Most notably, it adjusts pockets of fat under the eyelids while also tightening the skin. The result eliminates many of the tired-looking changes that come with under-eye signs of aging.
Benefits:
In many cases, seeing improvements in only one part of the eyelids does not bring about the full rejuvenation patients want to see. A quad blepharoplasty procedure addresses concerns about the upper and lower eyelids for both eyes, all in a single surgery. The procedures performed together complement each other, highlighting the benefits for a fully refreshed look.
Generally, patients who already qualify for upper or lower blepharoplasty will also qualify for quad blepharoplasty. Even a combined eyelid procedure places less strain on the body than other plastic surgeries. Quad blepharoplasty often proves ideal for older patients with multiple cosmetic concerns.
We advise patients to take at least 1 week off from work and all physical activity right after surgery. You will have some bruising, swelling, and pain, but each of these can be addressed in its own way.
Additionally, Dr. Williams will provide you with full aftercare instructions for your recovery period. These steps help ensure a smooth healing process that leads not only to faster recovery but also to better results. She sees all patients for follow-up appointments to check their progress and provide additional information when needed. Never hesitate to ask any questions you may have during these follow-up visits.
You can start to enjoy your initial results about 2 weeks after your surgery. Around this time, most of the visible swelling and bruising should have faded. Patients should begin to see a refreshed, alert appearance around the treated areas.
The delicate nature of the eyelids means that even minor swelling can affect how they look. Residual swelling might not be visible, but it can take several months to fully fade. After this, you can see your full results.
With a healthy lifestyle and good skin care, eyelid surgery results can last for years. Upper tends to provide benefits for about 5 to 7 years. Lower usually lasts longer, with patients seeing benefits for 10+ years in many cases. Healthy habits and good skincare can help prolong results.
Call our office or use our website form to start a process that ends with you seeing a renewed, youthful appearance. Book your consultation to learn more about eyelid surgery with Dr. Williams and begin building a tailored treatment plan. We look forward to doing our part in bringing out the best in your natural features.
You can of course combine upper and lower eyelid surgery with each other. You can also combine eyelid procedures with other facial plastic surgery. An ideal combination is with a brow lift (also called a forehead lift). When you combine eyelid surgery with a brow lift, you can fully rejuvenate the upper face. These procedures complement each other well, bringing a sense of harmony to the upper face while highlighting the youthfulness of your unique features.
As far as surgery goes, blepharoplasty is on the lighter side. However, preparation still plays a crucial role in safety and seeing optimal outcomes. While this involves several steps, each of them is straightforward and easy. Furthermore, Dr. Williams will provide you with clear, comprehensive instructions. Some of the most common preparation steps include:
While both upper and lower eyelid surgery involve incisions, the resulting scars will be hidden. For the upper eyelid, Dr. Williams makes the incision in the upper eyelid crease. At first, it may be visible when closing your eyes. However, this scarring typically heals very well and fades over time. Eventually, it should not be noticeable.
Lower eyelid surgery incisions can be made inside the eyelid, which completely hides any scarring. Still, Dr. Williams maintains a precise technique so that even hidden scarring heals well. This commitment to minimal tissue damage results in better healing and more refined results.
Eyelid surgery results can last for over a decade, but the aging process continues. However, patients can take easy but essential steps to prolong their results and maintain a refreshed look for years on end. These include:
Eyelid surgery cost will vary from one patient to the next and between clinics. However, the range of the cost of eyelid surgery in Chicago is between $4,000 and $10,000. This factors in elements like surgeon experience, facility fees, and anesthesia. Additionally, procedure complexity will influence the final cost.
During your consultation, we assess your individual situation and provide a quote based on the details of your procedure plan. Your no-commitment quote will have transparent breakdowns of each element of the final cost, with no surprises once you commit to surgery. When looking for an eyelid procedure, we strongly recommend searching by surgeon rather than price tag. You will be making a years-long investment in your body and wellness, so choosing the right specialist is essential.
Insurance companies generally do not provide coverage for cosmetic procedures. In some cases, a patient may have medical reasons for treating upper eyelid sagging, particularly for cases of ptosis. Insurance may also cover reconstructive procedures that treat various eyelid conditions. If you have a medically necessary procedure, still check with your insurance provider to see what your policy covers.
Many financing options exist specifically for cosmetic medical procedures like eyelid surgery. These plans can offer flexible payment options, with some including no interest if paid within a certain period. During your consultation, Dr. Williams can provide recommendations for ways to finance eyelid surgery.
Most patients can wear makeup (and contact lenses) once the swelling and bruising mostly resolve. Typically, this takes about 10 to 14 days. Trying to do so earlier than this could interfere with healing. Some patients may need to wait longer. We see all patients for follow-up visits. At this visit, we can assess your recovery and give you the all-clear once you can safely wear makeup and apply cosmetics.
Each patient heals at their own rate. The main thing to remember is to listen to your body. If something feels like it is straining your eyelids, then continue to avoid it until you are fully healed. Dr. Williams provides follow-up appointments to track your recovery and make recommendations accordingly.
Generally, a timeline for returning to your usual activities looks like the following:
With a skilled and experienced surgeon conducting the procedure, eyelid surgery is quite safe. The right surgeon will also take the time to adapt their technique to further increase your safety. If Dr. Williams deems a procedure unsafe for a patient, she will recommend them alternatives.
You can also take the reins on your safety. Complications can arise during the healing period due to incomplete aftercare. Dr. Williams will provide each patient with a comprehensive list of steps to take while healing from surgery. These are simple, but they are also vital. Always reach out if you have any concerns while recovering.
For the upper eyelids, surgery is the only way to address excess skin. Some physicians offer laser eyelid surgery, but it still removes skin. However, upper eyelid surgery is still a mild experience with minimal risk.
For lower eyelid concerns, there are some nonsurgical alternatives. Injectable fillers can help even out the under-eye area and restore lost volume. However, these treatments provide temporary results. While this means less commitment, you also would have to redo treatment as results fade. We tend to recommend them for patients with milder cosmetic concerns. Or you can use them as prejuvenation treatments to head off the appearance of signs of aging.
After surgery, the swelling can cause some vision changes, such as blurred vision. But this typically remains mild and goes away with the swelling. Once you heal, there should be no negative effects on your vision. If anything, upper eyelid procedures can create a more open eye. The eye may feel lighter without the added strain caused by excess skin.
As long as you still meet the candidate requirements, you certainly can have a second procedure. Revision eyelid surgery can either restore or improve upon the results of your first procedure. As with your first procedure, we start from square one and build a new procedure plan.
However, you will want an exceptionally skilled surgeon for any additional procedures. This is because revision surgery is more complex than a primary one. With your first blepharoplasty, your surgeon works only with your natural tissues. With revision surgery, the surgeon must accommodate any scar formation as well. This requires a more complex approach that demands a deep understanding of the eyelid’s delicate structures.
Ptosis, or droopy eyelids, occurs when the eyelid muscle cannot properly open the upper eyelid. Upper blepharoplasty can improve the appearance of droopy eyelids, but only when due to excess skin. Ptosis would require a different approach. The procedure aims at tightening and repairing the muscles involved. Depending on your situation, you can combine it with lower eyelid surgery for fuller restoration of your eyes’ appearance.
