Do your research and be an informed consumer
St. Petersburg, FL (August 28, 2015) – According to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, over 100,000 Americans choose to have blepharoplasties – or eye lift surgeries – every year. While the goal of this procedure is to remove excess fat, muscle and skin to unveil a refreshed appearance and a firmer, more youthful eye area, no surgery is without its risks.
The best candidates for eye lift surgeries are men and women who are physically healthy, psychologically stable, and who have realistic expectations. Most are 35 years of age or older, but if droopy, baggy eyelids run in the family, or if eyelids obscure vision (ptosis), many consider eye lift surgery before they turn 35.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine recommends patients do their research, and reveal any medical histories and concerns to the attending surgeon. Circulatory issues, ophthalmological concerns or medical conditions influence outcomes, as well as skin types and conditions of the skin, ethnic and genetic backgrounds, and age.
What are the risks?
When eye lift surgery is performed by an experienced surgeon, complications are infrequent and often minor. Certainly, no specialty is more experienced with blepharoplasties then an oculofacial plastic surgeon. Yet, blepharoplasties are not without their risks. Surgical risks may include bleeding or infection, while procedural risks may be comprised of damage to the eye or loss of vision (rare), difficulty closing the eyes while sleeping (rarely permanent), double or blurred vision, temporary swelling of the eyelids, the appearance of tiny whiteheads after stitches are removed, slow healing, and uneven healing or scarring.
Will poor health affect the outcomes?
If a patient presents health concerns such as diabetes, dry eye or not enough tear production, heart disease or disorders of the blood vessels, high blood pressure or other circulatory disorders, or thyroid problems, concerns for quality outcomes should be part of the doctor-patient narrative before surgery. Post-surgical outcomes are part and parcel of these risks. Uneven healing and bruising may also present themselves as a result of these risks and the patient’s willingness or ability to attend to the healing process.
Will eye lifts last a long time?
Scars may remain pink for up to six months and will eventually fade to a nearly invisible white line. On the whole, the majority of the 100,000 patients who elect to undergo this surgery enjoy a more alert and youthful look that usually lasts for five to seven years, and for some, the effects will last a lifetime.
Is it worth it?
Patients who are informed consumers, who do their homework, and trust qualified surgeons are the happiest consumers who enjoy the best outcomes.
About the Tampa Bay Cosmetic Surgery Center
Lawrence G. Kass, M.D. has been the Medical Director of the Tampa Bay Cosmetic Surgery Center for nearly three decades. Dr. Kass graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Boston University Medical School. He is a Diplomate, American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, Diplomate, American Board of Ophthalmology, Fellow, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, and Fellow, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. Dr. Kass is the leading expert in Facial Cosmetic Surgery in Pinellas County and was Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, University of South Florida Medical Center in Tampa, Florida for twenty years. He pioneered the S-Lift and small incision face and neck lift procedures and introduced the Hetter chemical peel for facial rejuvenation to the Tampa Bay area. He continues to excel in procedures regarding the latest and most effective techniques in cosmetic facial procedures including Botox, Xeomin, temporary and permanent facial fillers (Silikon 1000), acne scar treatment, facial skin rejuvenation, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Kass also pioneered surgical techniques correcting the ocular anomalies manifested by Graves Disease. Without question, Dr. Kass is the single, most experienced, eyelid surgeon in the Tampa Bay region.