COSMETIC SURGERY

Dr. Fank Venzara

Blepharoplasty improves appearance of your eyes

THE FIRST place one begins to show their age is in their eyes, “the windows of the soul.”  The eyes show much about our physical state of being, and over time, the aging process can make you look older, impair vision, and even change the way people perceive you.  Cosmetic eyelid surgery, called blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure performed to improve the appearance of the eyes.  It is one of the most popular facial cosmetic procedures and is typically well tolerated by patients.

BLEPHAROPLASTY may be performed under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation or with general anesthesia. The incisions are designed to be concealed within the natural folds of the eyelids in order to keep the scars as invisible as possible. Excess fat, muscle, and loose skin are removed, with the procedure routinely taking approximately one hour to complete.

Loose or sagging skin of the upper and lower eyelids can prematurely age the face. There are two fat pads behind the upper lid and three fat pads behind the lower lids. The fat pads, which bulge out the lower lids, are easily detectable by looking up, and bulging of the lower lid is detectable by gently pressing on the upper lid, which pushes the lower pads out.  This is what causes the “bags under the eyes”.  In many cases “bags under the eyes” is hereditary and can easily be alleviated with surgery.

The dark circles under or around the eyes are harder to address.  If they are caused by shadows from the “bags under the eyes” then the blepharoplasty will help.  If the darkness is caused by allergies, then the surgery will most likely not help the color, but by smoothing out the area will be easier to camouflage. Make-up and concealers will go on smoother and more uniform.    Blepharoplasty addresses these issues by safely removing above mentioned excess skin and fat pads surrounding the eye area.  Meticulous attention must be paid to providing anatomic correction without altering the patient’s natural look.

Because blepharoplasty is typically deemed cosmetic by most insurance companies it is not covered.  However, in some cases, the loose or sagging skin of the upper eyelids may impair the field of vision, and if visual field impairment is documented by a visual fields test by your eye physician, the surgery may be covered by insurance. In contrast, the lower eyelids, where the puffiness results in “bags” but does not impair vision, are never covered by insurance.  Removing the “bags” and associated excess skin with a lower blepharoplasty results in a more rested and youthful appearance, but is purely cosmetic.

Local Anesthesia
Blepharoplasty may be performed under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation or with general anesthesia.  The incisions are designed to be concealed within the natural folds of the eyelids in order to keep the scars as invisible as possible. Excess fat, muscle, and loose skin are removed, with the procedure routinely taking approximately one hour to complete.

Fine sutures are used to close the incisions, thereby minimizing the visibility of any scar, and are removed within 3-4 days. There is very little associated discomfort, but typically there are varying degrees of swelling and bruising under or around the eyes, and downtime is minimal overall. Cold compresses, as well as head elevation when lying down, will enhance healing and relieve discomfort.

Unfortunately no matter how healthy we are or how diligent we are at the gym, there is no way to counteract the effects of aging on the eyelids and face. Facial plastic surgery makes it possible to correct many facial flaws and signs of premature aging that can undermine self-confidence. By changing how you look, facial plastic surgery like blepharoplasty can help change how you feel about yourself and, in some cases where vision is impaired, provide a new outlook on life.

Selecting a Surgeon
Successful facial plastic surgery is a result of good rapport between patient and surgeon. Finding a surgeon you can trust to perform the blepharoplasty procedure is of utmost importance. Trust, based on realistic expectations and exacting medical expertise, develops in the consulting stages before surgery. In order to feel as comfortable and confident as possible with the cosmetic surgeon you choose, be sure you’re familiar with the things you should look for in a surgeon.

When choosing a plastic surgeon make sure that he or she is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the only cosmetic surgical board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties, and make your choice of a plastic surgeon based on the extent of his or her experience and qualifications rather than on bargains or promotions.

Dr. Frank Venzara was born in Chicago and has resided for the majority of his life in South and Central Florida.  He is a graduate of both University of Miami’s Undergraduate Program and Medical School.  He trained as a surgical resident at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami and as a plastic surgery fellow at the University of Missouri’s Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri.  He has practiced in the Central Brevard, Florida Area for 25 years as a Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon.  When not attending to his surgery schedule, Frank enjoys surfing and fishing. Dr. Venzara can be reached at 321-452-3882, or log on to BrevardPlasticSurgery.com

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