Procedure: Correct drooping upper eyelids by removing excess fat, skin, and muscle. (Upper-eyelid surgery may be covered by insurance if used to correct visual field defects)
Length: 1 to 3 hours.
Anesthesia: Usually locally with sedation or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary discomfort, tightness of lids, swelling, bruising, temporary dryness, burning, itching of eyes, excessive tearing and/or sensitivity to light for first few weeks.
Risks: Temporary blurred or double vision; infection; bleeding; swelling at the corners of the eyelids; dry eyes; formation of whiteheads; slight asymmetry in healing or scarring; difficulty in closing eyes completely (rarely permanent); pulling down of the lower lids (may require further surgery); and/or blindness (extremely rare).
Recovery:
- Reading: 2 or 3 days.
- Back to work: 7 to 10 days.
- Contact lenses: two weeks or more.
- Strenuous activities, alcohol: about 3 weeks.
- Bruising and swelling gone: several weeks.
Duration of Results: Several years. Sometimes permanent.
Procedure: Improving sagging facial skin, jowls, and loose neck skin by removing excess fat, tightening muscles, redraping skin. Most often done on men and women over 40.
Length: Several hours.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient. Some patients may require short inpatient stay.
Side Effects: Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness and tenderness of skin; tight feeling, dry skin. For men, permanent need to shave behind ears, where beard-growing skin is repositioned.
Risks: Injury to the nerves that control facial muscles or feeling (usually temporary but may be permanent), infection, bleeding, poor healing; excessive scarring, and/or asymmetry or change in hairline.
Recovery:
- Back to work: 10 to 14 days.
- More strenuous activity: 2 weeks or more.
- Bruising: 2 to 3 weeks.
- Must limit exposure to sun for several months.
Duration of Results: Usually 5 to 10 years.
