Q: How long does an upper Eyelid surgery usually take?
A: Typically, an upper eyelid blepharoplasty takes about an hour. You need to make sure you are comfortable with the surgeon operating on you and if you are having eyelid surgery the surgeon should be an oculoplastic surgeon. Hope this helps.
6/11/10
6/8/10
Glossary of Oculoplastic Terms - B
B cell lymphoma: Types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma affecting B cells. It develops more frequently in immune compromised individuals.
Basal cell carcinoma: Most common type of skin cancer. A slow-growing, malignant, but usually non-metastasizing epithelial neoplasm of the epidermis or hair follicles, most commonly arising in sun damaged skin of the elderly and fair skinned.
Basal cell nevus syndrome: A syndrome of myriad basal cell nevi with the development of multiple basal cell carcinomas in adult life. These patients need to be followed closely for the development of basal cell carcinoma.
Benign mixed tumor: Neoplasm of epithelial and myoepithelial differentiation, varied architectural and cytologic features and mucoid, myxoid or chondroid stroma.
Blepharochalasis: A congenital or acquired condition characterized by undue looseness or pendulousness of the eyelid skin due to an abnormality or deficiency of elastic fibers. This is an idiopathic condition.
Blepharoplasty: Blepharo = eyelid + Plasty = to change. An operation performed to remove excess skin, muscle or fat from the eyelids to create a more youthful appearance. This procedure needs to be customized and individualized for the patient. The art of blepharoplasty has changed significantly in the past 10 years. Today the goal of the operation is to create a more natural look based on each patient's individual needs.
Blepharoptosis: Drooping of the upper eyelid.
Blepharospasm: Involuntary spasmodic contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscle.
Blowout fractures: Bone fractures caused by direct trauma to the globe, which leads to an increase in intraorbital pressure and decompression via fracture of the orbital floor.
Blue nevus: A dark blue or blue-black nevus covered by smooth skin and formed by heavily pigmented spindle-shaped or dendritic melanocytes in the reticular dermis.
Botox: A neurotoxin protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is used in minute doses both to treat painful muscle spasms, and as a cosmetic treatment. In cosmetic facial rejuvenation it allows paralysis of the affected muscle to temporarily eliminate static wrinkles. The effects of Botox typically last about 90 days.
Bowen disease: A form of intraepidermal carcinoma characterized by the development of slowly enlarging pinkish or brownish papules or eroded plaques covered with a thickened horny layer. Microscopically, there is dyskeratosis with large round epidermal cells that contain large nuclei and pale-staining cytoplasm and are scattered through all levels of the epidermis.
Brow lift: Operation to elevate the eyebrows.
Brow ptosis: Droopy eyebrow caused by heavy tissue above the eye; it can obstruct vision and result in fatigue caused by the effort required to raise this tissue out of the way.
Buccal mucus membrane graft: A type of mucosal graft from the lips; commonly used to reconstruct the fornices in situations that the patient lacks normal tissue from previous trauma, injury or birth defect.
Bulbar conjunctiva: The thin, clear tissue over the sclera, which is the white part of the eyeball.
Basal cell carcinoma: Most common type of skin cancer. A slow-growing, malignant, but usually non-metastasizing epithelial neoplasm of the epidermis or hair follicles, most commonly arising in sun damaged skin of the elderly and fair skinned.
Basal cell nevus syndrome: A syndrome of myriad basal cell nevi with the development of multiple basal cell carcinomas in adult life. These patients need to be followed closely for the development of basal cell carcinoma.
Benign mixed tumor: Neoplasm of epithelial and myoepithelial differentiation, varied architectural and cytologic features and mucoid, myxoid or chondroid stroma.
Blepharochalasis: A congenital or acquired condition characterized by undue looseness or pendulousness of the eyelid skin due to an abnormality or deficiency of elastic fibers. This is an idiopathic condition.
Blepharoplasty: Blepharo = eyelid + Plasty = to change. An operation performed to remove excess skin, muscle or fat from the eyelids to create a more youthful appearance. This procedure needs to be customized and individualized for the patient. The art of blepharoplasty has changed significantly in the past 10 years. Today the goal of the operation is to create a more natural look based on each patient's individual needs.
Blepharoptosis: Drooping of the upper eyelid.
Blepharospasm: Involuntary spasmodic contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscle.
Blowout fractures: Bone fractures caused by direct trauma to the globe, which leads to an increase in intraorbital pressure and decompression via fracture of the orbital floor.
Blue nevus: A dark blue or blue-black nevus covered by smooth skin and formed by heavily pigmented spindle-shaped or dendritic melanocytes in the reticular dermis.
Botox: A neurotoxin protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is used in minute doses both to treat painful muscle spasms, and as a cosmetic treatment. In cosmetic facial rejuvenation it allows paralysis of the affected muscle to temporarily eliminate static wrinkles. The effects of Botox typically last about 90 days.
Bowen disease: A form of intraepidermal carcinoma characterized by the development of slowly enlarging pinkish or brownish papules or eroded plaques covered with a thickened horny layer. Microscopically, there is dyskeratosis with large round epidermal cells that contain large nuclei and pale-staining cytoplasm and are scattered through all levels of the epidermis.
Brow lift: Operation to elevate the eyebrows.
Brow ptosis: Droopy eyebrow caused by heavy tissue above the eye; it can obstruct vision and result in fatigue caused by the effort required to raise this tissue out of the way.
Buccal mucus membrane graft: A type of mucosal graft from the lips; commonly used to reconstruct the fornices in situations that the patient lacks normal tissue from previous trauma, injury or birth defect.
Bulbar conjunctiva: The thin, clear tissue over the sclera, which is the white part of the eyeball.
6/7/10
Periocular aging and the changes associated with it
Smoking, sun damage, genetics, stretching from swelling, and the wear and tear from chronic rubbing and blinking all contribute to changes around the eyelids as we age.
Skin changes: Around our mid-30s the skin around the eyelid starts to thin and lose its elasticity. Slowly this can result in excess skin in the upper eyelids which will cover the crease. The term dermatochalasia, which means excessive loose skin, is used to describe this condition.
Orbicularis oculi: As mentioned previously, this circumferential muscle is responsible for eyelid closure. Stretching of this muscle with time also contributes to the overhanging skin. It is the chronic use of this muscle, combined with squinting and sun damage which result in the static wrinkles we see around the eyes termed “crows feet.” There are two types of wrinkles, static and dynamic. Dynamic wrinkles only appear when we are using that specific muscle. For example, if you were to stand in front of a mirror and actively raise your brows you will see dynamic wrinkles in your forehead from activity of the frontalis muscle. Static wrinkles, on the other hand, are present at all times, even when the muscle is at rest. Botox is a neurotoxin and a paralytic agent that acts by inhibiting the action of those specific muscles and thus temporarily (three to five months) decreases static wrinkles. Facial fat and volume: As we age, the facial
Facial fat and volume: As we age, the facial fat begins to absorb resulting in volume loss in the face. Around the eyes, the loss of midface fat can contribute significantly to the lower eyelid “bags,” and this may be the primary reason they are formed. In the past 10 years most of the modern techniques in periocular rejuvenation take into account this concept of volume loss. Modern techniques in volume replacement include injection of synthetic materials such as Restylane and Juvederm, which are hyaluronic acid products lasting nine to 12 months. An alternative is injection of the patient’s own fat after a small amount of liposuction; this fat injection lasts a lifetime. It should also be mentioned that soft tissue around the eyes descends with time due to gravity.
Septum: This structure can weaken over time, resulting in herniation of orbital fat and also contributing to the lower eyelid “bags.”
Orbital fat: Not only the orbital fat pockets can herniate through a weakened septum but they too can be partially absorbed and with time give rise to a gaunt and “hollowed” look. Older surgical techniques would remove the excess herniated fat, resulting in a worsening of the “hollowed look.” (Pictured below is a patient who had aggressive fat removal 20 years ago which resulted in the hollowed appearance.) Unfortunately many “old school” surgeons are unwittingly contributing to an epidemic of post-blepharoplasty hollowness.
Figure 1 — A 67 year old female who underwent aggressive
blepharoplasty with fat removal 18 years ago. As you can see there
is significant post-operative hollowness around the eyes which
makes the patient look older and “emaciated.”
Skin changes: Around our mid-30s the skin around the eyelid starts to thin and lose its elasticity. Slowly this can result in excess skin in the upper eyelids which will cover the crease. The term dermatochalasia, which means excessive loose skin, is used to describe this condition.
Orbicularis oculi: As mentioned previously, this circumferential muscle is responsible for eyelid closure. Stretching of this muscle with time also contributes to the overhanging skin. It is the chronic use of this muscle, combined with squinting and sun damage which result in the static wrinkles we see around the eyes termed “crows feet.” There are two types of wrinkles, static and dynamic. Dynamic wrinkles only appear when we are using that specific muscle. For example, if you were to stand in front of a mirror and actively raise your brows you will see dynamic wrinkles in your forehead from activity of the frontalis muscle. Static wrinkles, on the other hand, are present at all times, even when the muscle is at rest. Botox is a neurotoxin and a paralytic agent that acts by inhibiting the action of those specific muscles and thus temporarily (three to five months) decreases static wrinkles. Facial fat and volume: As we age, the facial
Facial fat and volume: As we age, the facial fat begins to absorb resulting in volume loss in the face. Around the eyes, the loss of midface fat can contribute significantly to the lower eyelid “bags,” and this may be the primary reason they are formed. In the past 10 years most of the modern techniques in periocular rejuvenation take into account this concept of volume loss. Modern techniques in volume replacement include injection of synthetic materials such as Restylane and Juvederm, which are hyaluronic acid products lasting nine to 12 months. An alternative is injection of the patient’s own fat after a small amount of liposuction; this fat injection lasts a lifetime. It should also be mentioned that soft tissue around the eyes descends with time due to gravity.
Septum: This structure can weaken over time, resulting in herniation of orbital fat and also contributing to the lower eyelid “bags.”
Orbital fat: Not only the orbital fat pockets can herniate through a weakened septum but they too can be partially absorbed and with time give rise to a gaunt and “hollowed” look. Older surgical techniques would remove the excess herniated fat, resulting in a worsening of the “hollowed look.” (Pictured below is a patient who had aggressive fat removal 20 years ago which resulted in the hollowed appearance.) Unfortunately many “old school” surgeons are unwittingly contributing to an epidemic of post-blepharoplasty hollowness.
Figure 1 — A 67 year old female who underwent aggressive
blepharoplasty with fat removal 18 years ago. As you can see there
is significant post-operative hollowness around the eyes which
makes the patient look older and “emaciated.”
6/3/10
My Experience Having Ptosis Surgery
Ptosis, pronounced toe-sis, is the medical term for drooping of the upper eyelids. The droopy eyelid can be mild to severe. People who have ptosis may complain that people tell them they look “tired or lazy.” Because of a constant effort to raise the eyelids it is not uncommon to also complain of fatigue and tension headaches.
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