Droopy eyelid skin; Removal is most common facial cosmetic surgery

Blepharoplasty is the medical term for a procedure often called eyelid tuck or eyelift. According to 2008 national statistics from the ASPS, eyelid cosmetic surgery was the most common facial surgery (followed by facelift, browlift). http://www.plasticsurgery.org/Media/Press_Kits/Procedural_Statistics.html

Similarly, in our practice in upstate South Carolina, eyelid is most common. It is performed as a single procedure or in combination with facelift or browlift, or other procedures. For more information call 864-676-1707 or see the e-mail link on our website: http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/other-face.html

Removal of hanging, loose, excess upper lid skin is the most common feature that patients request to freshen their appearance, make them look less tired or old. If there are upper fat pockets these can be removed. If there are lower eyelid bags these can be removed, tightened or hidden by a variety of techniques. If the skin texture is crinkled, then erbium:YAG laser resurfacing (peel) can be done to improve surface texture.

Each one of our patients is treated to post-operative lymphatic massage, carefully done by our experienced Skin Care Specialists (estheticians) to reduce post-op swelling, bruising or discomfort. They can also assist you with professional skin care products to enhance your surgical results, improve skin tone, pigmentation and texture. Make-up advice is available if you wish. We have Latisse eyelash enhancement prescription medication. http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/skin.html

Cosmetic eyelid surgery and non-surgical eyelid enhancements at Dr. Sutton Graham's specialized practice. Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Columbia, Asheville

In The News: MedSpa Regulations

Here at the Aesthetic Center we maintain high standards and limit the use of lasers to our experienced, licensed medically trained physician and nurse practitioner. Here is what's happening elsewhere in the country:

New Standards Urged For Treatment at Spas Use of Chemicals, Lasers Proliferates Boston Globe (2009-02-24) P. A1; Kowalczyk, Liz

A task force of lawmakers and physicians are fighting to create tougher regulations regarding medical spas in Massachusetts. The medical spa industry is growing; the number of spas has grown to 2,500 in the United States over the past few years. The group argues that consumers are at risk of injury because they are being treated by untrained and unlicensed workers. Jeffrey Dover, a dermatologist, says that the most common injury is caused by workers using the wrong laser or setting to get rid of body hair, which causes the removal of skin pigment as well. The proposal states that medical spas would be required to have a license from the Department of Health, and laser skin treatments would have to be done by a specially trained doctor or nurse. Medical spas are difficult to create legislation for because there are so many specialties, such as cosmetologists, electrologists, aestheticians, nurses, and physicians, within one business. Each specialty has its own rules and standards, so there are no laws about which professional can do which procedure. Owners of medical spas are split over whether they want their businesses to be regulated.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/24/new_standards_urged_for_treatment_at_spas/
http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/laser.html

Botox, Browlift, Blepharoplasty: How Do I Choose?

How do I tell which procedure or combination will give me an improved appearance around my eyes? Well, during an in-person consultation, we would demonstrate on your face and help you decide, but here are some hints:

1. Frown lines and squint lines or crow's feet respond to Botox treatments. A browlift may give longer lasting improvement in frown lines, but more motion will usually remain. Only the Botox will reliably improve the squint lines.

2. Excessive active lines crossing the forehead do not go away with typical browlift. Instead the entire forehead unit moves up a little (gravity has pulled it down). Botox can diminish the lines, or make them go away if they're mild.

3. Be careful about using Botox for too much forehead treatment. You may have either no natural forehead expressions (people wonder about you) or you may have drooping brows (we use our forehead muscles to lift our brows).

4. If your eyebrows are slightly too low, a little Botox beneath the inner and outer corners can give a little lift, without surgery.

5. If your eyebrows and thick skin just under the brows closes-in around your eyes, that responds best to surgical browlift. In addition, that procedure may improve your upper eyelid appearance.

6. Hooding of the eyelid skin over the lid or lashes improves with blepharoplasty (eyelid lift, tuck)

7. Puffy, thick upper eyelid folds respond to blepharoplasty.

8. Finally, a laser peel can greatly improve the texture of the eyelid skin. Sometimes that would be enough, without skin removal.

Obviously, some or all of these techniques may work together to enhance your appearance.

Pick Your Recovery Time

One way to choose among the various options for facial rejuvenation procedures is tell your surgeon how long you have to recover. This will let him or her tailor your procedures to your desired "down-time." If you have no down-time: choose from Botox, Restylane of other fillers, Intense Pulsed Light photofacials, or non-ablative skin tightening. If you have one weekend: you may select the above and /or MicroLaser Peels or Periorbital resurfcing. When you have 1 week available: enhance you appearance with a endoscopic browlift or submental liposuction (under the chin). A 2 week recovery gives you plenty of options: you could have either eyelid blepharoplasty, short-scar facelift, or a combination of the above procedures. A three week recovery is best for: facelift, necklift, and combinations of procedures on several parts of the face. At our office we'll discuss these issues and the features you would like to improve, and make individual personal recommendations. Call if you're interested.