Eyelid Surgery Houston

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is an excellent way to address droopy or tired eyes. Often, this leads to a more youthful and rested appearance. 

During eyelid surgery, excess tissue around the eye region is removed. Although some patients only have the procedure done on the upper or lower eyelids, most prefer having the procedure performed on both.

Incisions are made below the eyelashes for the lower eyelids, and in the crease for the upper eyelids. Regardless of whether lower or upper eyelid surgery is performed, the incision will be strategically made to minimize scarring.

People who have drooping or heavy eyelids, and puffy bags under their eyes, are generally the best candidates for this procedure. Potential patients must also be in good overall health and have realistic expectations for the expected outcome of the procedure. 

If you think you might be the ideal candidate for eyelid surgery, we recommend that you come and have a consultation with Dr. Lapuerta. During this time, he will fully describe what to expect before, during, and after surgery.

Eyelid surgery can be performed:

• Under sedation with local anesthesia
• Under deep sedation with local anesthesia
• Under general anesthesia with local anesthesia.  

The choice of anesthesia technique depends primarily on medical history and patient preference. When given the option, most patients elect to have a deep sedation or general anesthesia. Regardless of the method, patients will be kept comfortable and safe. Deeper sedation allows for the possibility that patients may hear or sense things that are going on during the surgery whereas with general anesthesia, patients will be completely asleep and unaware. 

The surgery is an outpatient procedure that must take place in an accredited surgical facility. Patients usually elect to have eyelid surgery performed at Dr. Lapuerta’s on-site AAAASF accredited outpatient surgical facility. 

For upper or lower eyelid surgery only, the procedure generally takes about 60-90 minutes. If the patient elects to have both upper and lower eyelids addressed, surgery can last up to two hours. Many patients also have BotoxⓇ, facial fillers, or fat injections done at the same time as eyelid surgery.

Eyelid Surgery Methods

The surgical technique will vary depending on which type the patient needs. The most commonly requested forms of eyelid surgery are:

• Upper Blepharoplasty
  During upper eyelid surgery, an incision is made within the natural fold of the lid and extended outward. The incision will go out as wide as can be so that additional skin folds on the outside of the upper eye can also be addressed. Once the incision is made, excess skin, tissue and, in some cases, a small portion of the orbicularis oculi muscle (the muscle responsible for closing your eyelids) are removed. The incision is closed and generally heals well — it is well hidden by the natural crease of the upper lid.
• Lower Blepharoplasty
  Houston patients often choose this procedure if they have dark undereye circles, which can be a result of their having a deficiency of fat in these areas. Injectables can be used to help fill these soft-tissue deficiencies and can improve the appearance of these circles. During lower eyelid surgery, an incision is made along the bottom of the lash line. This allows the surgeon to remove excess fat and tissue. In patients who have puffy lower eyelids but good skin tone, an approach known as a transconjunctival blepharoplasty can be performed. This technique puts the incision inside the lower eyelid rather than outside. 
• Double Eyelid Surgery
  Double eyelid surgery is the best option for patients who want to give their eyes a larger appearance. Double eyelid surgery creates an additional fold of skin above the upper eyelashes, reshaping the eyes to make them appear larger in size.

Eyelid Surgery Recovery

Recovery from surgery is generally a quick process with very little discomfort. Immediately following surgery, the area around the eyes will be bruised and swollen. Dr. Lapuerta provides special cooling masks for patients to wear in recovery and during the postoperative period at home. 

Generally, eyelid surgery patients generally only experience mild discomfort following their procedure. Though some patients report a stingy sensation in their eyes due to the local anesthesia, this can be easily resolved by flushing the eyes with sterile saline eye wash. You can pick this up at your local drug store.

Patients may also experience difficulty opening their eyes, or notice blurry vision for the first 23-36 hours following their procedure. This is due to swelling. To treat this bruising and swelling, patients should apply the special cool eye masks which Dr. Lapuerta provides.

Following their procedure, we recommend that patients keep their head elevated. Dr. Lapuerta suggests sleeping in a recliner or on several pillows during recovery.

Patients are usually able to return to work within a few days and can resume exercising around two weeks after the procedure.

In order to get an estimate for the cost of surgery, as well as determine which procedure is best for them, we ask that patients visit Dr. Lapuerta for an eyelid consultation. During the consultation, the two of you will chat about your eyelid surgery goals and how to best achieve them.

After a thorough examination and a review of your patient’s medical records, Dr. Lapuerta will decide on a customized eyelid treatment plan and present a cost estimate. To learn more, call (713) 489-0169. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals!