Aging around the eyes often does more than create unwanted wrinkles—it also affects a person’s resting expression, vision, and creates under-eye “bags.” Patients fed up with constantly looking tired may benefit from a blepharoplasty in Beverly Hills to create a more youthful expression. This surgery can resolve drooping eyelids, remove excess skin, and take years off the face.
Dr. Benjamin Swartout is pleased to offer eyelid procedures in Beverly Hills for men and women who would like to improve the appearance of their eyes and resolve visible signs of aging.
What is Eyelid Surgery?
The natural process of aging causes the eyelid skin to stretch and sag and the muscles that support them to become weaker. When this happens, excess fat often gathers above and below the lids, leading to droopiness and bags under the eyes. Also known as eyelid surgery or “eye lift”, blepharoplasty is a popular cosmetic surgery that corrects droopy, aging upper and lower eyelids by removing or tightening excess skin, muscle, and fat.
Why Choose Eyelid Surgery?
There are several reasons one would perform a cosmetic reconstructive surgery like blepharoplasty in Beverly Hills. Foremost, it can make patients look years younger by opening the eyes and creating a more alert and awake resting expression but it can also improve vision.
Eyelid surgery can significantly raise a patient’s self-esteem and help them to feel more confident in social situations. Each patient has their own reasons for choosing lid surgery, but the most common reason is to look younger and slow down the rate of future aging in the eye area.
Related cosmetic procedures: Rhinoplasty, Facelift.
Am I a Candidate for Eyelid Surgery?
Ideal candidates for eyelid surgery are healthy men and women unhappy with the appearance of their eyes and overall expression. Prospective blepharoplasty Los Angeles patients should have signs of aging in the eye area that may include sagging skin (double eyelid), eye bags, and changes in resting facial expression.
Dr. Swartout does not recommend blepharoplasty to patients with health conditions, such as:
- diabetes
- heart disease
- glaucoma
- dry eyes
- hypothyroidism
Although most patients who opt for this procedure are at least 35 years of age, younger patients may also find value in the surgery. Patients should have realistic expectations for their results before moving forward with blepharoplasty.
Eyelid Surgery Consultation in Beverly Hills
Dr. Swartout will get to know the patient’s medical history and examine their eye region. If he believes the patient is a good candidate, he will explain the procedure in detail and share before and after pictures to help them understand the typical results of the surgery.
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Preparing for Eyelid Surgery
We require patients who have scheduled a blepharoplasty in Beverly Hills to adhere to certain pre-op restrictions. Oculoplastic surgeon Dr. Swartout will instruct patients to stop taking medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen at least two weeks before the procedure to prevent excessive bleeding.
Also, smokers will need to quit at least a month before their blepharoplasty as smoking can interfere with the healing process. Patients should arrange for a friend or family member to drive them to and from the procedure. Lastly, they should refrain from wearing any eye makeup or lotion on the day of their plastic surgery.
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The Eyelid Surgery Procedure
Dr. Swartout performs cosmetic eyelid surgery under IV sedation and typically takes around two hours to complete, depending on the patient’s goals. During the procedure, Dr. Swartout carefully removes excess folds of skin and fat from a patient’s lower and upper lids. He places incisions carefully so any scars get hidden within the natural folds of the eyelids. Some patients only need the upper or lower lids addressed while others benefit from having both areas treated in one procedure.
To get rid of upper eye droopiness, Dr. Swartout will make an incision in the natural eyelid crease of the upper lid. Then, he’ll remove excess skin, tighten the tissues and muscles, and reposition the fat. To resolve lower lid issues, Dr. Swartout will make an incision under the lower lash line to reposition fat and to remove or tighten excess skin. Once Dr. Swartout has made the adjustments according to the patient’s goals, he closes the incisions with sutures.
Recovering from Eyelid Surgery
Immediately after surgery, patients will go home with tape over their incisions. We will remove this tape at their initial follow-up appointment. We will remove sutures at their second follow-up appointment, which will take place five to seven days after the procedure.
Patients will need to refrain from vigorous activities and focus on resting for the first few days after surgery. After about eight to 10 days, their swelling and bruising should have subsided enough for them to feel comfortable returning to work and social activities.
What Are Possible Side Effects or Risks of Blepharoplasty Surgery?
As with all surgical procedures, an eyelid lift involves some side effects and risks including:
| Side effects | Side effects |
|---|---|
| Swelling | Bruising |
| Scarring | Soreness |
| Dry Eyes | Blurred Vision |
| Difficulty Closing Eyes | Eye Numbness |
When a highly skilled board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Swartout perform eyelid surgery, these side effects or risks are far less likely to occur.
Why choose Dr. Swartout
- Fellowship trained sub-specialist in Facial Plastic surgery who attended college at Harvard University.
- Attended medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
- Interned in general surgery at New York University, followed by a specialty residency in Otolaryngology – Head & Neck surgery at New York University.
- Completed a fellowship in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago where he worked with Dr. Dean Toriumi.
- A member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery and the American Rhinologic Society.
- Teaches nasal surgery to residents at Harbor UCLA both to contribute to the education of future doctors and to give back to an underserved community.
- Special interests include the development of rhinoplasty techniques to create long lasting, favorable nasal shape and good nasal breathing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eyelid Surgery in Los Angeles
Of course. This problem worsens as the brow sags with advancing age. We can expect improvement from the use of Botox to elevate the brow and bring skin upward, off the eyelid.
If this does not provide sufficient improvement, we can remove and tighten skin. We can perform this procedure in the office using only numbing medicine in the skin or in the Surgery Center with the help of a specialist if we need more sedation (general anesthesia). Brow lifting may also help to elevate the brow and improve this problem, depending on the patient’s individual case.
This depends on the cause of the darkened skin. When there are bags under the eyes, they cast a shadow under the bulge, creating a darkening of the lower lid. In some patients, the skin itself can become dark, creating dark circles. Sometimes, both factors happen.
When darkened skin occurs, we can improve the issue with lower eyelid surgery to reduce the fat bulge and decrease this shadow. When the skin changes color, it may be more difficult to treat dark circles.
After eyelid surgery in Beverly Hills, patients may experience minor discomfort. However, it can be controlled with prescription pain medication and ice packs. Rarely do patients experience noticeable pain after blepharoplasty.
Most patients look normal and feel comfortable going out in public about two to three weeks after surgery. At the three month mark, most patients will see almost all of their final results. After six months, they usually look their very best and enjoy a refreshed appearance.
For the upper lids, blepharoplasty results may last around seven years. This is because the natural process of aging may cause skin and fat to continue to accumulate. Some patients may undergo another eyelid surgery for their upper lids. The good news is that the lower lids rarely require a second procedure.
LASIK has increased in popularity in recent years. Patients who have undergone LASIK will be happy to learn that eyelid surgery is perfectly safe after this procedure. LASIK and blepharoplasty are compatible.
Cosmetic eyelid surgery in Beverly Hills is for patients who wish to get rid of droopy eyelids for aesthetic purposes. The procedure may be a medical necessity, however, if a person’s upper eyelids cause vision challenges.
Eyelid surgery can help patients appear more relaxed and refreshed. However, the procedure cannot get rid of crow’s feet, dark circles, or other wrinkles that often appear in the eye area. Patients concerned about these issues should inform Dr. Swartout so he can recommend alternative procedures.
After eyelid surgery, Dr. Swartout encourages patients to wait at least two to three weeks before applying eye makeup such as eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara. Once any crusting or scabbing has gone away, they will be permitted to apply makeup.
Yes. Some patients pair blepharoplasty with brow lifting, a facelift, or another facial surgical procedure. You can discuss these options in your Beverly Hills blepharoplasty consultation with Dr. Swartout.
During Asian eyelid surgery, we create a crease above the lashes to preserve a patient’s ethnic characteristics.
If you live near Beverly Hills, CA, Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgery offers eyelid surgery among its services, and is conveniently located at 435 N Bedford Dr Suite 203 Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Contact us today if you are in need of a blepharoplasty specialist in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles & surrounding areas. We will be glad to schedule a consultation and discuss treatment plans.
