| • Other names: Eyelid lift, cosmetic eye surgery
• Primary goal: Removal of excess skin, fat, and/or orbicularis muscle to restore the upper eyelids to a more youthful apearance
• Secondary goals: Uplift of drooping eyelashes, increase in peripheral vision, restoration of the eyelid crease
• Anesthesia: No special requirements. Most commonly performed under local anesthesia with oral sedation in an office operating room.
• Operative technique: (for step-by-step photos ( Premium Edition only.)
A marking pen is used to outline the amount of excess skin to be removed. The initial incision is made along the normal eyelid crease (about 7-10 mm above the lashes) across the entire lid and extending slight upward and outward into the lateral canthus. The second incision is made a variable distance above the first, depending on the amount of skin that needs to be removed. Only if the orbicularis muscle is unusually thickened is a tiny strip trimmed.
The orbital septum is opened, thus exposing the fat pockets overlying the levator aponeurosis (tendon of the eyelid opening muscle). The first or "middle" pocket is inspected and . . . |
