| While a comprehensive presentation of good skin care practices is beyond the scope of this resource on blepharoplasty surgery, it is helpful to review some of the basic principles of proper "care and maintenance" of the eyelids. Hereditary influences are beyond your control, but the following measures are not:
• Don't smoke: By far, the most important preventative measure under your control in the prevention of overall eyelid deterioration is to not smoke. Smoking causes a sickly degeneration of not just the skin but also an increased laxity (stretchiness) of the eyelid support system. Any experienced eyelid surgeon can easily identify the skin of a smoker from its reaction to surgery alone. Such skin has increased and irregular vacularization, bleeds excessively, and has a "mushy" quality when held with forceps.
• Avoid excessive unprotected exposure to direct sunlight: "Photoaging" of the skin from the cumulative effects of ultraviolet light exposure is the main determinant of eyelid wrinkling and irregular pigmentation. Excessive UV exposure can also thicken skin to a leathery texture and cause actual structural stretching. The risks of developing skin cancers are markedly increased.
The most effective methods of protecting the eyelids from UV damage have little to do with advanced sunscreens or sunblocks . . . |
