It’s because blepharoplasties can aid with the aesthetic composition around the eye and also have functional benefits. Here are a few common reasons to get a blepharoplasty now.

Improve Vision

Skin laxity, the amount of stretch of the skin, increases as we age. This can lead to drooping and sagging skin. When eyelids droop and sag, they can obscure your vision, even when your eyes may be healthy and capable of visual acuity.

While non-surgical solutions exist for drooping eyelids, such as eyelid tape, a blepharoplasty can offer a permanent solution that improves your vision and can lift your eyes’ appearance. Drooping eyelids may make you tired or aged, but eyelid surgery can take years off your face.

Address Dry Eyes

While various reasons, such as allergies, can cause dry eyes, did you know dry eyes could also be due to a drooping lower eyelid? As the chance of developing dry eyes increases as we age, dry eyes caused by drooping eyelids can compound the disorder.

Dry eyes can be a potentially serious issue that can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated.

Smooth Out Puffiness

Another sign of aging is puffiness around the eyes, and the bags underneath them can be corrected through eyelid surgery. Weakening tissue due to age can lead to puffiness. Even if the puffiness around your eyes is minimal now, the issue can increase with time.

Consider eyelid surgery for a more alert, youthful appearance of the eyes.

Restore Youth and Vision With Eyelid Surgery in Austin, TX

Blepharoplasties are typically safe cosmetic surgeries. However, like with all surgeries, there are risks and potential complications. Working with a board-certified surgeon can help mitigate negative outcomes and improve your results.

Working with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Trussler is an excellent way to relieve any worries about the surgery. Having received numerous awards for plastic surgery, Dr. Trussler was also chosen to be in the Guide To America’s Top Surgeons by Consumer Research Council.

To schedule an appointment, call 512-450-1077.

The post Three Reasons People Are Getting Eyelid Surgery appeared first on Andrew Trussler, MD, PLLC.

BOTOX® and Blepharoplasty: Same Goal, Different Approach

Ultimately, BOTOX and blepharoplasty achieve very similar goals, although we must say that blepharoplasty is a bit more comprehensive. More on that in a minute. Each approach to eye rejuvenation is proven and harbors very few risks. Both have a high satisfaction rate. Aside from outcomes, they are completely different.

Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty is a cosmetic eyelid surgery that works by repositioning and removing the delicate, superficial tissue around the eyes. To have blepharoplasty does not mean that the entire eye area is lifted. A surgeon may tighten up either the upper or the lower eyelids based on need. In both situations, incisions are placed in hidden places like the natural crease or the lash line, so scarring is not visible. While the effects of eyelid surgery are immediately noticeable, patients need about a week for the majority of their postoperative swelling and bruising to go away before they go back to work and other light activities. Blepharoplasty doesn’t stop the aging process, but it can make the eyes look younger for many years.

BOTOX

BOTOX injections are widely praised for their power against lines and wrinkles in the upper third of the face. This product can smooth away crow’s feet, frown lines, and more. It is not used directly on the eyes but can have a positive effect on the upper eyelids that have become hooded due to laxity and a descending brow. The way that BOTOX can do this is through injections in the muscles that are pulling the brow downward. The decrease in muscle tension can release the skin below the eyebrows to lie more smoothly and look tighter. BOTOX does not work in every situation of upper eyelid hooding, only the heaviness that is created by brow descent. To sustain the effects of treatment, injections need to be repeated every 4 to 6 months.

Our eyes indicate our liveliness and personality. To explore the benefits of BOTOX or blepharoplasty, schedule a visit with Dr. Trussler in our Austin office at (512) 450-1077.

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Blepharoplasty is a popular procedure that is also known as eyelid rejuvenation surgery. It is performed to reduce the signs of aging such as bags, sagging, and heaviness on the upper and lower eyelids. Sometimes, blepharoplasty is only performed on the upper eyelids. Sometimes only on the lower. In some cases, patients choose to fully rejuvenate the eye area with a combination of upper and lower blepharoplasty. The procedure is customized to properly tighten skin and superficial tissue just enough to achieve long-lasting rejuvenation without affecting the natural appearance of the eyes.

If you’ve become weary of looking weary because of your aging eyes, you may be wondering if blepharoplasty is right for you. The procedure may be your ticket to feeling younger if you have these common concerns:

• Undereye bags. It isn’t only the skin that relies on collagen for firmness, it is also the connective tissue that holds muscle and fat in place. When the skin loosens due to collagen loss, the fat pads under the eyes may protrude due to weakness in superficial tissue. The laxity of the skin then droops, exacerbating the problem. Lower blepharoplasty smooths the skin under the eye so fat pads are well-positioned and secured by newly-tightened tissue.
• Upper eyelid hooding. The upper eyelids also lose elasticity and firmness with age, and also because of a decline in collagen. Here, what happens is that loosening tissue causes the upper eyelids to look heavy. Tissue may begin to sag over the natural crease, eventually obscuring it. When laxity is severe, tissue can even fall into the field of vision. Upper blepharoplasty can remove loose tissue and restore the natural crease in a more youthful position.

We are proud to serve patients in the Austin area with outstanding care and precision surgical techniques. To learn more about blepharoplasty, schedule a consultation at (512) 450-1077.

The post Is Blepharoplasty Your Ticket to Feeling Younger? appeared first on Andrew Trussler, MD, PLLC.

Candidates for Blepharoplasty

We cannot say that there is a perfect age for cosmetic eyelid rejuvenation. Some people undergo blepharoplasty as early as their thirties. This is often to change that natural eyelid anatomy, though. Most eyelid rejuvenation patients are in the 40 to 70 age range. Younger patients often request eyelid surgery alone, whereas older patients often combine blepharoplasty with a brow lift or facelift. The benefits of blepharoplasty are appreciable when the upper or lower eyelids have become loose, puffy, or saggy enough to make the investment into surgery worth the correction that can be achieved.

Blepharoplasty Surgery Scars

To reposition and trim tissue as needed, a surgeon makes incisions in the crease of the upper eyelid. Lower blepharoplasty is performed through incisions just inside the lower eyelid. There is always a scar after incisions are made in the skin. Blepharoplasty is no exception. The good news is that the skin on the eyelids heals quite well and resulting scars are typically not visible. The delicate, thin nature of the eyelids is part of the reason scarring is so minimal after blepharoplasty. For someone to notice blepharoplasty scars, they would have to be looking for them on closed eyelids from a very close distance.

Should a Brow Lift be Considered?

Blepharoplasty and brow lift surgery can be complementary in some cases. In others, a patient may achieve better results with a brow lift instead of blepharoplasty. An experienced plastic surgeon observes the hooding on the upper eyelid as an indication of the need for brow lift surgery. This technique, which lifts the tissue and skin from the eyebrows upward, may be needed when the upper eyelid is hooded to a point at which a deep crease has formed at the outer edge of the eye. Blepharoplasty lifts only the eyelid itself so could not correct deep crow’s feet. Botox or dermal fillers can help this area but require continued treatment to do so.

Blepharoplasty offers permanent improvement in the appearance of the eyes. To learn more about this procedure, call our Austin office at (512) 450-1077.

The post Is Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery Right for You? appeared first on Andrew Trussler, MD, PLLC.

There are several reasons why the under eye area may become persistently puffy. It may be that orbital fat has increased, or that the orbital septum, which holds the eyelids, has thinned out with age. Often, bulging fat is hereditary, and the signs of puffiness may be noticed as early as the teen years. The older we get, the more bags show. This is due to the fact that collagen fibers fray and weaken beneath the skin, which is then less capable of supporting fatty deposits beneath the eyes.

Blepharoplasty can Help

There are several issues that can be addressed with eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty. Many people think of eyelid surgery as a method of lifting the upper lid or the brow. However, it is possible to undergo the surgical procedure only for the lower lids when bags are a noticeable problem.

• Puffiness is often thought the result of allergies or fatigue. When bags are persistently present, the real issue is fat prolapsed beneath the skin of the lower lid. Bags can be significantly minimized if not fully eliminated with blepharoplasty, which can remove excess fat and sculpt the under eye area.
• Loose skin is often a simultaneous concern for individuals with under eye bags. The skin may be loose before surgery, or there may be a question as to whether loose skin will remain after fatty deposits are removed. A consultation with your experienced cosmetic surgeon will help you determine if your blepharoplasty should also include skin tightening. This is not the case with every patient, but those with significant bags, called festoons, will likely need excess skin removed to smooth the under eye contours.
• Eyelid support can also be addressed with precise shaping and contouring to enhance the appearance of the lower lid. Precision technique can correct an issue such as the lower lid pulling away from the eyeball.

Dr. Trussler is known for his authenticity and clear communication. He can discuss with you what eyelid surgery can do, and what it can’t. Schedule your consultation to learn more about blepharoplasty.

The post Banish Under Eye Bags with Lower Lid Blepharoplasty appeared first on Andrew Trussler, MD, PLLC.

The upper eyelid is a common area showing premature facial aging including thin, hanging skin and bulging fat pockets. The upper eyelid is a focus of cosmetic correction through an upper eyelid blepharoplasty, which can remove excess skin and fat through an upper eyelid incision.

The upper eyelid can be an easy point of cosmetic focus, but often does not deliver an effective result as a “stand alone” procedure, especially when done as a “stand alone” procedure in the female patient. This is mainly do to unaddressed brow dynamics in the upper face.

Common Complaints After Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty:

• Long upper eyelid incisions, which are a sign of excess outer skin attempted to be removed through an eyelid incision rather than performing a combination brow lift.
• Recurrent skin excess, which is common after the brow relaxes after just an upper eyelid blepharoplasty
• Inability to close the eyes secondary to too much skin being removed to try an correct a droopy eyelid
• Patients with the same or worse upper eyelid aesthetics after the upper eyelid procedure because no brow lift was performed

Upper eyelid blepharoplasty can have increased satisfaction in a male patient because of the acceptance of a lower brow position. A browpexy procedure can be performed to help secure the outer brow position through the upper eyelid in the male patient.

• The reasons why an upper eyelid blepharoplasty can fail in the female patient is that typically there are two other issues at hand: either laxity and descent of the brow (pseudo-ptosis) or a droopy upper eyelid (ptosis).

The upper eyelid excess skin can obstruct vision and the body’s natural reflex is to lift the brow to help get the excess skin out of the way.

• The compensatory brow elevation signified by deep forehead creases, relaxes after the obstructing upper eyelid skin has been removed.
• This triggers a compensatory descent and relaxation of the brow with worsening of the upper eyelid and brow aesthetics.
• This can be alleviated in a male through a brow pexy or sulcoplasty because browlifts in men often feminize the upper face.
• In women, a brow lift at the time of the upper eyelid blepharoplasty can help to secure the brow position and reshape the brow.

Upper eyelid ptosis or a droopy eyelid may also go undetected at the time of upper eyelid evaluation and if not corrected can be a cause of post-operative drooping and dissatisfaction. Correction of upper eyelid ptosis can be performed at the time of an upper eyelid blepharoplasty and can help to improve the upper eyelid position giving a more awake and open eye shape.

The incision placement for an upper eyelid blepharoplasty is generally in the natural upper eyelid crease. The skin and fat can be removed through this naturally hidden incision and the droopy eyelid repositioned and tightened with internal sutures. There are numerous brow lift procedures which vary depending on hair thickness and hairline

Recovery from any upper eyelid blepharoplasty procedure is approximately 1 to 2 weeks. A brow lift and/or ptosis repair does not significantly prolong this period. Sutures are removed at the four day point. Eye care, with hydrating drops are recommended for 2 weeks. Bruising and swelling may be persistent for over one week,

Andrew P. Trussler MD is an experienced plastic surgeon in Austin Texas with advanced training in facial aesthetics including eyelid surgery including secondary correction of upper eyelid malposition, including brow lifts and ptosis repairs.

Dr. Trussler’s Austin plastic surgery office can help guide you in correcting commonly seen upper eyelid aging complaints. An upper eyelid blepharoplasty with a brow lift can help your eyelids not only look better, but function better.

The post Why Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty Fails: Improving upper eyelid aesthetics appeared first on Andrew Trussler, MD, PLLC.

A Septal Reset is a component of a lower eyelid blepharoplasty, which is a surgical procedure to help rejuvenate the lower eyelid and cheek region. A septal reset is not part of every lower eyelid blepharoplasty and is designed for specific lower eyelid issues such as puffiness, bags and a deep tear trough.

Lower eyelid bags can reveal themselves early, sometimes in the twenties. A newborn baby will typically have lower eyelid bags which dissipate over the first days of life.

What causes lower eyelid bags?

Lower eyelid bags and puffiness can be associated with:

• Flattened cheek area and deficient boney support in this area
• Dense connection of the lower eyelid tissue to the orbital bone, called the arcus marginalis
• Bulging lower eyelid fat pad, can increase the prominence of lower eyelid bags

Lower eyelid bags will typically worsen with age.

Moderate lower eyelid bags are not amenable to volumetric filling which only blends this line of demarcation.

Lid cheek junction is an important line of demarcation, which is accentuated and elongated with lower eyelid puffiness.

• The goal of a lower eyelid blepharoplasty is to smooth and elevate the eyelid cheek junction.

A septal reset can help to decrease lower eyelid bags by releasing the tight tissue junction at the orbital bone, repositioning fat from the orbit to fill the void of tissue over the bone. This tightens the septum and provides volume to the cheek.

Am I a candidate for a septal reset?

A septal reset should be performed selectively on patients seeking lower eyelid rejuvenation. Good candidates are healthy patients without pre-existing dry eye, with decreased cheek projection, a deep tear trough or tight arcus marginalis, and bulging or bagginess of the lower eyelids.

• A septal reset is a component of a lower eyelid blepharoplasty and is combined with canthal support, orbicularis repositioning and skin excision.

The septal reset rejuvenates the lower eyelid cheek junction by repositioning the fat over the orbital rim and securing the orbital septum to the cheek.

Three Steps of a Septal Reset

1. Release of the Arcus Marginalis
2. Reposition of the orbital fat
3. Tightening of the septum

The incision placement for a lower eyelid blepharoplasty is generally under the lash line, though it can be performed through the back of the eyelid (transconjunctival). The fat and septum are repositioned and tightened with internal sutures and then the orbicularis oculi muscle and cheek are lifted above the area of the septal reset.

Recovery from any open lower eyelid blepharoplasty procedure is approximately 2 to 3 weeks. A Septal Reset does not significantly prolong this period. Sutures are removed at the 4 day point. Eye care, with hydrating drops are recommended for 2 weeks. Bruising and swelling may be persistent for over one week.

Andrew P. Trussler MD is an experienced plastic surgeon in Austin Texas with advanced training in lower eyelid surgery including secondary correction of lower eyelid malposition, including ectropion and lower eyelid bags (festoons).

Dr. Trussler’s Austin Texas plastic surgery office can help guide you in correcting commonly seen lower eyelid aging complaints. A lower eyelid blepharoplasty with a septal reset can help your eyelids not only look better, but function better.

The post Pack Your (Lower Eyelid) Bags: Surgical Correction of Lower Eyelid Bags with a Septal Reset appeared first on Andrew Trussler, MD, PLLC.

Lower eyelid appearance can vary through the day, which indicates the tissues are active and reactive to the body and its environment. Simple care can help to improve the appearance of the lower eyelid and decrease the variability in puffiness and under eye-bags.

• Common Complaints: dark circles, lower eyelid lines, under eye bags, puffiness, and excess skin

5 Steps:

1. Warm compresses in the morning to improve circulation and cooling compresses at night to help relieve swelling. Lower eyelids are made up of skin , muscle and fat. The fat is metabolically active and very sensitive to environmental factors.  Warm compresses improve circulation and can help dissipate puffiness whereas cool compresses calms the eyelid from the day’s activities and stress.

2. Optimize your environment through clean and healthy living. If the eye is the window to the soul then the eyelid covers it. Personal experience will tell you that lower eyelids will appear worse after a long night. Improving general health can promote improvement in lower eyelid appearance:

• Hydration
• Good nutrition
• Smoking cessation
• Adequate sleep

3. Skin care specifically designed for the eyelid can promote hydration of the thin skin. Smoothing effects as well as sun screen, can help with fine lines and the texture of the lower eyelid skin.

• Daytime eye care may include a specific moisturizer with an anti-oxidant, growth factor and light diffuser to help smooth the lower eyelid.
• Nightime eye care should include a pigment modulator to help with dark circles and an active agent to help promote collagen production.

• The Skinmedica® TNS Eye Repair cream based products are easily applied and easily tolerated in this area. This is a growth factor based product which can help stimulate collagen and eliminate fine lines.
• The A.G.E Eye Complex from SkinCeuticals® is a daily optical diffuser to help deflect shadowing, while improving the skin’s texture through hydration and potent anti-oxidants.

4. Injectable Fillers for can add volume to the lower eyelid hollows or tear trough. This is a soft tissue void or deep line created through the descent of the cheek fat and bulging of the lower eyelid fat pad. Hyaluronic acid filler injected along the orbital rim can help to smooth and fill this area. These are in-office procedures, which can last over one year.

Injectable Choices:

• Restylane®: soft gel for the tear trough
• Perlane®: firmer gel, ideal for the cheek and midface to help blend and support the lower eyelid enhancement
• Juvederm®: mild to moderate volumetric enhancement in the tear trough and cheek.
• Voluma®: form stable gel which can enhance the cheek and midface with long lasting results.

5. Chemical Peels of the lower eyelid can help improve skin tone and texture. A light chemical peel consisting of a glycolic acid or TCA can help to freshen the skin and ultimately tighten the lower eyelid to help eliminate mild lower eyelid skin excess.

These steps can help to improve the appearance of the lower eyelid and can be applied to the early aging of the lower eyelid. Moderate to severe lower eyelid skin excess, bagginess and deep hollows can be addressed with a lower eyelid blepharoplasty combined with a midface lift. A consult in the plastic surgery office of Dr. Trussler in Austin TX can help direct individual care to improve the appearance the lower eyelid.

The post 5 Easy Steps to Improve the Appearance of Your Lower Eyelids appeared first on Andrew Trussler, MD, PLLC.

Upper eyelid blepharoplasty is a common procedure for men and women, which removes excess skin from the upper eyelid.

• As the eyelid ages, loose eyelid skin can sag over a fixed area on the eyelid causing in severe cases visual field obstruction.
• The amount of excess eyelid skin can also relate to any descent in the position of the brow.

In an upper eyelid blepharoplasty, this excess skin is removed through an incision in a natural skin crease on the eyelid. Excess fat in the inner upper eyelid can be removed to relieve any puffiness in this area.

• Commonly in women, a brow lift is performed in conjunction with an upper eyelid blepharoplasty to help shape the eyebrow and open the outer aspect of the upper eyelid.
• In men, a browpexy is commonly performed through the same upper eyelid incision to help define the upper eyelid shape.
• A droopy eyelid can be raised in a ptosis repair which is commonly performed at the same time as the upper eyelid blepharoplasty.

After the excess upper eyelid skin is removed and any adjunctive procedures completed, the incision is closed with a combination of permanent and absorbable stitches. The operation lasts for about one hour for both eyes, and can be done under local anesthesia or general anesthesia on an outpatient basis (home the same day).

• Ointment that is safe for use around the eye is the only dressing applied to the incision.
• Swelling and bruising are controlled with cooling gel masks.
• The eye is hydrated with eye drops and ointment for about a week after the operation.

Results form an upper eyelid blepharoplasty in Austin Texas are immediate but it does take about one week for swelling and bruising to resolve. Recovery is straightforward, and I usually recommend a return to work in about one week with a return to exercise in 3 weeks.

Upper eyelid blepharoplasty and other facial rejuvenation plastic surgery procedures can be discussed with Dr. Trussler in his Austin Texas plastic surgery office.

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