Subtle signs of aging around the eyes can add years to a person’s appearance. Heavy lids can also make a person look tired or stressed, and drooping in the upper eyelid can actually interfere with vision. With eyelid surgery, patients from Munster, Hobart, Crown Point, and Frankfort can enhance both the aesthetics and function of their eyes.* Robert Frank, MD Plastic Surgery has years of experience performing the procedure and understands how to make slight adjustments for significant improvement.
Dr. Frank’s Approach to Eyelid Surgery
Dr. Frank uses different techniques for the upper and lower eyelid surgery because the issues that affect them are different:
- Lower eyelids tend to be heavy, have bulging areas of fat, or display skin drooping. Puffiness and excess skin can give an impression of fatigue or sleeplessness even when patients aren’t experiencing these problems.
- Upper eyelid surgery tends to address heavy lids, which can obscure a patient’s vision.
- Sagging in both the lower and upper eyelids is one of the earliest signs of aging.
In an initial consultation about eyelid surgery, patients in Munster, Hobart, Crown Point, and Frankfort learn from Dr. Frank about their options for treatment. Patients appreciate that Dr. Frank takes the time to answer their questions, encourages careful consideration before procedures, and offers transparency in pricing before patients make decisions.
*Individual results may vary
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About the Procedure
Eyelid surgery takes place at a JCAHO-accredited facility, which demonstrates high standards in surgical care. During the procedure:
- Patients typically receive sedation. Dr. Frank can offer general anesthesia as well.
- Dr. Frank can make incisions on the lower eyelid from either the inside of the eyelid, which leaves an invisible scar, or near the lashes, where it is subtle but visible.*
- For upper eyelid surgery, Dr. Frank incises near where eyelid crease should be. This procedure reduces skin and muscle and fat to create a new crease.
Surgery takes about 1-1.5 hours, and patients return home the same day.*
Recovery from Eyelid Surgery
Dr. Frank advises patients to ice their eyes with a cold pack mask for 48 hours following surgery. The initial recovery usually takes about five days, following which patients may still have some bruising but can use makeup again.*
Within one month, most of Dr. Frank’s patients see their final results: eyelids that offer a refreshed appearance and more functional vision.*
Dr. Frank’s Advice on Recovery
We all have our own ideas of how long recovery should take. Unfortunately, this means many patients try to rush their recovery and go back to normal activities. This trend is especially true among young mothers who want to spend every moment with their children. They may attempt to play with or pick up their children before their bodies are ready to handle that strain.
Dr. Frank sees rushed recoveries in several ways, with one of the most common being pain. Patients who try to be too active too early in the recovery process often find themselves running through their pain medication too soon and have to ask for an early refill. Rather than increase the amount of medication you take, you will feel better sooner and end the period wherein you need the medication faster if you allow your body to rest. Do not force your body to undergo more physical strain than it is ready to handle. It is okay to take 30-minute breaks on the couch.
Another way Dr. Frank sees patients push themselves too hard is an increased risk of both swelling and dangerous hematomas.
For example, after liposuction, your body needs time to move fluid out of your skin. Patients who have had liposuction will have skin that feels firmer than untreated areas because of this fluid buildup. Getting that fluid out of your skin is one of your recovery goals during the weeks after surgery. But if you activate your muscles near the treated area, that activity draws fluid into the area, which increases swelling and often pain. In the case of a tummy tuck, too much activity early in your recovery can increase blood pressure, which then causes more oozing into the space created during surgery. While a little fluid is normal, it’s easy to overwhelm your body’s ability to absorb this fluid. A hematoma is the result.
To minimize these concerns, Dr. Frank encourages all patients to clear their schedules of everything except the most essential duties for the two weeks after surgery. You should minimize the amount of childcare, job responsibilities, meetings, social activities, and home chores in which you partake so your body can rest. You will feel better and recover faster if you plan ahead so that your body, not your calendar, determines when you are ready for your physical activities.
Talk with Robert Frank MD, Plastic Surgery about eyelid surgery for aesthetic and functional improvement. Patients from Hobart, Munster, Crown Point, and Frankfort can use our online form or call our office at (219) 513-2011.
*Individual results may vary
