Eyelid Surgery Details Beverly Hills

Eyelid Surgery Benefits

• Blepharoplasty, more commonly known as eyelid, eye lift or lidlift surgery, has many benefits. As people age, the skin begins to sag and droop, especially around the eyes, and this can lend a tired and aged look to your face. Eyelid surgery can restore the youthful look to the eyes by removing unwanted fat and excess muscle and skin from the eyelids. Both the eyelids, and the eyes, will look healthier and livelier. Eyelid surgery, apart from the aesthetic benefits it provides, can also be a necessary and functional procedure. In the following paragraphs, you can read about some of the aesthetic and functional benefits that eyelid surgery provides.
• Eyelid surgery has many benefits, the obvious being an improvement in the overall appearance of the eyes. Eyelid surgery can be performed to remove excess skin that obscures the natural fold in the upper eyelids. It can also correct puffiness in the upper eyelids that cause the eyes to appear tired. For the lower eyelids, blepharoplasty can remove excess skin and correct fine wrinkles and lines. The bags that sometimes appear beneath the eyes can be removed, and the droopiness that sometimes occurs revealing the white portion of the eye beneath the iris can be corrected.
• Eyelid surgery has various functional benefits that result in the improvement of one’s vision. While the removal of excess skin can have aesthetic benefits, it can also restore peripheral vision that has been obscured by droopy, sagging eyelids.

Eyelid Surgery Expertise

• Dr. Steinsapir is one of the top eye plastic experts. His training in ophthalmic microsurgery as well as detailed knowledge of how to take care of the eye, the most precious facial structure, has been invaluable, creating the basis for one of the premier oculofacial and cosmetic surgery practices in the country.
• Medical Training: Following medical school and internship at UCLA Medical School, Dr. Steinsapir did his residency in ophthalmology at The University of Chicago, which has a very strong tradition of eye plastic surgery.
• Fellowships: Dr. Steinsapir completed a fellowship in orbital surgery and research at UCLA Medical School’s Jules Stein Eye Institute followed by a one-year fellowship in oculofacial plastic surgery also at the Jules Stein Eye Institute. He completed two more years of fellowship training in cosmetic surgery with a well-known cosmetic surgeon in Rancho Mirage
• Dr. Steinsapir is a Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
• Dr. Steinsapir is widely recognized for his innovative approaches to repairing eyelids, improving the results of prior eyelid surgery, and cosmetic surgery. His research interests include what motivates us to have cosmetic surgery, the effects of cosmetic surgery, optic nerve trauma, and thyroid eye disease. He is widely published and lectures extensively. He serves as a reviewer for all of the leading Ophthalmology journals.
• He also donates his time to care for indigent individuals at the Harbor/UCLA Medical Center where he operates and consults with patients under the care of the ophthalmology service.

Differentiation

• Dr. Steinsapir has been a leader in the trend towards minimally invasive, minimal down-time procedures. His expertise is recognized world wide. He also strives for very natural results.
• Dr. Steinsapir’s board certifications and specialized training in oculofacial surgery and general cosmetic surgery provides one of the best training pathways for specialized cosmetic surgeries such as blepharoplasty (cosmetic eyelid surgery) and forehead surgery.
• Dr. Steinsapir is world renowned for fixing eyelid surgery complications by other doctors.
• Dr. Steinsapir, is a Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology Present Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Next Steps

• Choosing an eyelid surgeon is a major decision. Going forward with the right eyelid expert warrants careful consideration.
• Dr. Steinsapir will see you personally, listen to your eyelid concerns, and after a thorough examination, develop a minimally invasive plan that addresses your needs.
• Dr. Steinsapir does not use nurses or “physician extender.” When treating the eye, to avoid complications, we advise that you select a highly trained, licensed surgeon.
• Reputable eyelid surgeons should make themselves available to personally answer your questions and address your concerns.

I am thinking of having eyelid surgery. How much recovery time should I allow?

Generally the bruising and swelling that is common after eyelid surgery rapidly diminishes so by 7 to 10 days most people are comfortable returning to work and social activities.

I am taking a number of herbal products that my acupuncturist has recommended. Will that be a problem for my eyelid surgery?

It is critical for eyelid surgery that any product that may interfere with clotting be avoided prior to surgery. Many herbal preparations effect clotting and can cause severe bruising following surgery. This can compromise the surgical outcome. Therefore, we want you to stop these products and aspirin, ibuprofen, and similar products about three weeks prior to surgery. These can be resumed five days after surgery. The office has a relatively comprehensive list of products to avoid.

I take Plavix® prescribed by my internist due to a stroke I had 8 months ago. Should I go ahead and stop this ahead of my consultation knowing that I want surgery?

Please do not stop your Plavix® or any medication prescribed by your doctor without first discussing this with the doctor who prescribed the medication. Dr. Steinsapir will assess your indications for taking a physician prescribed blood-thinning medication. In consultation with your physician, a decision will be made regarding this medication. There are many situations were eyelid surgery or other cosmetic procedures are not worth taking the risk of discontinuing these medications.

I was born with a heavy eyelid on one side. Is this a condition that can be fixed with eyelid surgery?

Dr. Steinsapir is highly qualified to treat eyelid asymmetry. The heavy eyelid is called eyelid ptosis. It can be addressed at the time of cosmetic eyelid surgery or the droopy lid can be addressed without performing other procedures.

I have heaviness in my upper eyelid fold. Will Dr. Steinsapir accept my health insurance?

Dr. Steinsapir does not participate with any health insurance plans. The problem described is usually a cosmetic issue and health insurance does not cover this type of problem.

I saw a surgeon who proposed laser resurfacing my eyelids and told me this is a type of eyelid lift. Do I really need surgery if laser resurfacing will lift the eyelids?

This very much depends on the exact nature of your issues. It is true that tightening the eyelid skin can resolve some of the eyelid heaviness. However, laser resufacing can’t address the structural issues in the upper eyelid. This includes laxity of the eyelid platform, lash ptosis, eyelid ptosis, and herniated orbital fat. A personal consultation will permit a definitive answer for you.

I have been thinking of eyelid surgery but now that I’ve read this discussion of the forehead lift, how do I know if I am a candidate for the endoscopic forehead lift?

There are a number of considerations that go into making this decision. Many of these involve individual issues. A personal consultation with Dr. Steinsapir will greatly assist in clarifying the best approach for you based on anatomy, personal goals, and other factors. A choice that makes sense for one person may not be right for you. Ultimately surgery must be tailored for the individual.

I had eyelid surgery in Hong Kong several years ago. They gave me a double fold. At first the results looked good but a year later almost all of the effects were gone. Is this something that Dr. Steinsapir can fix?

It is likely that you had double fold surgery with a threaded suture. These procedures are done very quickly and in some parts of the world by non-medical providers. To make a lasting crease, it is generally necessary to perform a surgery to make a strong attachment between the skin at the crease and the levator aponeurosis, the tendon that raises the upper eyelid. While this effort occasionally does not hold up, for most the result of surgery lasts a lifetime.

Years ago I had eyelid surgery in Newport Beach. Initially, I was very happy with my upper eyelid surgery. Now I think too much surgery was performed. I once had a much fuller upper eyelid and now my upper eyelids are very hollow and my upper eyelids seem to hang down. Is there anything that can be done?

Some surgeons see their job as removing as much tissue as possible even to the point of making it difficult to close the eyes. In contrast Dr. Steinsapir looks to preserve natural eyelid structure as much as possible. Usually restoring fullness to the upper eyelid is very difficult. However in this case, it sounds like the tendon of the upper eyelids may be disinserted causing a drooping of the upper eyelid. This can be caused by the prior eyelid surgery as the tendon may have been accidentally cut and not repaired leaving the eyelids to slowly sag down over time. On the other hand, the upper eyelid heaviness may just be coincidental and unrelated to the prior eyelid surgery. A consultation with Dr. Steinsapir will resolve these issues and determine what you need to address the eyelids.

Is it possible to have eyelid surgery awake and in the office?

Absolutely. Eyelid surgery is very comfortable with most procedures easily performed and very comfortable under local anesthesia. Dr. Steinsapir maintains a dedicated procedure suite in his office for this purpose.

I am thinking about having eyelid surgery. I am nervous to have the surgery. Can it be performed under general anesthesia?

Dr. Steinsapir advises against having eyelid surgery under general anesthesia. To get the best possible result it is essential that the eyes can open and close during surgery. If you are asleep, this is impossible and the surgical results will be compromised. As an alternative, Dr. Steinsapir recommends having surgery under intravenous sedation where the anesthesiologist controls the level of sedation. You would be minimally aware but still able to cooperate during surgery.

I am thinking about having laser eyelid surgery and I want to know what kind of laser does Dr. Steinsapir use to perform eyelid surgery?

Dr. Steinsapir has an incisional CO2 laser but he routinely does not use the laser to perform eyelid surgery. The most critical aspect of eyelid surgery has nothing to do with which incisional instrument was used to perform the procedure: cautery needle, scalpel, or laser. The most critical aspect of eyelid surgery is the proper design of the procedure and this in turn is dependent on a proper work up and diagnosis. Dr. Steinsapir specifically avoids using the laser for surgery because the laser devitalizes the edge of the wound for approximately a half millimeter on each side. This means that sutures need to be in for a prolonged period of time leading to inclusions cysts and wound separation.

I am thinking of having eyelid surgery. My plastic surgeon tells me I can combine this with body liposuction and breast implant surgery at the same time. Can Dr. Steinsapir do my eyelid surgery at the time of these other procedures?

Dr. Steinsapir likes to remind his patients that cosmetic surgery should not be life threatening. He is not sure that it is reasonable to have breast surgery and liposuction at the same time. This combination has an unreasonably high mortality rate (i.e. too many people die from this combination of surgeries). It is far safer to have less surgery at one time. Dr. Steinspir advises against having the blue plate special. In the long run, saving a few dollars by combining all these surgeries at the same time is just not in your best interests.

 

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