Facial appearance tends to be similar among families. For this reason, it isn’t uncommon to see some of the same changes in family members as they age. One of the areas of concern that we treat is the eyes. The skin around the eyes is relatively delicate by nature. It isn’t as thick as the skin on other parts of the face and body. As such, it shows the signs of aging sooner. When the upper eyelids become saggy or droopy with age, many people inevitably pick a family member to attribute this change to. Here, we discuss whether or not sagging eyelids really are genetic and what other factors also contribute to tissue changes around the eyes. 

Are Sagging Eyelids Genetic?

The primary reason our eyelids become saggy is because the skin on the face is affected by gravity. That said, genetics and lifestyle factors can also contribute to particular changes in facial tissue or how those changes look on the face. According to research, sagging eyelids can be seen in multiple members of the same family. This leads us to believe that genetic makeup does play some role. But before you go thanking Grandma for your sagging, heavy eyelids, we should also look at how your lifestyle habits may be exacerbating age-related changes. 

Biological Factors for Sagging Eyelids

Every adult experiences tissue changes in all parts of the face and body as they age. This isn’t genetics so much as it is simple biology. Around age 20, the body stops producing the collagen and elastin that it uses to firm and support the skin. These vital chemicals don’t just help heal cuts and scrapes, they give the skin the stretch it needs to resist gravity. As levels decline over time, lines, wrinkles, and sagging are inevitable. The onset and severity of tissue changes can depend on several lifestyle factors. 

• UV exposure. Ultraviolet light is to blame for much of the premature aging that goes on in us humans. If you’re not wearing SPF 30 every day and applying an appropriate protective sunscreen to the eyelids, you’re bound to incur sun damage. Wearing sunglasses and hats when outside can help reduce exposure to damaging rays of light. 
• Lack of sleep. It’s true what they say about beauty sleep. Not only does our skin suffer when we don’t get the right amount of sleep for our body (from 7 ½ to 10 hours), but we may also develop lines and wrinkles due to our sleeping position. As you may have guessed, the only sleep position that does not pose a risk to facial skin is on the back. 
• Dehydration. The skin naturally has hyaluronic acid particles to maintain moisture. However, without adequate hydration, the skin may lack sufficient water for optimal plumpness and resilience. The skin is the last organ to receive water, so drink up!

Correcting Sagging Eyelids

Regardless of the factors that have caused droopy, saggy upper or lower eyelids, a trusted facial plastic surgeon can correct the issue. Blepharoplasty eyelid surgery is one of the most common procedures that Dr. Fante perform. This procedure carefully shapes the eyelids through precise tightening and trimming of sagging tissue. 

We are proud to serve patients in our comfortable Denver office. Contact us at (303) 839-1616 to schedule your visit. 

Blepharoplasty is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed today. This procedure, performed on the upper or lower eyelids, has such a profound effect that it can bring new energy to the entire face. That is if all goes well.

The fact is, any surgical procedure that is performed has inherent risks. Every plastic surgeon who has practiced has experienced undesirable outcomes or some type of surgical complication. With experience, this rate decreases significantly. When performed by a well-trained, experienced plastic and reconstructive surgeon, eyelid rejuvenation can achieve outstanding results with little risk of untoward outcomes. To complete their training, an oculofacial plastic surgeon spends 3 to 5 years focusing exclusively on the eyes, eyelids, and periocular region. This is not to say that risks do not exist but that they are rare. This is especially relevant as it pertains to the risk of unsatisfactory results.

Blepharoplasty Complications: What Are They?

We periodically see patients who are unhappy with the results achieved with blepharoplasty. Revision surgery is possible in most cases after a thorough consultation and examination are performed. Common blepharoplasty complications include:

• Inability to close the eyes completely. This complication is related to aggressive skin excision.
• Retraction (pulling down) of the lower eyelid. This is related to aggressive skin excision.
• Ectropion. When too much skin is removed, the lower eyelid may pull away from the eyeball.
• Sunken appearance, caused by the excessive removal of fat.
• Failure to correct weakness in the levator muscle of the upper eyelid.

The complications that occur when too much tissue is excised during blepharoplasty do not relate only to the cosmetic outcome of surgery. If the eyelids cannot close properly or pull away from the eye, irritation, dryness, and excessive tearing may result. Revision blepharoplasty, then, must be carefully planned and carried out in a manner that revolves around the understanding of the problem. A facial plastic surgeon with additional training in oculoplastic surgery should be able to identify the cause of the unsatisfactory outcome and design revision to correct not only the sub-optimal surgical result but also the problem that may not have been accurately addressed in the original procedure.

At Fante Eye & Face Centre in Denver, our physicians have extensive training and clinical experience to support optimal blepharoplasty results. To schedule your visit, call (303) 839-1616.

Blepharoplasty is a popular plastic surgery procedure that helps you feel like yourself again. The technique can be performed on the upper or lower eyelids, is performed on an outpatient basis (you go home afterward), and is often the only procedure people have to maintain their sense of confidence and satisfaction with their appearance. If you’ve grown dissatisfied with how your eyes look because of sagging, puffy, heavy eyelids, you may be interested to know what blepharoplasty is all about. Here, we answer three common questions.

1. Is blepharoplasty just for cosmetic improvement?

We could say yes and no to this question. Yes, blepharoplasty is often performed to improve the appearance of the eyes and face. An additional benefit of having this procedure is that you feel more like yourself again, and that can boost your self-confidence. That certainly isn’t just a cosmetic improvement! Furthermore, there are instances in which blepharoplasty is medically necessary. If the skin is sagging over the eyelashes or is pulling away from the eyeball, surgical repair is necessary to protect the ocular structure.

2. Will it be obvious that I had eyelid rejuvenation surgery?

Most people who express an interest in plastic surgery want to have their cake and eat it, too. They want to correct cosmetic concerns and still look like themselves. Fortunately, this is entirely possible! After blepharoplasty, you should hear things like “you look so refreshed!”, not “Oh, you’ve had work done!”  Dr. Fante takes care to tighten tissue just enough to correct sagging or puffiness while preserving the patient’s ability to close their eyes fully and look naturally refreshed.

3. Will blepharoplasty get rid of crow’s feet?

One of the fastest ways to feel dissatisfied after plastic surgery is to misunderstand what it can do. Blepharoplasty is a procedure that smoothes loose, sagging tissue on the upper or lower eyelids. It can correct redundancy on the upper eyelid and puffiness below the eyes. It does not correct crow’s feet. The reason why is that the creases that develop at the outer corners of the eyes actually stems from a drooping brow line. The tissue across the forehead sags, causing it to bunch up at the corners of the eyes. This problem can also make the upper eyelids look heavy because the muscle that holds the brow line is pulling downward.  While not correctable with blepharoplasty, these problems can be resolved with either Botox injections or a brow lift.

Blepharoplasty is one of the leading plastic surgery procedures for several reasons. Find out why! Schedule your consultation at our Denver office by calling (303) 839-1616.

Many people express concern about the appearance of their eyes. It may surprise you to hear that people as young as their 30s are getting blepharoplasty. There are good reasons for this trend. One is that the eyes are the most expressive part of the face. When they are puffy, we look tired. When the eyebrows slant toward frown lines, we look angry. Eyelid rejuvenation can help us express authentically. Another reason why people may seek corrective treatment at an age younger than we might expect is that the skin around the eyes ages faster than we may think.

For skin to look young, it needs firmness and volume. These attributes come from a good supply of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. By age 20, the production of these chemicals declines sharply. As a result, we find ourselves looking at bags, crow’s feet, and dark circles sometime during our thirties. Here, we discuss some of the things we can do about those problems.

Skincare

Whether you are in your twenties and interested in preventing premature aging around your eyes or you are in your sixties and prepared to undergo eyelid rejuvenation surgery, skincare is your BFF. We offer two medical-grade skincare lines from which patients may choose products that suit their needs. These lines feature serums and creams formulated for the delicate skin around the eyes.

Injectables

There are a few different injectables that may help rejuvenate the eyes. Neuromodulators like Botox and Dysport are injectable products that reduce problems like crow’s feet and frown lines. These mild toxins work by relaxing muscle contractions that cause dynamic wrinkles. For concerns like undereye puffiness or dark circles, dermal fillers may be the solution. These products add volume to the skin to push lines and creases to the surface. The results achieved with injectables can last from a few months to two years.

Blepharoplasty

Even with the variety of nonsurgical treatments available today, many people prefer the idea of blepharoplasty. This surgical procedure rejuvenates the eyes by trimming excess skin from the upper or lower eyelids. Blepharoplasty also repositions and removes fatty tissue as needed to restore optimal contour above and below the eyes.

We’re here to help you look and feel your best. To explore your options for eyelid rejuvenation, call our Denver office at (303) 839-1616.

We use our face to express how we are feeling. Likewise, humans are experts at reading faces. We don’t spend much time doing so. We don’t have to. Various parts of the face, including the eyes and the mouth, are very telling of a person’s mood and character. Our ability to form a first opinion based on facial expression is an inherent survival trait. However, the subconscious perceptions we have based on appearances can also be wrong.

The two most expressive areas of the face, the eyes and the mouth, change with age. The corners of the mouth may turn downward as the fatty tissue and skin in the mid-face declines. The eyes transform from bright and awake to tired and angry or sad-looking. To remedy this, many people turn to eyelid rejuvenation surgery called blepharoplasty. If you are starting to feel like you don’t look like yourself, this procedure may be exactly what you need.

Is There a Right Age for Blepharoplasty?

The question of age comes up often when a person is interested in a lift of some kind. Blepharoplasty is the eyelid lift that repositions and removes tissue and skin as needed to reset the upper eyelid crease or to resolve puffiness beneath the eyes. For this reason, many younger patients wonder if they are the “right age” to consider this surgery. Statistics show that blepharoplasty is popular across various age groups. Forty-somethings can achieve significant benefits from addressing the early signs of aging around the eyes. Among older patients, blepharoplasty is often sought in conjunction with other lifts, such as a brow lift or facelift. In any situation, we look at the cosmetic “age” of the face rather than a person’s biological age to determine if they are a good candidate for an eyelid lift.

What about Scars?

Scars are a natural byproduct of surgical incisions. Understandably, the idea of scars on the eyelids can be concerning. The thing about scarring is that visibility correlates to skin thickness. If a scar were to form on the back, it may be visible because the skin is thicker there. On the thin skin of the eyelids, scars are barely perceptible. For someone to see blepharoplasty scars, they would have to be looking at closed eyelids from a few inches away.

Facial rejuvenation doesn’t always have to be extensive to have significant effects. Learn more about blepharoplasty. Schedule a consultation at our Denver office at (303) 839-1616.

An eyelid that has been damaged may not adequately protect and lubricate the eye. Injuries and scars can cause retraction in which the lower eyelid is pulled downward. Depending on the degree of scarring or retraction, symptoms such as tearing, blurry vision, and chronic eye irritation may occur. These symptoms can exacerbate the frustration that already exists due to the cosmetic effects of eyelid scarring.

What Is Eyelid Scarring?

Eyelid scars may result from trauma or facial or eyelid surgery. This can affect the normal position of the eyelid to such an extent that mobility is interrupted. Sometimes, eyelid scarring makes it impossible to fully close the eye, leading to chronic dryness and irritation. When the lower eyelid is scarred, the eye may show more white than the other eye.

What Is Eyelid Retraction?

Eyelid retraction is usually diagnosed when the upper eyelid sits in an abnormally high position compared to the other eye. Likewise, retraction could affect the lower eyelid when the position is unusually low. What’s normal? The upper eyelid should rest just above the iris, the colored part of the eye. The lower eyelid should rest just below it.

An eyelid may become retracted due to trauma or poor surgical healing. Retraction is also a common side effect of thyroid eye disease, or Grave’s disease.

Correcting Eyelid Scarring or Retraction

Treatment for eyelid scarring or retraction may first focus on controlling symptoms like chronic dryness and excessive tearing. This may be achieved with bandages, ointment or eye drops, or other comfort modalities. Strategies such as these may control symptoms but they do not correct the problem. This is only possible with surgery.

• Upper eyelid correction may involve adjustments to the levator muscle. This muscle controls where the eyelid sits over the eyeball.
• Lower eyelid correction may require more extensive repair. When possible, canthoplasty is performed to tighten the skin and tendons under the eye. In some cases, tissue grafting or a mid-face lift may also be necessary.
• Eyelid retraction that is related to Grave’s disease may benefit from orbital decompression, in which space is created in the eye socket for the eyeballs to sit back in a normal position.

Dr. Fante has extensive experience in performing cosmetic and reconstructive eye surgery. To learn more, call our Denver office at (303) 839-1616.

Eyelid rejuvenation has been a bit of a buzz in recent years. People are realizing that subtle changes around their eyes, such as puffiness, sagging tissue, and drooping eyebrows, make them appear older than they are and, in many cases, much older than they feel. Who wouldn’t want to control issues such as these as well as possible? In search of younger-looking eyes, many people consider blepharoplasty. Just as many turn to dermal fillers to achieve quick and convenient improvement. Here, we want to discuss why we think the two are actually not competitors but cohorts in refreshing the face.

What Blepharoplasty Does

Eyelid surgery, referred to as blepharoplasty, has become very popular in the last several years. The procedure is relatively quick and is performed on an outpatient basis. Patients can expect to be back to work in a week to 10 days. The result of blepharoplasty is younger-looking eyes, true, but we need to get more detailed than that.

Through blepharoplasty, the tissue of the upper or lower eyelids, sometimes both, is smoothed out. This is done through small incisions in the crease of the upper eyelid or just at the lash line of the lower. During the procedure, fatty tissue may be repositioned to spread it more evenly across the contour of the eye. Superficial tissue is also tightened and excised to correct looseness and smooth the eyelid. These are impressive effects, but they may not achieve exactly what every person needs.

Where Dermal Fillers Come In

Interestingly, we often see eyelid puffiness as a major problem of aging. Beneath the surface of the skin and muscle, though, bone tissue is resorbing. This means that the bony sockets around the eyes get wider as we get older. This is a progressive change that can affect the appearance of the eyes in significant ways. Fortunately, this is a problem that can be corrected with dermal fillers. The entire role of dermal fillers is to introduce substances like hyaluronic acid into the dermis to increase volume. Volume means better contours and smoother skin. To address the eyes, dermal fillers can be inserted at the temples as well as along the crease between the lower eyelid and the cheek. In each area, the increase of volume further accentuates the contours and youthfulness of the eyes.

Bring Your Eyes Back to Life

If your eyes look tired, it’s time for a revival. Call our Denver office at (303) 839-1616 to schedule a consultation in which you can explore the value of blepharoplasty and dermal fillers.