Plastic Surgery

Mirror, Mirror…

Have you ever woken up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day, only to be disappointed when you look in the mirror? It can be hard to feel alive and vibrant when the eyes staring back at you look tired and old. Loose skin and bags over and under your eyes make you look more tired and older than you may feel inside. If this has happened to you, you are not alone, AND you can do something about it.

Each year, thousands of men and women  undergo a simple eyelid surgery to help restore a more energetic and youthful appearance. An eyelid surgery (or blepharoplasty) is a simple procedure performed to correct sagging eyelids, and/or to remove fatty pouches under the eyes and excess skin on the upper eyelids. This procedure can be done alone or in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures such as a facelift, brow lift or laser skin resurfacing. Dr. Orloff and his team of trained cosmetic professionals have helped hundreds of men and women enjoy a more youthful and softer appearance through cosmetic surgery. You owe it to yourself to have the eyes looking back from the mirror reflect the youth and happiness you feel inside.

How Is the Procedure Performed?

Patients generally undergo an eyelid surgery as an out-patient procedure. The procedure itself generally takes between one to two hours, depending on the extent of the surgery. The specific technique utilized for this procedure depends on the goals the patient and Dr. Orloff are seeking to accomplish. To correct the upper eyelid, Dr. Orloff places fine incisions in the crease above each eye to remove a thin crescent of excess skin and muscle. The incisions are closed with very fine sutures. To remove the fatty bags under the eyes, incisions are placed just inside the lower eyelid and the fatty deposits under the eyes are removed. The incisions may be closed with absorbable sutures or may be left to heal naturally. To remove excess skin from the lower lids, incisions are placed in the natural smile crease below the lashline.

What About the Recovery?

Dr. Orloff and the patient together decide whether local or general anesthesia will be utilized for eyelid surgery. Following surgery, the area around the eyes will be bruised and swollen for a short period of time. Make-up may be worn to cover any bruising. To help alleviate the swelling, patients should keep their heads up and place cold compresses on their eyes periodically. Antibiotic eye drops or ointment may be prescribed. To minimize the appearance, the hairline incisions were placed so that the resulting scars would follow the natural contour of the eyelids, and these scars will fade in a short period of time.

The Consultation Appointment

During your initial consultation, Dr. Orloff will discuss with you your specific condition, your desired goals, and the probable outcome of treatment. The doctor and his trained and qualified team members will thoroughly discuss the procedure and let you know what you may expect both with your surgery and the recovery. You will have the opportunity to review several before-and-after photographs of patients having similar concerns as yours, and their surgical outcome. Dr. Orloff may want to take before-and-after photographs of you to document your successful results.

What About Insurance?

Eyelid problems are common, even in younger people, and correcting eyelid problems that interfere with your vision may be covered by your health insurance. However, if the procedure is performed solely for cosmetic benefits, your health insurance may not cover the procedure in whole or in part. Dr. Orloff and his staff will assist you as much as possible while you check with your insurance provider for information on the degree of coverage. They will also be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding payment arrangements.

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