As I complete my one year follow-up on rhytidectomy or facelift, I am impressed by the impact of the combination of upper and lower blepharoplasty on these results.
To evaluate an upper blepharoplasty: look at the amount of skin that "hangs" over or toward the lash line. Only a minimal amount of skin needs to be resected with the incsion best placed in the eyelid crease to hide the incision. Removal of this skin eliminates the "hooding" and allows the eyes to appear more open and well rested.
To evaluate a lower blepharoplasty: examine the lower lid fat pads or "bags" that can easily be treated by removing a small amount of fat from these lower lids. Removal of this fat reduces the "puffiness" of the lower lids and prevents a cast of a shadow on the cheek allowing the eyes to appear more well rested.
These improvements are also readiy apparent when the upper and lower eyelids are viewed in profile.
While the improvement in the appearance in the eyelids are significant in themselves alone, the effect is mangified to a greater extent when used in conjunction with a facelift to elevate the cheek, define the jowls, and improve the neckline.
When viewed from the frontal view the eyes appear awake, alert, and rested from the blepharoplasty. The cheek, jowls, and neck are youthfully restored from the facelift or rhytidectomy.
It is truly a pleasure to perform this powerful combination of procedures together so that small subtle changes can sum to acheive one large dramtic change in the youthful appearance of the face.
