Beat the Droopy Blues by Nathan Johnson If people tell you that your eyes look tired when you actually feel well rested, relax-a solution may be in sight print article      send to a friend

Not the worst guess, but in reality their co-worker's new, re-energized look was simply the result of an upper eyelid surgical repair, or blepharoplasty. 

Carney, who is 46, wasn't looking for a total cosmetic makeover.  In fact, she has never considered having any of the other nips and tucks so fashionable these days.  "This (surgery) was more of a corrective thing-getting rid of what was hanging over, as opposed to changing the way I looked," she explains.  "I'm 46, and I'm not really too much into cosmetic surgery."   In Carney's case, she just had a bit of bothersome, droopy excess skin--called ptosis, in doctor speak--that "hung over" her eyelids. 

Blepharoplasty managed to dispose of this annoying condition in a matter of hours.  With only three days rest following her procedure, Carney was back on track-and feeling less droopy.  According to her, this improvement came with almost no pain.  This might come as a surprise to some, considering the fact that Carney declined anesthesia.  As Carney chucklingly remarks, "(The sedative) really did the trick.  To tell you the truth, I almost fell asleep during the procedure.  I was never uncomfortable  --  it was essentially painless."

The Flip Side 

The various blepharoplasty procedures are generally not considered to be the most dangerous of cosmetic procedures; instead, many doctors like to emphasize the upsides.  As Dr. Andrew Ribner, MD, a San Jose based plastic surgeon, comments,  "The complications are minimal."  However, Dr. Ribner says, these procedures do have a few downsides.  "Unfortunately, a whole range of complications (exist), including blindness." 

Any honest doctor that performs blepharoplasty will tell you that some people are simply not considered good candidates.  For instance, "Someone with thyroid disease (which can make the eyes stand out)  would make a surgeon think about not doing it," says Maryland physician Arthur Shektman, MD, who successfully performed Carney's operation. 

While emphasizing the benefits of blepharoplasty, doctors say the following individuals should steer clear of certain eyelid procedures:

Lower Lids, Too

If, after consulting with a qualified doctor, you think you might be a good candidate, blepharoplasty is one area of cosmetic surgery that can really be life changing.  And its potential benefits are not limited to the upper eyelid correction Carney underwent. 

As we age, pesky little fat deposits begin to collect in the area under the lower eyelid.  This fat often results in a puffy, tired appearance.  And as if that weren't depressing enough, the muscle and wall that hold back this fat begin to loosen and, ultimately, sag.  As Dr. Ribner points out, "People who have those types of complaints are often told that they look tired all the time, even when they got 8 hours of sleep and don't feel tired at all."  According to him, lower lid blepharoplasty can often be just the trick to rid you of that bluesy look.  One procedure, technically referred to as transconjunctival blepharoplasty, can accomplish the desired effect without so much as an incision.  "Instead," Dr. Ribner explains, "the incision is made on the inside of the eyelid.  Sounds yucky, but in fact the eye is totally numbed, and, of course, the person is asleep or sedated."

How long will blepharoplasty's effects last?  "Forever," says Dr. Ribner.  "And that's not to say that the clock isn't running.  Aging continues, but you're always that much (younger looking) than you would have been otherwise-typically 7 to 10 years." Seven to ten years less droopy, that is.  

Lid-Lifting Facts

A few interesting tidbits on blepharoplasty: