One of the most common questions for people considering cosmetic eyelid surgery is how
long will the results will last.
The answers to this question depends on several factors which I’ll discuss.
I’m Dr Amiya Prasad.
I’m a Board Certified Cosmetic Surgeon and Fellowship Trained Oculoplastic Surgeon.
I’ve been in practice in Manhattan and Long Island for over 20 years.
Upper and lower eyelid surgery with their various techniques are at the core of practice
as a Cosmetic Oculofacial Plastic Surgeon.
Oculoplastic or Oculofacial Plastic Surgery is a medical specialty which requires training
first in ophthalmology or eye surgery, followed by fellowship cosmetic and reconstructive
eyelid surgery.
Cosmetic eyelid surgery can be divided into procedures for the upper eyelids and procedures
for the lower eyelids.
For the upper eyelids, the most popular procedure is to address excess or redundant skin as
well as fat pockets referred to as upper eyelid blepharoplasty.
For the lower eyelids, the most popular procedures are to address puffy under eye bags and skin
wrinkling and discoloration referred to as lower eyelid blepharoplasty.
In cosmetic upper eyelid surgery, redundant skin, usually from genetics and the effects
of aging is excised to relieve the hooded look and reveal the natural shape of the eyes.
There are specialized procedures I perform such as Asian double eyelid surgery where
very little skin is typically removed for incisional surgery or no skin is removed in
non incisional surgery.
In terms of lower eyelid surgery, under eyebags are the main reasons people come for consultation.
Under eye bags are caused by fat normally around the eyes moving forward resulting in
what’s referred to as fat herniation or lower eyelid fat prolapse.
This condition can occur genetically as early as the teenage years and throughout your life
with aging.
When I speak to my patients about the longevity of a procedure, I explain that specific fat
pockets removed cannot come back.
However, with aging, other fat pockets can also prolapse and affect your appearance later.
As far as upper eyelid skin is concerned, I explain how it takes many years for the
skin to stretch.
However, other changes occur such as the brows drooping which can contribute to the appearance
of fullness over the eyes.
As a general principle, I say the benefits of eyelid surgery lasts about 5-10 years.
The effects of eyelid surgery can be affected by your age at the time of surgery, your environment
and your personal lifestyle.
For example, the longevity of the benefits of eyelid surgery for a 30 year old who avoids
excessive sun exposure and is a non smoker committed to a healthy lifestyle in comparison
to a 60 year old smoker who spends a lot of time in the sun.
Having been ipractice over 20 years I can attest to the stability of the results which
on average exceeds 10 years as has been reported by patients who’ve come in more than 10
years after eyelid surgery for other procedures such as structural volumizing or facelift.
Similar principles apply to Asian double eyelid surgery.
I would emphasize that when it come to eyelid surgery, technique and process of procedure
and after care are critical to long term satisfaction.
As a specialist, I’m well known for performing revision eyelid surgery for less than optimal
outcomes for patients who come to us from around the world.
I have developed strategies to allow my patients to have their procedures performed more safely,
comfortably and with faster recovery with minimal downtime.
For example I perform surgery with local anesthesia with LITE IV or intravenous anesthesia in
contrast to many doctors who use general anesthesia.
My approach significantly reduces the risks of systemic complications as well as post
surgery nausea and vomiting seen frequently after general anesthesia.
One area where it can be significant in terms of longevity and stability is the lower eyelids.
I frequently see patients who had their lower eyelid surgery done elsewhere only a few years
prior who are complaining about still looking tires and having eye irritation.
Typically this is the result of lower eyelid surgery performed from the outside with the
incision below eyelashes.
Skin is removed and the support of the lower eyelid is compromised resulting in lower eyelid
retraction.
Correcting this problem requires advanced reconstructive techniques including grafts
and eyelid support surgery.
In contrast, I perform lower eyelid surgery with a technique called transconjunctival
blepharoplasty.
I address the fat pockets causing the under eye bags form the inside of the eyelid and
protect the support structures.
What this means is that the patients are happy with the outcomes and maintain the natural
shape of their eyes.
Ultimately, this contributes to the longevity of the procedure.
The benefits of upper or lower eyelid surgery lasts for many years.
Age and lifestyle are important variables when you think of how long these benefits
will last.
Eyelid surgery, like many cosmetic procedures, can take years off your appearance, while
maintaining a natural look and preserve your unique facial character.
I encourage my patients to focus on healthy lifestyles as well as other less invasive
procedures which can help maximize the appearance of their eyes for many years after surgery.
I hope you found this information helpful...thank you for your question.