Tag Archives: blepharoplasty

Top 8 Reasons to Get a Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty - eye lifts in New York CityEyes: They are the focal point (no pun intended) of your face. You can dress them up with makeup, but if you have serious cosmetic problems in your eye region, you probably look older than you should! Dr. Michelle Yagoda sees all different types of patients who would like to look younger and more refreshed, and, oftentimes, it is all in the eyes! Eyelifts provide permanent and natural solutions to various eye problems and concerns. Think about getting a blepharoplasty – or eye lift – if you…

  1. Want to get rid of bulging fat bags. Dr. Yagoda’s signature Tr-EYE-umph! non-surgical eye lift can temporarily remove fat bags that accumulate under the eyes, but only a surgical blepharoplasty will provide permanent results. Thickened skin and “bags” (pockets of fat) are some of the most common complaints for women in their 30s and 40s. With the tiniest of incisions, the bags will be gone!
  2. Want to tighten your lower lid area and correct tear flow. If you have tear trough depression and a hollow look under your eyes, consider fixing it with non-surgical blepharoplasty. Fillers can be used to eliminate the hollows under the eyes and plump up the tear troughs. Not only will you look refreshed, but volume will be restored in the space between the lower eyelid bags and the upper cheeks, providing symmetry.
  3. Improve your vision. Advancing years often bring reading glasses, uncomfortable dry eyes, and more serious concerns, such as an increased risk of glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration that can make even everyday tasks such as reading and driving next to impossible. Dr. Yagoda will help you decide if your vision can be improved through an eyelift procedure and, if so, what the best one is for you. Eyelifts not only address cosmetic concerns, but they can improve eye health, too.
  4. 4. Improve your overall appearance. It is a well-known fact that the eyes are the first thing most people notice about each other. If you are not happy with how your eyes, eyelids, or under eyes look, you might feel less confident in your daily life. Restore your confidence with a surgical or non-surgical blepharoplasty!
  5.  Want to have a double eyelid. After spending time at the prestigious Otsuka Academy in Tokyo, Japan to operate with the late, expert surgeon Dr. Hidetada Ishii, Dr. Yagoda has perfected the incisionless Asian double eyelid surgery. Hidden, permanent sutures are used to create the upper eyelid crease that many Asian patients desire, and the entire operation is done under local anesthesia in Dr. Yagoda’s office.
  6.  Want to repair skin cancer defects. If you had or have skin cancer around the eye area, any residual defects should be fixed by an expert plastic surgeon. Dr. Yagoda will help determine which surgery is right for you.
  7. Eliminate dark circles. Part of the difficulty in treating dark circles is figuring out their cause! It could be genetics, lifestyle, allergies, sinus problems, or just a good old lack of sleep. Dark circles make people look much more tired (and older) than they really are, and they are very hard to cover up. Both surgical and non-surgical blepharoplasties are options: In the former, surgical eyelid surgery will provide permanent, rejuvenating results, and, in the latter, Dr. Yagoda uses filler to plump up the circles without any downtime.
  8. Want to stay competitive in the workplace. Although this one could be used when talking about any cosmetic surgery, it is especially true for the eyes! Since your eyes are the most important features of your face – and they are what your coworkers and bosses see when they look at you – it is important to feel confident with your eyes and eyelids. If you don’t, that lack of confidence might transfer over to your day-to-day life!

How long is the blepharoplasty procedure?

Dr. Michelle Yagoda - NYC Facial Plastic SurgeonASK DR. YAGODA

Question: I’m 54 and looking into getting a blepharoplasty in the New York City area. How long will it take to complete an upper eyelid and bottom eyelid blepharoplasty and will I need to bring someone with me?

Answer: The surgery should take approximately 2 hours and yes, you need an adult to take you home and stay with you for the first night just in case you need any assistance. Everyone deserves a bit of pampering!

Can I undergo a blepharoplasty without anesthesia?

Appearance after blepharoplastyASK DOCTOR YAGODA

Question: I’m a 49-year-old female, living on the Upper West Side and I have never been put under for a surgery. Can I undergo an eye lift without anesthesia?

Answer: You can certainly have a blepharoplasty (eye lift) without general anesthesia.  But, there is no need to be a martyr and reject all anesthesia!  Upper eyelid surgery can be done safely and comfortably in the office operating room under topical and local anesthetic.  Lower lid blepharoplasty can be done under intravenous sedation and local anesthetic.  In both cases, you will be completely comfortable and feel nothing!

Can I get a brow lift with an eyelid lift or only one at a time?

Dr. Yagoda does surgical Brow lifts in New YorkASK DOCTOR YAGODA

Question: I’m a 55 year-old male living in Manhattan, and my father left me with deep forehead wrinkles that never smooth out. My top eyelids also sag down more than they used to and I’m starting to develop bags… My question is, can I get a brow lift with an eyelid lift or only one at a time?

Answer: You can have them both at the same time.  Or, you can have non-surgical, total eyelid rejuvenation technique using Botox/Dysport for the forehead wrinkles (provided that the brow is at or above the bony ridge above your upper eyelid) and surgery for the upper eyelids.

How fast can I return to work after getting a blepharoplasty?

Getting an eyelift in New York City - Dr. Michelle YagodaASK DR. YAGODA

Question: How fast can I return to work after getting an eye lift? I’m 55, male, and my works leaves me little vacation time. Can I come in on a Friday and return to work Monday?

Answer: You can…but you may not want to!  The surgery is not painful at all, but the eyelids can feel heavy for 24-72 hours after.  You will feel fine, but you will have some swelling and black and blue marks.  If you are not worried about anyone seeing you in this condition, you can certainly go back to work. Just make sure there is no heavy lifting, no flying, no swimming and no carrying anything more than ten pounds for ten days after the surgery.

How young is too young to get eye surgery?

Eye surgery with NYC plastic surgeonASK DOCTOR YAGODA

Question: How young is too young to get eye surgery? I’m only 28 but I’ve always had these dark circles under my eyes and my top eyelid is invisible with my eyes open. I live in the city so I’m very close to your New York office.

Answer: Unlike surgery to pin the ears back or to change the shape of the nose, there is no minimum age for eyelid surgery.  (Ear and nose surgery can be safely considered only after each has respectively reached its full adult size–for the ear it is after age six, and for the nose it is after puberty). Eyelid surgery can be done safely at any age.  But, rejuvenating the eye area does not necessarily require surgeryBotox/Dysport, peels, lasers and fillers can rejuvenate the eye area non-surgically.  A full exam is necessary in order to assess skin elasticity and to evaluate the cause of bulging and dark circles in the lower eyelid.  Make sure that you consider all of your options before you commit to a surgery that you may not need!

Can a blepharoplasty change my eye shape?

changing the shape of your eye with an eye liftASK DR. YAGODA

Question: Can a blepharoplasty change my eye shape? I’m Asian American, 33, living in New York City, and one of my eyes is rounder than the other, which makes me look asymmetrical.

Answer: Blepharoplasty can change the shape of the eye, if that is the goal, but routine eyelift surgery does not change its shape.  In some cases, Asian eyes can look rounder, or more Western, with incisionless double lid surgery as well.

Can an eyelid lift help me?

Ask Dr. YagodaASK DOCTOR YAGODA

Question: I’m a 60-something year old woman and the skin around my eyes is just not what it used to be. The skin sags and I can’t wear eye shadow anymore because it barely shows. Can an eyelid lift help me or do I need a facelift?

Answer: The condition you are describing is known as hooding. Hooding occurs when upper eyelid skin becomes loose and hangs over the eyelid crease close to or onto the eyelashes.  Bothersome as it may be, the solution is fast, easy and virtually painless.  This excess skin, caused by the normal aging process or genetics in some cases, can be removed in the office under local anesthesia.  The incision, which is hidden in the normal upper eyelid crease, is nearly invisible when it heals.  And, here’s good news for the squeamish:  aside from the sensation of heaviness after surgery, there is no pain. This is because once the skin incision is made, the area can be numb for up to three weeks.  In addition, there is no need to worry about “seeing” something during the surgery. An opaque contact lens is placed into the eye, after it has been anesthetized with a topical eye drop.  As a result, you won’t feel the insertion or removal.