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EYELID TIGHTENING

The human eye is a symbol of harmony and aesthetics in our face that should not be underestimated. For good reason, we can determine whether we are relaxed and well rested by looking at our eyes or the surrounding region of our eyelids. In addition, we interact with other people through direct eye contact - whether it's a fleeting glance or an intensive dialog. The eyes quickly reveal what state of mind we are in.

 

Eyelid tightening is therefore one of the most common procedures in plastic and aesthetic surgery, because it can achieve a significant effect, namely to make the eyes look awake friendly, and this with relatively little effort and manageable risk. The decisive factor in planning an eyelid tightening is the exact analysis of the actual situation, because the appearance of your eye area is based on the interaction of excess skin, fat and muscle involvement. Often, a combination of different problems on the upper and lower eyelid is the cause of a tired facial expression. In addition to the excess skin, this mainly concerns the descent of fat bodies anchored under the thin skin, which cause unsightly bags under the eyes, especially on the lower eyelid.


Blepharoplasty, as eyelid correction is called, is classified into upper eyelid tightening and lower eyelid tightening. It is often performed in combination.


During the analysis, the position of the eyebrows is the most important factor. Often, the impression of tired eyes and a grumpy look associated with them is not only due to an excess of skin on the upper eyelids, but to eyebrows that are too low and push down as a suspension of the eyelids. Therefore, the analysis of the position of the brows is crucial, which can be corrected in combination if necessary.

UPPER LID TIGHTENING:
A SMALL INTERVENTION WITH A BIG EFFECT

The sagging of the upper eyelids - also known as "drooping eyelids" - often begins in young people. A common cause of sagging upper eyelids is eyestrain from screen work and cell phone use. This is an age-related loss of elasticity in the fine skin on the upper eyelid. It appears particularly drastic because the eyelid skin is the thinnest skin on the human body.

 

In addition, there is a genetic or lifestyle-related sinking or prominence of small fat deposits in the eyelid itself, which leads to swelling and asymmetries. In a vital face, the upper eyelid forms a strong optical effect, with an obvious and considerable emotional impact on other people. When the upper eyelids sag, a face immediately looks older, more tired and depressed because the eye appears smaller overall. The upper lid presses on the eye like a heavy veil and in extreme cases can even limit vision, especially if the upper lid protrudes laterally into the affected person's field of vision. With an operative correction, we at JJPS can remove the excess skin and possibly fat, tighten the upper eyelid muscles if necessary and thus restore a vital and alert expression. This is done under local anesthetic and in a gentle procedure.

Image by Ludvig Wiese

Preparation

 

As part of an exact facial analysis with the help of photo and video viewing and of course also in front of the mirror, we illustrate the situation and show you the optimal correction options. We also evaluate pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure, inflammatory, hormonal, allergic or neurological symptoms and special ophthalmological issues. In preparation, we recommend that you refrain from smoking for a period of about two weeks around the date of the operation and not to use any blood-thinning medication such as aspirin during the same period. We will discuss the details with you during our consultation hours.

Technique

 

The procedure itself is carried out under gentle local anaesthesia, if necessary supplemented by sedation, so that an upper eyelid lift is painless. Before the procedure, we draw in the exact surgical plan. We remove the excess skin with a precise incision along the natural fold of the upper eyelid. If excess fat is present at the same time, this is also removed. The wound is then sutured very finely using microsurgical technology. The upper eyelid lift can be easily combined with other procedures and leaves almost no visible scars.

Costs & Financing

The costs for an eyelid lift are made up of the surgery, the material, the anesthetic and the final examinations. The costs start a 2.500 euros depending on complexity and the combination with other procedures.

Risks

 

The upper eyelid lift is one of the most frequently performed plastic and aesthetic procedures. If the surgery is performed by an experienced specialist, it is almost risk-free. Only in rare cases secondary bleeding, wound healing disorders or unsightly scarring might occur. Redness and swelling around the eyes occur in the first few days after the surgery, but are short-lived and can be concealed with the help of sunglasses. In rare cases, bruising may occur, which will fade on its own after some time. In any case, regular, moderate cooling after the surgery is important.

Aftercare

 

The procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis in about 30-45 minutes. The wound is sealed with fine plasters (so-called SteriStrips). You can go home about 2-3 hours after the procedure. You should refrain from sports or heavy physical exertion until the suture is pulled in our practice a week later in order to keep your blood pressure low and minimize the risk of postoperative bleeding. Heavy sweating should be avoided during this time. You should refrain from using cosmetics in the area of the upper eyelid for a period of about a week. After the suture removal in our practice, you are fully socially acceptable again. Scars resulting from the operation are almost invisible once they have healed.

Image by Gayatri Malhotra

Are there reasonable alternatives to surgery?

 

There is no effective alternative to surgical upper eyelid lifting to correct drooping eyelids. The effectiveness of the variously offered plasma pen method is doubtful and therefore not a recommendable procedure.

 

With laser treatment, on the other hand, the excess skin is burned off and not removed with a scalpel. Although the wound bleeds less when using this method, the scar remains red longer. In our experience, this procedure does not represent a technical advantage.

INFORMATION
OVERVIEW

Duration

Approx. 45 mins

Anesthesia

local anesthetic or sedation

Costs

Depending on the complexity from

2,500 euros or 33 euros per month

Technique

Depending on the anatomical conditions, tightening of excess skin, fat and muscle on the upper eyelid

Aftercare

2-3 weeks no sports, sauna, spa

Financing

Financing is possible on request through one of our financing partners. External follow-up insurance should be taken out for all aesthetic operations. It protects you in the event of rare complications and the associated follow-up costs

Pain level

mild, well tolerated with normal painkillers

Presentability

about 10 days

Useful information

This can also be used to correct asymmetries, often in combination with a lower eyelid tightening

Procedure

Outpatient 

Risks

Among other things, secondary bleeding, wound healing disorders, dryness of the eye

LOWER LID LIFT

The delicate skin on the lower eyelid becomes weaker due to genetic predisposition, a lot of sun or solarium, nicotine consumption, weight loss and also as a result of normal aging processes. The underlying tissue structures of the lower eyelid and midface (so-called fat pads) follow gravity and begin to sink downwards. The resulting tear trough can be treated well with hyaluronic acid, but the excess skin in particular produces a tired, adynamic impression and makes the face look older. In slim people who do a lot of sport and pay attention to their diet, the excess skin can be so pronounced at a young age that it seems to thwart the active lifestyle. The face is omnipresent and the first mirror of well-being. With the correction of drooping lower eyelids, a lasting optically positive result can be achieved. The scar is inconspicuously on the edge of the eyelashes.

Image by Jose A.Thompson

Preparation

 

Similar to the upper eyelid lift, we evaluate the exact anatomical problem with you during the consultation, both with photo and video viewing and in front of the mirror. We also evaluate pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure, inflammatory, hormonal, allergic or neurological symptoms and special ophthalmological issues. In preparation, we recommend that you refrain from smoking for a period of about two weeks around the date of the operation and not to use any blood-thinning medication such as aspirin during the same period. We will discuss the details with you during our consultation hours.

Technique

 

The procedure itself is carried out under gentle local anaesthetic, if necessary supplemented by sedation, so that the lower eyelid tightening is also almost painless. If desired, general anesthesia is of course also possible. Before the procedure, the exact surgical plan is drawn in and we precisely remove the excess skin on the lower eyelid and reduce the excess, sunken fatty tissue. An additional tightening effect can be achieved by removing a narrow strip of muscle. It often proves necessary to surgically rehang the outer corner of the lid on the lid frenulum (so-called canthopexy or canthoplasty). This creates the effect of a radiant, alert eye area. The wound is sutured very finely using microsurgical technology. The lower eyelid lift can be easily combined with other procedures and leaves almost no visible scars.

Costs & Financing

The costs for an eyelid lift are composed of the surgical procedure, the material, the anesthesia and the final examinations. The costs start at 3,000 euros depending on the effort and combination with other procedures.

Risks

 

The lower eyelid lift is a technically demanding procedure and should therefore only be performed by specialists in plastic and aesthetic surgery. Bleeding, wound healing disorders or unsightly scarring can occur in rare cases after the procedure. Likewise, temporary slight protrusion of the lower eyelid and increased tear production can occur, mainly in older patients and after secondary surgeries. Redness and dryness of the eye itself, as well as swelling around the eyes, are normal for the first few days after surgery but will subside over time. They can be easily concealed by putting on sunglasses. Bruising, which will fade on its own, is also common. Regular, moderate cooling after the operation is important.

Aftercare

 

The procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis in about 45 minutes. The wound is sealed with fine plasters (so-called SteriStrips). After about 2-3 hours you can go back home. One to two days after the operation, the wound must be cooled moderately to reduce the swelling. On the day of the surgery itself, we recommend limited bed rest. For this purpose, the head should be elevated. You should refrain from sporting activities and heavy physical exertion until the stitches are pulled in the practice one week after the operation in order to keep your blood pressure low and to minimize the risk of postoperative bleeding. Heavy sweating should also be avoided. Furthermore, you have to do without cosmetics in the eye area for about a week. Afterwards you come to our practice to pull the suture and then you are fully socially presentable again. You should refrain from intensively rubbing your eyes for another week. Contact lenses can be used again after approx. 2-3 days. The scars from this operation are hardly visible because they are located on the lower edge of the eyelid - with the right care, they fade quickly and then completely inconspicuously.

Image by OSPAN ALI

Are there reasonable alternatives to surgery?

 

Alternatively, an incipient tear trough can be treated minimally invasively with a special hyaluronic acid filler. A laser application in the cheek area under the eyes can also tighten the skin and give it a fresher look. In the case of larger sagging with pronounced bags under the eyes, however, there is no permanent alternative to surgery.

INFORMATION
OVERVIEW

Duration

Approx. 45 mins

Anesthesia

local anesthesia or sedation

Costs

depending on the complexity from 3,000 euros or 52 euros per month

Technique

Depending on the anatomical conditions, tightening of excess skin, fat and possibly muscle in the area of the lower eyelid

Aftercare

No sport for 2-3 weeks

Financing

Financing is possible on request through one of our financing partners. External follow-up insurance should be taken out for all aesthetic operations. It protects you in the event of rare complications and the associated follow-up costs

Pain level

mild, well tolerated with normal painkillers

Presentability

about 10 days

Useful information

This can also be used to correct asymmetries, often in combination with a lower eyelid lift

Procedure

Outpatient

Risks

Among other things, secondary bleeding, wound healing disorders

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