LASER EYELID SURGERY / EYELID REJUVENATION / BLEPHAROPLASTY
“Laser Eyelid Rejuvenation of your appearance, through the elimination of bags under the eyes, or creases in the eyelids. To make your eye area appear more youthful and less tired”.
Eyelid Surgery
Laser Eyelid surgery is aimed at eliminating bags and wrinkles under the eyes and by removing the excess skin on the upper eyelid:
- Dr Lanzer was one of the initial Dermatologists to first use laser eyelid surgery in Australia. With his colleagues they arranged hands on conferences to teach others.
- Dr Lanzer was featured on national television explaining this new development of eyelid surgery.
- Dr Lanzer trained personally in the USA with the surgeons who developed this method. He has extensive experience and has been performing Laser eyelid surgery, eyelid rejuvenation since 1994.
- Dr Lanzer explains that the changes around Laser eyelid surgery, eyelid rejuvenation is that the eyes can have a dramatic effect on the aged appearance of the face. A procedure that just removes 3 mm of skin or 3 ml of fat can make a person look more youthful.
Laser Eyelid Surgery – Upper Lid
In females, ideally there is a visible upper eyelid platform to which makeup may be applied. With ageing and sun damage to the skin there is drooping and sagging on the upper eyelids and this overhangs and covers the upper eyelid. In more severe cases the skin actually presses onto the eyelashes and obscures some upper vision. Often patients develop a bulge of fat in the upper inner corner of the upper eyelid as well. With the laser blepharoplasty, the excess skin and fat of the upper eyelid is removed leaving a fine scar that is usually not visible along the crease line of the upper eyelid. Occasionally, the scar may be slightly visible for the first few weeks or months deep in the upper lid crease. Usually makeup can be applied lightly to the upper eyelid after a few days.
Laser Eyelid Surgery – Lower Lid
Mostly the lower lid develops a swollen convex appearance with ageing due to the collection of fat in this area. This appearance is often called ‘bags’ under the eyes. This causes a shadow below the eye and makes the patient always appear tired. Once the fat is removed from this region the skin sits better on the underlying structures and the wrinkles are also improved. The Laser eyelid surgery is performed from the inner surface of the lower eyelid so that there are no visible scars on the outside eyelid surface. Erbium laser resurfacing may be performed at the same time as the outer and lower lids for smoother results.
Why consider Eyelid Surgery / Eyelid Rejuvenation?
- When you have bags under your eyes
- When your eyes are drooping
- When people are always saying you look tired – when you are not
- When your vision is obstructed
- When you cannot apply eye lid makeup easily
- When you have a shadow on your lower lid
Advantages of Eyelid Surgery / Eyelid Rejuvenation
The laser beam seals blood vessels as it cuts. As a result, bleeding is generally almost non-existent. Dr Lanzer finds that this improves his results and produces a more rapid and satisfying cosmetic effect.
In rare cases where serious complications have occurred after eyelid surgery, this has been related to bleeding of blood vessels. With Laser Eyelid Surgery this would generally be an extremely rare problem. Also bleeding causes bruising around the eyes and if the blood vessels are sealed as the skin is cut then there is less bruising and the patient may be able to return to their normal duties much more rapidly.
Eyelid Surgery Procedure – Technique
Laser is a form of light that has been altered in order to produce an invisible powerful beam. The laser can be focused to a pinpoint so that it cuts like a scalpel or can be de-focused so that it can remove unwanted surface defects from the skin, working in a vapourising fashion. In eyelid surgery, the laser is used firstly to cut the skin. This produces multiple advantages for cosmetic surgery of the eyelids. The laser is also used to vapourise the fine wrinkles of the skin around the lower eyelids and on the sides of the eyes (Crows feet).
Eyelid Surgery Recovery
Sutures on the upper eyelid are generally removed after 8-10 days. Bruises can be visible for 7-10 days. Makeup can be used immediately after the sutures are removed. Contact lenses can be used after a week. Slight residual swelling may appear for 2-3 weeks. Exposure to the sun (with sun screen) is allowed after 2 weeks.
Commonly asked questions
Most patients elect to be sedated or have a light general anaesthetic in Dr Lanzer’s Day Surgery hospital
The laser procedure takes 30 to 60 minutes.
The procedure is painless when the light general anaesthetic is given to the patient. Usually there is no pain after the procedure.
The surgery is performed in the fully accredited operating theatre in Malvern in conjunction with a specialist anaesthetist.
Ice packs should be used for 24 hours to help reduce the swelling and bruising. (20 mins on and 20 mins off – whilst you are awake).
With all surgery there are risks. Dr Lanzer has performed this procedure since 1994 without any serious complications. The most serious risk with eyelid surgery is redness or damage to the eye itself. This problem is generally uncommon and Dr Lanzer covers the eye with a shield for the entire procedure. As with all surgery, there are risks of bleeding, infection, inflammation and visible scarring. Temporary side effects due to the inflammation associated with the operation include blurred vision, inability to completely open or close ones eye, dryness of the eyes or excessive teary eyes. Rarely a second follow up procedure would be required.
As the risk of swelling and bruising is much lower with laser blepharoplasty most patients can return to work quickly when the lower lid bags are removed. The healing time of the upper lid is generally 10-14 days.
The effects are usually for many years eg 5-10 years.
You will need to take a course of antibiotics to guard against infection and also a course of Prednisolone for swelling. Eye drops or ointments are prescribed for the lower lid procedure.
There are a few very fine self-absorbing sutures used on the upper eyelid which may need to be removed 7 to 10 days after the surgery. These are placed deep along the crease line and are usually not visible together with the scar along the crease line. No stitches are used for the lower lids.
The laser machine is very expensive and the operator needs specialised training in order to be able to use the laser. It is recommended that any surgeon who performs laser surgery around the eyes should have performed at least one hundred laser procedures on the other areas of the body.
The laser Blepharoplasty that Dr Lanzer performs does not usually produce that change. A brow lift is sometimes an alternate procedure that is required if the eyebrow is sagging in this situation the eyes may appear startled and it is something that one should discuss with your surgeon. Some patients need a brow lift as the brow shape is dropping too low.
Dr Lanzer completed a hands on preceptorship with the founders of Laser resurfacing and Laser eyelid blepharoplasty in the USA in 1994.
All photographs represent one person’s experience, and results may vary for each patient. All photographs are of actual patients of Dr Lanzer. The visible change in these photographs has occurred as a result of the procedure/s undertaken. Best results are obtained when the procedure is combined with a balanced diet and exercise.
Some before and after photos shown are not exact, in that they vary in light, contrast, clothing, background, distance from camera, hairstyle and make-up.
“Click here to the before and after photos”
We offer a FREE, No Obligation Cosmetic Surgery Consultation and a detailed explanation of the procedure.
Dr Lanzer can email all patients a detailed consent form which provides information related to the surgery. This information is made available to all patients before surgery, allowing enough time for the patient to ask any questions they may have.
