What is Lower Blepharoplasty?
Lower blepharoplasty is the rejuvenation of the lower eyelids. Common complaints of lower eyelid aging include “bagginess” or “puffiness” of the lower eyelids, loose skin, lower eyelid laxity, dark circles and wrinkles. Improvement of these changes involves a combination of procedures which should result in a natural-looking lower eyelid, without the stigmata of surgery.
There is no one surgical technique that is used to reverse the aging changes because of the variations seen with age, sex, degree of laxity, degree of puffiness, fluid collection, pigmentation, bulges and grooves, wrinkles, scleral show and other factors!
Lower blepharoplasty is there for an amalgam of several different procedures, used in combination to give the ideal result.
Even though we have come a long way since the first ever photographically recorded case of lower eyelid blepharoplasty (performed in France), we have to admire the overall result, albeit with some residual problems
the first lower blepharoplasty in history : The French were first!
"Real Self Review
"The most beautiful upper and lower blepharoplasty by Dr. Bhupendra Patel: thank you!
Bhupendra C.K. Patel, MD, Salt Lake City, UT
Beautiful upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty: I couldn't afford to also get my brows lifted but Dr. Bhupendra Patel MD operated upon my upper and lower eyelids and transferred some fat into my frown lines and even my brows look better! People now take a double take when I tell them I am 75 years old! My eyes look like those of someone much younger! I wish I could have Dr. Patel perform a facelift on me but maybe next!! Right now, I am very happy with my upper and lower blepharoplasty results. I look very good and feel happy and confident. Happy, happy, happy.
Overall rating *****
Am I a Candidate for Lower Blepharoplasty?
Cosmetic lower blepharoplasty is performed when the patient is bothered by the appearance of the lower eyelids. Dr. Patel will examine you to ensure that the procedure may be performed safely. We see many patients for second, third and fourth opinions because of complications after blepharoplasty: we endeavor to ensure that our patients do not get any untoward results. Not all patients are suitable candidates for lower blepharoplasty.
In men, the lower blepharoplasty must improve the bags and the deep grooves, as well as lighten dar circles and firm up lax eyelids: requires careful attention to detail
"Well, the last time I had a picture taken I could hardly see my eyes because of the weight of heavy eyelid. Then I paid attention to how I was actually using my eyes and I really noticed when I was looking at anything especially the computer I was straining my forehead to see better. Since I have had it done I no longer have to lift the forehead and tilt my head to see. It is amazing! I love..." D. Rock 63 Yrs Old with Fat Droopy Eyes - Salt Lake City, UT
How will I be Assessed?
Without making it too complicated, it is important that the surgeon assesses all the factors that may affect the outcome of lower eyelid blepharoplasty and chosen techniques. Dr. Patel has designed a number of modifications to lower eyelid blepharoplasty (including the “Hammock Lift”) which give patients the very best results. It is my belief that cosmetic lower blepharoplasty is the most difficult and exacting of all cosmetic procedures.
What other Procedures May be Performed with Lower Blepharoplasty?
Patients may benefit from attention to upper eyelids (upper blepharoplasty), forehead and brow lifts, cheek lifts, face and neck lifts, fat injections, laser resurfacing and other facial and neck procedures. Please do not hesitate to ask us questions about any other aspects that may bother you. We always remind all our patients: no one NEEDS cosmetic surgery. But if you decide you would like to see an improvement in any aspect of the face, we will pay close and careful attention to ensure only appropriate and safe procedures are performed.
In the presence of a deep groove and ptosis of the cheek, it is unwise to perform just a lower blepharoplasty: your results will be ho-hum! In such instances, a midface elevation with fat transfer combined with a lower blepharoplasty gives the best result. If this applies to your anatomy, it is important to identify the factors before undergoing surgery!
An technique designed by Dr. Patel, called the “Hammock Lift” takes into account the aging of the lower eyelids, the midfacial tisues and the lower facial tissues and without performing a facelift, results far superior to just lower blepharoplasty:
We designed the "Hammock Lift" to improve the top two-thirds of the face: the brows, the upper eyelids, the lower eyelids and cheeks. This only leaves the lower facelift and necklift to be performed later to give a total facial rejuvenation. The Hammock lift gives amazing three-dimensional results with proportionate improvement of the face.
The beauty of the "Hammock Lift" is that a total three-dimensional improvement is seen in the top two-thirds of the face with a more youthful and vibrant face. The tired and aged look is gone. The results are such that most people cannot see any scars and the face just looks youthful
This lady, for example, wanted to look less tired with an endoscopic brow lift and upper and lower blepharoplasty, which worked very well.
But she also wanted to look more youthful over the rest of her face: specifically, she wanted to "get rid of my jowls and my old-lady neck!" And an improvement in her lip lines and cheeks. So we performed a lower facelift and necklift, lifted her lips, improved her lip lines, did fat grafts into her cheeks (and lips and other places), and improved the texture of her skin with lasers. A nice, youthful look was the outcome...
"My Hammock Lift is exactly what I needed, but did not know!! Dr. Patel explained to me how the Hammock Lift improves the upper two-thirds of the face, including brows, upper lids, forehead, lower lids and cheeks. I also got an improvement along my jawline which I am thrilled with as I plan on having a lower face and necklift later but this already gets me a great improvement. I have sent my two sisters to him! Brilliant surgeon. Cannot speak highly enough about him and his team. " J. Stevenson "Top marks"- Park City, UT
What kind of results can I expect after a Lower Blepharoplasty?
Lower blepharoplasties are difficult to perform invisibly, but especially so in men: we pay special attention to the analysis and performance of the procedures to give "invisible" results
Most patients will request a lower blepharoplasty because they “look tired”. To that end, beautifully performed lower blepharoplasty will remove that emotion when looking in a mirror! It is important to perform the surgery with subtlety abut accuracy: this way, the typical “operated look” of lower eyelid retraction, ectropion in more severe cases, and show of the white of the eye inferiorly can be prevented.
"I had a excellent eye lift done by Dr. Patel. He knows what he is doing and is very pleasant. Dr.Patel was easy to get an appointment and he works with you. The office staff was very pleasant and made you feel calm." D. Gull Highly recommended for eye lift surgery - Salt Lake City, UT
Aging lower eyelids come in many forms: they don't just have bags. Dark circles, grooves, laxity, wrinkles, crows' feet, etc have to be assessed and addressed
In other patients, dark circles are combined with loose lower eyelid skin and wrinkles and only a little fat. Here, repositioning fat, use of lasers, tightening of muscles and judicious peeling of the skin is needed to give beautiful results
It is common to perform upper and lower blepharoplasty together, sometimes with browlifts to allow us to create a three-dimensional improvement in the middle part of the face
"I had a excellent eye lift done by Dr. Patel. He knows what he is doing and is very pleasant. Dr.Patel was easy to get an appointment and he works with you. The office staff was very pleasant and made you feel calm." D. Gull Highly recommended for eye lift surgery - Salt Lake City, UT