Eyelid Surgery
Houston, TX
Your eyes have a huge influence on your facial appearance. Aging, sun exposure, and poor lifestyle may result in excess eyelid skin that hangs over or under the eye, adding years to your looks. Eyelid surgery – also known as blepharoplasty – is a cosmetic surgery procedure that removes excess skin from the upper or lower eyelids.
The goal is to rejuvenate your eyes and restore that radiant, youthful person that you are on the inside. Many men and women who receive this procedure look fresher and awakened, which contributes to an enhanced self image and sense of self-confidence.
Eyelid surgery is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), there were more than 211,000 blepharoplasty procedures performed in 2019. This was a 2% increase from the previous year. 95% of patients who had eyelid surgery said that the procedure was worth it. The key for patients is to work with a highly skilled plastic surgeon in order to attain the best possible outcome.
Houston, TX plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Balinger offers blepharoplasty procedures to patients in Houston, Conroe, and surrounding Texas communities. The surgeon understands that your best self is connected to your self-confidence. Working with a team of experienced clinicians, Dr. Christopher goes out of his way to make sure that each patient is comfortable, safe, and happy with their procedure outcome. He uses state of the art equipment and advanced surgical methods to achieve the best result while minimizing the risk of side effects such as scarring.
Who is a Candidate for Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery is a plastic surgery procedure to lift and tighten sagging eyelid skin. The procedure may be done to raise hooded or droopy upper lids, or to remove eyebags and tighten loose skin on the lower eyelids. You may be an ideal candidate for a blepharoplasty if:
- You are in good physical and emotional health
- You have puffy lower eyelids or droopy eyelids
- You have substantial wrinkles or ‘crows feet’ around your eyes
- Your eyes present a ‘hollow’ appearance as a result of deterioration of facial tissue
- You wish to enhance the look of your eyes to attain an awakened and youthful facial appearance
- You have a positive outlook and realistic expectations about the outcome of blepharoplasty plastic surgery
Benefits of eyelid surgery
This procedure offers many unique benefits:
Look better and younger
Increase your confidence
ImproveD field of vision
Look more rested
Achieve better social interactions
Your Initial Blepharoplasty Consultation
During your first eyelid surgery consultation, Dr. Balinger will ask questions and review your medical history to learn more about your health. The surgeon will also examine your eyes and face before moving forward to the next step. This initial consultation – which is offered free of charge at Dr. Balinger’s office – is an opportunity to learn more about what this treatment entails, and what you can expect from the procedure.
Types of Blepharoplasty
Dr. Balinger has a number of eyelid surgery techniques that he can use to suit the patient’s requirements and goals of the surgery.
- Upper eyelid surgery – upper blepharoplasty procedure is performed on the upper lids in order to address excess skin that droops over the eyes. Many patients have this procedure for cosmetic reasons – in order to enhance the appearance of their eyes and entire upper face. However, upper eyelid surgery may also be performed for functional reasons so as to enhance your line of vision. During this procedure, the plastic surgeon will create an incision along the natural folds of the upper lids, then use it to get rid of unwanted drooping tissue. In some cases, fat deposits in this area may be removed or repositioned in order to achieve the desired outcome. The incisions will then be closed and the treatment area gently bandaged.
- Lower eyelid surgery – lower blepharoplasty procedure is designed for patients who need to take care of excess sagging under their eyes. The plastic surgeon creates an incision right below the lower lash. Patients who have great skin elasticity may benefit from a variation of this procedure that is referred to as a transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty. In this procedure, the incision is created inside the lower lid – making sure that the resulting scar is well concealed. The surgeon will remove excess skin, fat, and tissue to achieve the desired cosmetic objective. Once the reshaping is complete, the incisions will be closed and the treatment area will be gently bandaged.
If you have imperfections such as dark circles around your eyes, then the surgeon may also choose to integrate a noninvasive procedure such as dermal fillers in order to achieve a holistic outcome.
Dr. Christopher Balinger is uniquely positioned to recommend the best type of blepharoplasty Houston procedure for you. The surgeon will be happy to discuss the details of your procedure during your consultation visit at his Houston plastic surgery office.
Eyelid surgery vs nonsurgical eye lift
Eyelid surgery is a cosmetic procedure to lift and tighten the upper and/or lower eyelids for aesthetic or functional reasons. This is an invasive treatment that comes with a recovery downtime. For patients who are looking to enhance the appearance of their eyes and face without the drawbacks of surgery, nonsurgical eyelift may be the answer. This entails using treatments such as dermal fillers, BOTOX, and radiofrequency treatments to achieve the desired procedure outcome. While eyelid surgery can be used to alleviate severe drooping, nonsurgical eye lift is designed for addressing mild cosmetic issues. Furthermore, eyelid surgery is a permanent procedure with long lasting results whereas nonsurgical eye lift is a temporary treatment. If you are thinking about noninvasive cosmetic eye treatment, talk to Dr. Balinger about it. THe surgeon will let you know whether this kind of procedure makes sense for you. In some cases, the surgeon may perform eyelid surgery then use non invasive eye lift to refine the outcome of the procedure.
Prepare for Your Eyelid Surgery in Houston TX
Once Dr. Balinger creates a customized treatment plan for you, the surgeon will let you know how to prepare for the surgery. You will be asked to stop taking some medication and herbal supplements that can increase your risk of bleeding. Smoking is also forbidden in the weeks before the surgery because it can increase the risk of complications and impair healing. The surgeon will let you know what to do on the night before the surgery, and what supplies you need to have in place for a smooth recovery.
Your Surgical Experience
Eyelid surgery is an outpatient procedure that is performed at Dr. Balinger’s in-office operating room or an accredited surgical facility. This surgery is usually performed in three steps.
Administer Anesthesia
2
Create Incision
Close Incision
Recovery After Eyelid Surgery
Following blepharoplasty plastic surgery, you will need time to ease down and recover. How long it takes to recover varies from one person to the other based on the extensiveness of the treatment, and the patient’s unique healing ability. In the first few days following this procedure, many patients experience bruising, swelling, and discomfort. You will be required to use cold compresses over the first 24-48 hours. You will also be given pain medication to help alleviate discomfort, as well as antibiotics to prevent infections. Bruising and swelling typically dissipates within a week. You can expect to resume normal activities after about 4 days. Still, you will need to avoid applying makeup for at least a week. The surgeon will also forbid activities that may elevate your heart rate such as heavy lifting, bending over, and vigorous activities. Make sure to adhere to the surgeon’s post-op instructions in order to ensure a speedy recovery. Dr. Balinger’s office is available to answer your questions and provide the support you need throughout the recovery duration.
Plan Your Procedure in Houston TX
Blepharoplasty prices can vary dramatically based on the extensiveness of the procedure. Most of Dr. Balinger’s eyelid surgery patients can however expect to pay between $3,000 and $5,000 for this treatment. Health insurers typically do not pay for cosmetic procedures. However, if you are having eyelid surgery as a medical necessity (for instance, when eyelid drooping is impacting your vision), then your insurer may pay for this procedure. Keep in mind that you will need a vision test as well as meet other eligibility requirements. During your consultation visit with Dr. Balinger, the surgeon will provide more info and generate a cost estimate based on a personalized treatment plan developed for you. The surgeon offers financing options for his patients in Houston, Conroe, and surrounding TX areas.
Meet the Surgeon
Christopher Balinger, MD, brings keen professionalism to the operating table. With each patient, the surgeon creates a highly customized plan to achieve the desired procedure outcome while working to eliminate or minimize the risk of scarring and other side effects. Dr. Balinger is uniquely skilled to perform blepharoplasty procedures and a host of other cosmetic surgeries. He works with a team of highly qualified support staff who are committed to the safety and well being of their patients. If you are looking for the best plastic surgeon in Houston for eyelid surgery, get in touch with Dr. Balinger’s office today.
