Many of you have been asking questions in the office regarding less invasive ways to look more rested and rejuvenated. The most frequent questions I get are about fillers and Botox, both of which are injectible medicines used for smoothing lines and creases around the face.
Botox is a chemical that relaxes the muscles around the face and minimizes the lines that form from repeated contraction of the muscles with movement. The effects usually take place in about 24 hours and last approximately 3 months. The treatment areas can be tailored to each individual and customized for your particular needs.
Dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm are used to fill deeper creases that are caused by loss of tissue and hollowing of the soft tissues that occurs over time with aging. The most frequent areas of treatment are to smooth out under eyelid bags and to fill in deep creases between the brows or around the mouth.
Juvederm Ultra XC and Juvederm Ultra Plus XC are new product now available from Allergan. These products were developed to minimize pain and bruising with administration of injectable fillers. They have the same naturally derived substance used for filling wrinkles and deflated areas of the face as original Juvederm or Restylane, but also have a numbing medication mixed in to optimize comfort. The injections can be done in the office with minimum down-time and the effects last anywhere from 6 months to a year depending on the placement location and amount.
If you are interested in getting more information about either Botox or dermal fillers, you should seek the advice of a professional. Oculoplastic surgeons have extensive experience with these treatments, and particularly their use around the eyes. More information can be found on our website at www.eyelidocs.com.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Spotlight on Eyelid Skin Cancers
As we are now hitting the hottest part of the summer, it's a good time to talk about eye protection from the sun. You might already be aware that the ultraviolet rays from the sun can cause enough damage to your skin to cause cancer, but did you know that skin cancers can develop on and around your eyes too?
About 15%-20% of skin lesions around the eyes and on the lids are actually some type of skin cancer, and most of these are caused in part by prolonged sun exposure. These lesions can take many shapes and sizes and are often difficult to distinguish from benign lesions unless a biopsy is performed.
The good news about eyelid skin cancers is that the vast majority of them are curable by excision alone, especially when they are identified early. The tissues around the eye are very delicate, though, and the excision and repair of the eyelid can be tricky. Oculoplastic surgeons are uniquely qualified and trained to both remove the lesions and repair the eyelid, even in very complicated cases, because eyelid surgery is the major focus of their training.
Because eyelid skin cancers can often be small and very difficult to identify without special equipment, you should have any new eyelid bump that does not go away looked at by a trained ophthalmologist or oculoplastic surgeon.
In the mean time, always wear sunscreen and sunglasses with ultraviolet light protection to minimize the damage to your skin. Have a great summer!
About 15%-20% of skin lesions around the eyes and on the lids are actually some type of skin cancer, and most of these are caused in part by prolonged sun exposure. These lesions can take many shapes and sizes and are often difficult to distinguish from benign lesions unless a biopsy is performed.
The good news about eyelid skin cancers is that the vast majority of them are curable by excision alone, especially when they are identified early. The tissues around the eye are very delicate, though, and the excision and repair of the eyelid can be tricky. Oculoplastic surgeons are uniquely qualified and trained to both remove the lesions and repair the eyelid, even in very complicated cases, because eyelid surgery is the major focus of their training.
Because eyelid skin cancers can often be small and very difficult to identify without special equipment, you should have any new eyelid bump that does not go away looked at by a trained ophthalmologist or oculoplastic surgeon.
In the mean time, always wear sunscreen and sunglasses with ultraviolet light protection to minimize the damage to your skin. Have a great summer!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery) 101
Blepharoplasty is the technical term for eyelid surgery performed to remove excess skin and/or fat from the eyelids either for aesthetic reasons, or to improve vision.
The surgery is almost always an outpatient procedure. It can be performed under local anesthetic in the office setting, or with light sedation at a surgery center. Small incisions are made usually in the naturally occurring eyelid crease (to camouflage the scar), and tissue is carefully removed according to each patient's individual needs. Sutures are placed to close the incision. Recovery from sedation is generally quick (approximately 30 minutes, depending on the patient), and patients return home without patches or heavy dressings on the eye. Most patients have minimal discomfort in the recovery phase, other than mild scratchy or irritated feeling in the eyes. Any bruising and swelling is minimized by frequent use of ice packs in the first 72 hours. For a typical patient, the substantial portion of bruising and swelling is resolved by approximately 1-2 weeks.
Eyelid muscle drooping (ptosis) or excess folding of the skin (dermatochalasis) can be caused by many things. Most commonly, with aging, skin and soft tissues lose their elasticity and volume, leading to the appearance of excess or drooping skin and/or muscles around the eye. In severe cases, this drooping or excess skin can block the vision by obscuring the superior visual field. In this instance, most insurance companies consider surgical repair by blepharoplasty or ptosis repair to be a medical necessity.
From an aesthetic standpoint, it is important to recognize that a youthful appearing eye is full rather than hollow. You may have seen people who have unfortunately had overly aggressive removal of fat and skin from their eyelids. This creates a skeletonized appearance to the eyes, leaving a much more aged appearance than the original dermatochalasis. In severe cases of excessive skin removal, patients can actually have difficulty closing their eyes, which is a potentially vision threatening problem.
The assessment of medical necessity for eyelid surgery requires specialized testing and evaluation by a qualified physician. Oculoplastic surgeons are specialists in eyelid surgery and can evaluate your particular case with relevant testing. These physicians are also uniquely qualified to perform your eyelid surgery (whether it be for medical or cosmetic reasons), since this is a primary focus of their training.
The surgery is almost always an outpatient procedure. It can be performed under local anesthetic in the office setting, or with light sedation at a surgery center. Small incisions are made usually in the naturally occurring eyelid crease (to camouflage the scar), and tissue is carefully removed according to each patient's individual needs. Sutures are placed to close the incision. Recovery from sedation is generally quick (approximately 30 minutes, depending on the patient), and patients return home without patches or heavy dressings on the eye. Most patients have minimal discomfort in the recovery phase, other than mild scratchy or irritated feeling in the eyes. Any bruising and swelling is minimized by frequent use of ice packs in the first 72 hours. For a typical patient, the substantial portion of bruising and swelling is resolved by approximately 1-2 weeks.
Eyelid muscle drooping (ptosis) or excess folding of the skin (dermatochalasis) can be caused by many things. Most commonly, with aging, skin and soft tissues lose their elasticity and volume, leading to the appearance of excess or drooping skin and/or muscles around the eye. In severe cases, this drooping or excess skin can block the vision by obscuring the superior visual field. In this instance, most insurance companies consider surgical repair by blepharoplasty or ptosis repair to be a medical necessity.
From an aesthetic standpoint, it is important to recognize that a youthful appearing eye is full rather than hollow. You may have seen people who have unfortunately had overly aggressive removal of fat and skin from their eyelids. This creates a skeletonized appearance to the eyes, leaving a much more aged appearance than the original dermatochalasis. In severe cases of excessive skin removal, patients can actually have difficulty closing their eyes, which is a potentially vision threatening problem.
The assessment of medical necessity for eyelid surgery requires specialized testing and evaluation by a qualified physician. Oculoplastic surgeons are specialists in eyelid surgery and can evaluate your particular case with relevant testing. These physicians are also uniquely qualified to perform your eyelid surgery (whether it be for medical or cosmetic reasons), since this is a primary focus of their training.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
What is an Oculoplastic Surgeon?
Oculoplastic Surgery is a subspecialty of ophthalmology accredited by the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (www.asoprs.org). After undergoing rigorous training in both eye surgery and plastic surgery (an average of 6 years post medical school) these surgeons focus primarily on problems of the eyelid, orbit, and tear ducts. This includes cosmetic or restorative surgery to correct drooping eyelids or brows (blepharoplasty or brow lift) as well as mid- and lower facial aging. They also treat orbital tumors, thyroid eye disease, lacrimal (tearing) problems, and perform reconstruction after trauma or skin cancer treatment. Non-surgical areas of expertise also include, Botox, fillers (such as Restylane or Juvederm), and skin treatments (such as chemical peels or laser treatments).
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