|  | | | | Patient Number 1: Blepharoplasty | | Actual Patient -- Results vary from patient to patient | | | Age: 38 | | This 38 year-old woman had already had a browlift for very low-set eyebrows approximately 10 years prior, but presented to discuss upper-lid lifting as well. In particular she was bothered by the heavy, closed-lid appearance, which also made her look more chronically tired that she felt inside. She also had an element of residual lateral hooding (likely due to some recurrent descent of the brow several years after having had the brow lift), which was also amenable to improvement via an upper blepharoplasty.
The patient indeed underwent a formal upper blepharoplasty (as well as a concomitant breast augmentation) under light general anesthesia as an outpatient. The incisions were carried out beyond the eyelid a small degree to take in the element of hooding laterally. She healed very quickly, with bruising apparent for less than one week, and was thrilled to again see the natural-appearing upper lid crease (in which the incision heals almost imperceptibly), which “opened up” her eyes appreciably. Her photos, from only six weeks post-operatively, reflect this significant facial rejuvenation, achieved in only an hour. | | Photos taken: 6 weeks after surgery | | | Email Dr. Steinwald |
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| | | | | Patient Number 2: Blepharoplasty | | Actual Patient -- Results vary from patient to patient | | | Age: 48 | | This 48 year-old woman was interested in upper facial rejuvenation. In particular, she was bothered by the circles under her eyes which were especially obvious in the mornings, and getting more prominent with age. She also mentioned the heaviness of her brow, creating and upper eyelid “hooding” effect, and the appearance of being either chronically tired or angry. I advised the patient that she was an excellent candidate for an upper and lower eyelid lift, to address her moderate skin redundancy, moreso on the upper than lower lid (which is normal), and fatty fullness, especially on the lower lids, which was responsible for the “bags” of the lower lids. I advised the patient that she indeed had a somewhat ptotic, or drooping/descended brow, with a moderate amount of asymmetry, characterized by her somewhat lower right eyebrow. I therefore recommended a subcutaneous browlift (without the use of endoscopes), utilizing bilateral incisions at at the hairline, which generally leads to less swelling/bruising/numbness. She also underwent an upper and lower blepharoplasty to address the redundant skin and fattiness of the lids.
This indeed was performed under light general anesthesia as an outpatient, and the patient did very well post-operatively. She also took Arnica Montana, an herbal supplement, to minimize bruising, which worked quite nicely, and she was back to nearly full activities soon after having her sutures out at days 5-7. The patient’s photos are from approximately 6 weeks post-op (some minor swelling remains; she relocated elsewhere thereafter), but her lid and brow positions were already excellent. If you have noticed that your eyebrows are just above or at the bony prominence (considered relatively normal in a male, but descended in a female), and you have lost the relatively youthful arch of your brow (or have noticed deepening furrows in general, and are not interested in serial BOTOX injections), you are probably a candidate, like many others living a stressful life in and around Chicago, for a browlift. | | Photos taken: 6 weeks after surgery | | | Email Dr. Steinwald |
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| | | | | Patient Number 3: Blepharoplasty | | Actual Patient -- Results vary from patient to patient | | | Age: 55 | | 55 year-old woman who was displeased with the indistinct/"hooding" effect of her bilateral upper eyelids. Although I pointed out that her mildly malpositioned brow was partially responsible for this, I also felt that she would greatly benefit from a simple upper blepharoplasty, which I believed would correct 80-90% of her problem, and leave her with a much more "refreshed" look.
This indeed was performed in the Lake Forest Hospital Minor Surgery Suite under local anesthesia only (although more often we will also provide "conscious sedation" via an IV). She recovered very quickly, and was pleased with the more "open" look of her eyes, and the nearly imperceptible scars (photographs are from approximately 6 months post-op). | | Photos taken: 6 months after surgery | | | Email Dr. Steinwald |
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| | | | | Patient Number 4: Blepharoplasty | | Actual Patient -- Results vary from patient to patient | | | Age: 38 | | This 38 year-old woman who had undergone left breast reconstruction a year earlier was to come in for a balancing lift, and since she was otherwise doing well, she asked about adding an upper and lower blepharoplasty to this procedure. As it would add only one-1.5 hours to the case (as well as save her a significant amount of money, I agreed that the idea was reasonable. Specifically, she wished to have better definition of her upper lids, and wanted to address the lower lid excess, and herniated fattiness as well.
This indeed was performed immediately after her balancing mastopexy, and a fair amount of fat was either removed or repositioned in each of her eyelids (along with skin removal, mostly on the upper lids). The patient healed very quickly, and had a very nice rejuvenation effect (here pictured at approximately one month post-op). | | Photos taken: 1 month after surgery | | | Email Dr. Steinwald |
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| | | | | Patient Number 5: Blepharoplasty | | Actual Patient -- Results vary from patient to patient | | | Age: 60s | | This is a woman in her 60's who was tired of the "heavy" feeling of her upper eyelids (as well as the fact that she was told she "looked tired" more often than not). She had no other eyelid issues dysfunction or visual issues.
I advised a straightforward upper blepharoplasty (eyelid lift), during which a fair amount of upper eyelid skin was excised, and closed along her upper eyelid crease (which is visible as much better upper definition of the upper lid, especially on profile view; photographs are from approximately 3 months post-op). After this procedure, she also found that she wasn't raising her brow (activating her frontalis muscles) as much, and therefore her forehead wrinkling improved secondarily. | | Photos taken: 3 months after surgery | | | Email Dr. Steinwald |
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