Lower eyelid surgery (lower lid blepharoplasty) is not always the best recommendation for patients with complaints of dark circles, puffy eyelids, or tired look. In many cases, a lower lid tightening procedure may benefit a patient over skin removal surgery.
What is the difference between lower eyelid surgery and lower lid tightening?
A traditional lower lid blepharoplasty is accomplished by removing fat and or skin from the lower eyelid trough area. In some cases, this can lead to a sunken in look, leaving patients with a less desirable appearance than before. A lower eyelid tightening procedure allows the physician to recontour the tear trough area by repositioning fat and/or tightening the skin through a suturing technique to bring more balance from the eyelid to the upper cheek. This subtle procedure can lead to a more natural appearance of the lower eyelid, without removing any skin or fat.
The risks and side effects of lower lid tightening procedures are similar to those of a lower lid blepharoplasty and include but are not limited to: double vision; unexpected results, lid margin complications requiring further surgery, chronic tearing, chronic dry eye. A well trained Oculoplastic Surgeon understands these risks, and focuses on limiting the chance of risk and adverse effects.