Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty in Austin, TX, With Dr. Yula Indeyeva
Aging inevitably involves changes in the eyelids, forehead, and upper face that can not only make you look older, but also create a perpetually angry or exhausted appearance. Instead of resigning yourself to this process, consider a permanent approach to facial rejuvenation with eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty.
Upper and lower blepharoplasty is an excellent option for men and women looking to rejuvenate their eyelids and upper face. As a highly trained, motivated, and compassionate facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Yula Indeyeva uses advanced techniques to help her patients recapture their youthful expressions and highlight their uniqueness to the world once more.
For more information about brow lifts and blepharoplasties in Austin, TX, we encourage you to contact us online to schedule a consultation with our experienced surgeon today!
Upper Blepharoplasty
Brow Lift or Blepharoplasty – Which is Right for Me?
While patients often get the two procedures confused with one another, these Facial Plastic Surgeries are distinct and correct different issues:
Brow lift in Austin, TX
Skin laxity, gravity effects, and repetitive muscle strain can lead to heavy-appearing, saggy brows and deeply-etched lines and wrinkles across the forehead and between the eyebrows. If not addressed properly, these aging changes add years to a person’s appearance and can also make him/her appear angry or concerned.
Brow lift surgery with Dr. Indeyeva helps to smooth skin and revive the brow line and upper portion of the face. During a brow lift, excess skin is removed via small incisions along the hairline. Loose facial muscles and tissues are also tightened and repositioned, thereby raising furrowed brows and smoothing forehead creases. The result is a more alert, approachable, and youthful appearance.
What Is Blepharoplasty Surgery?
The eyelids are among the first facial features to show signs of aging. Typically, a thin, fibrous membrane holds fat pads back in the eye sockets. However, as this membrane weakens, the fat begins to protrude and become more prominent, leading to the appearance of undereye bags. Sagging upper eyelid skin also occurs, which can be severe enough to hang over the eyelashes and limit your field of vision.
Collectively, the aging process leads to drooping upper and lower eyelids, the development of unwelcome undereye bags, and fine lines along the eyelids.
Blepharoplasty, or eyelid lift, refers to surgical methods designed to rejuvenate the upper and lower eyelids. These approaches can discreetly shave years off your appearance and prevent you from looking permanently exhausted.
- During an upper eyelid lift, Dr. Indeyeva can remove excess skin and restore the eyelid crease for a more youthful and refreshed look. This outpatient surgery involves making tiny, discreet incisions hidden in the natural eyelid creases that will heal nearly invisibly.
- A lower eyelid lift can remove excess skin and fat while tightening the underlying eyelid structure. Lower blepharoplasty surgery is best for patients with sagging lower eyelids or heavy bags below the eyes. Dr. Indeyeva uses a specialized fat transposition technique to carefully redistribute fat in the undereye area, moving it to where it looks best and conserving your natural tissues to avoid a hollowed look.
Drawing upon her expertise as a fellowship-trained surgeon, Dr. Indeyeva may use multiple strategies for your upper or lower eyelid surgery in Austin, TX. You are unique, and you deserve a treatment plan tailored to address your individual needs. Meeting with Dr. Indeyeva for a one-on-one consultation allows you to discuss procedural details and decide on the best approach for you.
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Dr. Yula Indeyeva is a highly trained, Double Board-Certified plastic surgeon in Otolaryngology (Head and Neck Surgery) and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. She is a specialist in surgical and non-surgical rejuvenation methods for the face, head, and neck. With her mastery of everything from dermal fillers to facelifts, Dr. Indeyeva loves guiding her patients along their journey towards a more confident, empowered, and beautiful self.
Combination Brow Lift and Blepharoplasty Treatment in Austin, TX
While an upper and lower eyelid lift can be transformative on their own, they also pair beautifully with other anti-aging procedures in a customized surgical plan. For appropriate candidates, consolidating these procedures allows them to achieve a superior result and undergo one recovery period.
Whether performed on separate dates or in a combined operation, other surgical procedures can also be beneficial to for a full facial rejuvenation. Your Austin blepharoplasty plan may also include:
Patients can also decide to maintain their results with dermal fillers, Dysport, and other non-surgical cosmetic methods.
What To Expect During Blepharoplasty Surgery
An eyelid lift is an outpatient surgery performed while you are under either local or general anesthesia. During your consultation, Dr. Indeyeva will discuss these sedation options and whether you would prefer to undergo your procedure in our office or in a surgical facility.
On the day of your appointment, Dr. Indeyeva will welcome you, review your procedure in detail, and answer any questions, then proceed with surgery once your anesthesia has taken effect.
Your operation’s duration depends largely on your individual anatomy, degree of aging, and surgical technique used. Dr. Indeyeva will provide an accurate estimate at your consultation. However, upper eyelid surgery generally takes 30 to 45 minutes, and lower blepharoplasty takes approximately one hour.
Once you are stable enough to return home, we will provide you with detailed post-operative instructions, including when to return for follow-up appointments. Since you will likely feel a little groggy and tired, we ask that you arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 to 48 hours.
What To Expect During Blepharoplasty Recovery
You may experience some discomfort in the days following your surgery, but our eyelid lift patients typically do not experience significant pain. You may take a shower or bath the day after surgery. Unless you had a resurfacing procedure, you can gently wash your face with cotton balls or your fingertips. Do not be afraid to get the suture lines wet.
Generally, about 80% of swelling and bruising is gone by the two-week mark, and 90% of swelling dissipates after two months. Dr. Indeyeva will remove your sutures after one week, at which time your incisions may appear pink and lumpy. Scarring will continue to improve with time and generally will not be apparent to an average person after two weeks.
While you heal from blepharoplasty, your eyes may become tired and strained more frequently than usual. During recovery, please avoid reading and screen time in favor of activities that allow you to rest quietly with your eyes closed, such as listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks. If you experience discomfort due to dry eye, you can manage it with liquid tears. Patients who wear contact lenses to correct their vision will need to rely on glasses for at least 10 days after eyelid surgery.
Why Choose Dr. Indeyeva for My Blepharoplasty in Austin, TX?
Becoming a facial plastic surgeon requires rigorous training, practice, and devotion. Dr. Indeyeva is a fellowship-trained, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who has worked alongside some of the field’s most respected names.
In addition to her surgical and anatomical expertise, Dr. Indeyeva is also a highly accomplished facial injector who travels around the nation training other providers in the Galderma Aesthetic Injectors Network. She maintains a diverse set of surgical and non-surgical skills to give her patients the look they want.
Above all, Dr. Indeyeva embodies the qualities of compassion, integrity, and professionalism in her practice every day. You can learn more about her training, philosophy, and qualifications here.
Visit Facial Plastic Surgery of Austin
If you think that you can benefit from having eyelid surgery with Facial Plastic Surgery of Austin, your results are within reach! We encourage you to learn more about eyelid surgery in Austin with Dr. Indeyeva, by reading through the FAQs section below or contacting our team today.
Blepharoplasty in Austin, TX FAQs
Surgery cannot correct the dynamic wrinkles that occur with facial expressions such as squinting and smiling. By blocking the nerve signals that allow the underlying muscles to contract, neuromodulators allow these facial expressions to relax.
For deeply etched crow’s feet or frown lines, we frequently recommend skin resurfacing. This treatment takes place in our clinic and requires a healing period of two to three weeks.
A brow lift is the best way to address droopy eyebrows. Most of the time, brow lift and blepharoplasty surgeries are complementary and performed in conjunction for the best results.
Dark circles are typically a result of a combination of factors, aside from bulging fat pads and loose skin. Please see below for additional information about dark circles.
Pouches or bags of the upper and lower lids are generally due to herniations of the fat normally localized within the eye socket. The bulge also casts a shadow over the undereye area, causing it to appear darker.
However, other components are responsible for dark undereye circles. These include:
- Hyperpigmentation of the lower eyelid skin
- Transparent lower eyelid skin, allowing the underlying blood vessels to be visible, which can appear dark purple.
- A bony deficiency called tear trough deformity
All these issues require different approaches, which Dr. Indeyeva will discuss with you after evaluating your skin and facial anatomy.
The skin of the eyelids is extremely delicate and more susceptible to the damage by various environmental aggressors that accelerate aging.
The best time to get an eyelid lift varies from patient to patient, depending on how they experience the aging process. Instead of recommending an ideal age, Dr. Indeyeva believes you are ready to pursue surgery if your outward appearance is at odds with how you feel on the inside. She invites you to come in for a consultation if you are struggling with signs of aging that surgery can correct.
There is no such thing as being “too old” for surgery if you are in good overall health and have no medical complications. Correspondingly, there is no “minimal” age. When the face you see in the mirror does not match the person you feel yourself to be, that may be the time to consider surgical correction.
The length of surgery depends largely on the specific procedures, individual anatomy, and surgical technique used. Dr. Indeyeva will be able to provide a time estimate during the time of your consultation.
The duration of each procedure varies depending on each individual anatomy, concerns, degree of aging changes, and surgical approach used. However, average procedure times can be estimated as follows:
Upper eyelid surgery: 30-45 minutes
Lower eyelid surgery: 1 hour
Brow lift: 1-1.5 hours
Dr. Indeyeva will review your procedure in detail and answer any questions, then proceed with the surgical process. Once surgery is complete, you will be discharged home with post-operative instructions and follow-up appointment.
Before your surgery, Dr. Indeyeva will discuss your sedation options and provide any post-surgery instructions. On the day of your procedure, she will walk you through your procedure, answer any remaining questions, and then proceed with the surgical process. Dr. Indeyeva will discuss your options regarding anesthesia during the initial consultation. The factors in deciding the specific type of anesthesia include your specific concerns, your sense of comfort, and your medical history. The surgery can be performed at our office-based procedure room under oral sedation and local anesthesia only, or in an outpatient surgical facility with conscious sedation or general anesthesia.
The area to be treated (eyelids, forehead) is anesthetized, and incisions are made in appropriate locations. The excess skin and fat are removed and the incision sites are closed with delicate sutures.
Eyelid and brow lift surgery are generally very safe. As with any surgical procedure, risks are inherent, but less likely to occur in the hands of an experienced surgeon. Following all pre-operative and post-operative instructions is imperative in minimizing risk and optimizing the outcome.
Any surgery involves some degree of risks. Among these risks are: reactions to anesthesia or other medical preparations used during and after treatment, infection, poor healing, injuries to muscles, nerves, and other anatomic structures, numbness, swelling, discoloration, distortions, asymmetries, excessive scarring and many others, including those so statistically unlikely as blindness, paralysis or death. Although complications rarely occur, patients are encouraged to inquire further about the risks of the procedure(s) they are contemplating.
You will likely feel a little groggy and tired for the first 24-48 hours after surgery. You may experience some discomfort due to swelling/bruising, but our eyelid/eyebrow lift patients typically do not experience significant pain.
You will not be able to drive yourself home, and will need a driver to take you home after your procedures.
As a rule, eyelid procedures are associated with minor recovery and allow one to return to routine living after a few days using cosmetics and sunglasses. Most patients tell us that there is little or no pain in the postoperative period. Each operation is followed by varying degrees of swelling and/or discoloration, most of which usually subsides within 7-10 days.
You may take a shower or bath the day after surgery. Unless you had a resurfacing procedure, the face may be gently cleansed with cotton balls or with your fingertips. Do not be afraid to get the suture lines wet. If you had skin resurfacing, follow the instructions referable to those procedures.
As a rule, eyelid procedures are associated with minor recovery and allow one to return to routine living after a few days using cosmetics and sunglasses. If your work requires you to perform strenuous activity, heavy lifting, or bending over, we will ask that you avoid these activities for 7-10 days after your eyelid/brow surgery.
Regular exercise can be resumed gradually starting at 10 days after blepharoplasty/browlift surgery. Strenuous athletic activity (swimming, diving, skiing, etc) should be avoided for at least one (1) month after surgery.
Do not put your contact lenses in for at least ten (10) days after surgery.
Eye shadow and false eyelashes/eyelash extensions should not be applied until at least ten (10) days after surgery.
Initial bruising and swelling usually dissipate within two weeks of your surgery. While you will look younger right away, you will continue to show subtle refinement for a significant period of time. Therefore, it is important to not evaluate the results of your surgery too soon. Closely following post-surgery instructions and medical grade skincare regimen can help ensure an optimized result and healthy healing process.
After an upper or lower blepharoplasty, you should always look younger than your peers who have not had surgery. Though this procedure removes excess skin and redistributes fatty tissues, nothing can stop the natural aging process, and the resulting changes will continue to accumulate, depending on factors like genetics and lifestyle. On average, eyelid surgery can last up to a decade years before aging catches up.
The alterations Dr. Indeyeva recommend to your eyelids and brows will be determined by many factors, including face shape, natural eye shape, and configuration of other facial features. All in all, we strive to retain your unique features and achieve a natural looking result rather than one which appears to have been operated upon.
Most people exhibit slight asymmetry in the face, so that one side does not look exactly like the other. This may manifest in one eyebrow being naturally higher than the other, or more skin accumulating on one eyelid than the other. Eyelid and brow lift surgery are very effective at improving symmetry. In some cases where asymmetry was very obvious before the surgery, one can expect some asymmetry to be present after the operation.
Although Dr. Indeyeva makes every effort to minimize bruising and swelling, you should expect both to occur after your surgery. The degree of bruising/swelling varies from person to person, and is not always easily predictable. Both the swelling and discoloration generally reach their peak on the 2nd-4th post-op day, and typically resolve within 2 weeks. When cold compresses are applied continuously throughout the first post-operative night patients generally have reduced amounts of swelling and discoloration.
In the upper eyelid, the incision is placed into the eyelid crease.
The lower lid procedure is performed by making an incision in the skin below the lower lashes at a level determined by Dr. Indeyeva and elevating the skin so that the fatty pouches or can be identified. Once fat is removed, the excess skin is trimmed. Small delicate absorbable sutures are used to close the lower lid incisions.
In some patients the fatty bulges in the lower lid can be removed without making an incision in the skin. The incision is made inside of the lower lid, thereby eliminating a skin incision. It is not possible to remove loose skin or sagging wrinkles when this method is used, but skin resurfacing (laser, peeling or dermabrasion) can be performed at the same time in order to minimize many of the fine wrinkles.
Regardless of the approach, all incisions are made in a way to optimize concealment. When the incisions are closed meticulously and precisely, they should not be visible after healing is complete.
Having a history of scars does not necessarily guarantee that you will experience them again, depending on the cause of the scar. Dr. Indeyeva will review your complete medical/surgical/family history and determine whether you are at increased risk for scar formation.
In general, Dr. Indeyeva makes all incisions to optimize concealment. For most patients, the resulting scars should be virtually invisible.
Yes, but most of the time, it is in patients’ best interest to undergo rejuvenating surgery on both eyes. Due to asymmetry, one of your eyelids may require more extensive skin removal than the other. Dr. Indeyeva will assess your skin elasticity during your in-person consultation, and will take it into account when developing your tailored surgical plan.
Initial bruising and swelling usually dissipate within two weeks of your surgery, and an average person should not be able to tell you had surgery. While you will look younger right away, you will continue to show subtle refinement for a significant period of time, for up to 1 year after surgery.
Eyelid surgery may make dry eyes worse in the first few weeks after surgery. Please advise us of any history of eye diseases or history of visual problems so that we may have them evaluated. We recommend you have an eye examination prior to eyelid surgery. Ask your eye doctor to send us a report of his findings. We can help you obtain an appointment if you should have a problem.
Yes. History of PRK or LASIK surgery is not a contraindication to eyelid surgery. However, we do recommend that you have an eye examination prior to eyelid surgery and ask your eye doctor to send us a report of his/her findings.
There are no dietary restrictions before eyelid lift/brow lift surgery, except to avoid any supplements that may have a blood-thinning effect, such as garlic, green tea, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, vitamin E, fish oil, among others. You will receive a complete list of supplements/medications to avoid prior to your surgery.
Although there are no restrictions, we typically recommend a bland diet in the first 24 hours after surgery to minimize risk of anesthesia-related nausea.
Festoons are swollen, puffy areas that develop beneath the lower lid and over the cheekbones. These are different from eyelid bags, thought to be caused by uncontrolled fluid accumulation in the tissues. In essence, they are “bags of water” combined with muscle and skin laxity. Direct excision may remove these unwanted tissues if they become overly large. Dr. Indeyeva meticulously hides the resulting scar in a natural skin line along the interface of the lower eyelid and cheek. Though it may be imperceptible, it may require dermabrasion at some point.
Yes. Patients who have extreme amounts of overhanging upper eyelid skin may have obstructed vision as a result. In addition, extreme laxity of the lower eyelid may cause it to pull away from the eye, causing chronic tearing and dry eye. Blepharoplasty surgery can improve these conditions.
We typically prescribe post-operative antibiotics, pain medication, and stool softners, and anti-nausea medications as part of your post-operative course, but specific medications vary from patient to patient.
