02 Mar Why You Should Choose an Eye Specialist for Eyelid Surgery and Brow Lifts
When you start thinking about a browlift or eyelid surgery, it’s common to start Googling “plastic surgeon,” but did you know there are a lot of different types of cosmetic surgeons? At Oasis Eye Face and Skin, Dr. Schiedler is a board-certified oculofacial plastic surgeon and eye specialist who attended the top programs in the country. Fluent in English and Spanish, she has dedicated her career specifically to treating the oculofacial area which includes the eyes, eye sockets, and tear ducts. Both eyelid lifts and brow lifts target these areas, and you deserve to have only the best expert in this region taking care of you.
When most people think “plastic surgery,” they don’t necessarily think of the eyes first. However, this area is often the first to show signs of aging. The thin, delicate skin around the eye is highly mobile and prone to wrinkles, lines, sagging, and droopiness. In some cases, sagging of the upper eyelid area can be so severe that it interferes with your vision. This is a medical condition called ptosis, and if you’re diagnosed with ptosis then your insurance policy might cover the upper eyelid surgery.
What Exactly Does an Oculofacial Plastic Surgeon Do?
All plastic surgeons begin their surgical career with a specialty. General plastic surgeons start their career with medical training in “general plastics.” Their training, residency, and fellowships often only touch very lightly (if at all) on oculofacial plastic surgery. However, an eye specialist like Dr. Schiedler has a strong background specifically in this one critically important area. These surgeons have undergone advanced training so that they can offer patients safe, effective, and natural-looking results for eyelid lifts and brow lifts.
There are fantastic benefits for working with a surgeon who opted for a narrow focus. Not only do they have expert-level understanding of the anatomy, but they understand how the eye area is affected from a more holistic point of view. If you’re thinking about an eyelid lift or brow lift, you’ll achieve the best results and experience when you choose an oculofacial plastic surgeon for this procedure.
Understanding Blepharoplasty
The technical term for an eyelid lift is blepharoplasty, and you can get an upper blepharoplasty, lower blepharoplasty, or both. Only upper blepharoplasty may be covered by insurance, and only if you are diagnosed with eye ptosis. Upper eyelid surgery involves the removal of excess skin and sometimes fat from the upper eyelid area. The incisions are tiny and hidden in the eye’s natural crease. Most patients are completely back to their daily activities within two weeks after the procedure. However, it’s important to give your eyes plenty of rest during this period and avoid looking at screens or reading books. Lubrication is critical for healing, and it’s easy to dry out your eyes if you’re focused on emails or scrolling through your phone.
Lower blepharoplasty is always cosmetic. Like upper eyelid surgery, it involves the removal of skin and sometimes other tissues. Incisions in this area are even easier to hide, often along the lashline or sometimes inside the eyelid. However, bear in mind that lower eyelid surgery strictly removes bags, lines, and wrinkles. Lost volume and dark circles are a common concern among patients, and sometimes a dermal filler is recommended to optimize the results of a lower blepharoplasty.
Brow Lift Basics
There are three primary types of brow lifts including a temporal, endoscopic, and coronal. Both temporal and endoscopic brow lifts are minimally invasive. A temporal brow lift requires tiny incisions in the temple region, often hidden inside the hairline. This type of lift only affects the outer half of the brow region, which is prone to weakened muscles as we get older. An endoscopic brow lifts requires tiny incisions in the hairline from ear to ear. Very little skin, if any, is removed with this procedure and instead forehead skin is repositioned for a more natural lifted appearance.
A coronal brow lift is the most aggressive and invasive. It calls for a long, single incision along the crown of the head from ear to ear. Skin is removed from the scalp area and the hairline, forehead, and brows are lifted. A modified coronal brow lift uses a wavy incision that’s easier to hide in the hair.
You can learn more about eyelid lifts, brow lifts, and other procedures that oculofacial plastic surgeons specialize in by scheduling a consultation. Call Dr. Schiedler at Oasis Eye Face and Skin today at (541) 708-6393.