Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

By removing excess fat, skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids, blepharoplasty can rejuvenate puffy, sagging or tired-looking eyes. It is typically a cosmetic procedure but can also improve vision by lifting droopy eyelids out of the patient's field of vision. Blepharoplasty cannot be used to raise the eyebrows or reduce the appearance of wrinkles, crow's feet or dark circles under the eyes, but the procedure can be combined with others such as a facelift and BOTOX® treatments to achieve these results.

The procedure is usually performed in an office with local anesthesia and lasts 45 minutes to a few hours depending on how much work is done. Incisions are made along the eyelids in inconspicuous places (in the creases of the upper lids, and just below the lashes on the lower lids). The surgeon removes excess tissue through these incisions and then stitches them closed with fine sutures. In the case that no skin needs to be removed, the surgeon will likely perform a transconjunctival blepharoplasty, where the incision is made inside the lower eyelid and there are no visible scars.

Stitches are removed after three or four days and most people return to work in ten. Contact lenses may not be worn for two weeks. Eyes can be sensitive to light and wind and may be slightly irritated for a short while; your surgeon may prescribe eye drops and cool compresses to counteract these discomforts.

» Contact us for more information on Eyelid Surgery

Lip Augmentation

Full and vivacious lips have always been recognized as aesthetically important features. Some of us, however, are born with thin, ill-defined lips, or our lips lose their fullness with age. But the appearance of our lips is now within our control. Fine lines and wrinkles, thin lips and a drooping corner of the mouth are all areas that can be aided with injectable fillers. The market is ever changing, with new products appearing rapidly. Care is individualized to provide a safe and effective treatment option. » Contact us for more information on Lip Augmentation

Earlobe and Prominent Ear Correction (Otoplasty)

Ear surgery typically serves two functions: setting prominent ears back closer to the head, and reducing the size of large ears. Surgery may also be helpful for "lop ear," "cupped ear" and "shell ear," large or stretched earlobes, and lobes with large creases and wrinkles. Surgeons are also able to construct new ears for patients who are missing them from injury or other causes.

Although surgery for adults is available, the operation is most often performed on children aged four to 14 -- ears are almost fully grown by age four, and early surgery can prevent a child from being teased in school.

Otoplasty lasts from two to three hours and may be performed in a hospital, office-based facility or an outpatient surgery center. General anesthesia is recommended for very young patients, while local anesthesia and a sedative are used for older children and adults.

During surgery, a small incision is made behind the ear, revealing the cartilage which is then sculpted, bent into its new position and stitched into place. In some types of otoplasty skin is removed but the cartilage is left in one piece and merely bent back on itself for a smaller-looking ear. A bandage is wrapped around the head to ensure the new positioning. To achieve better balance, both ears may be operated on even if only one has a problem.

Patients of all ages usually feel back to normal after a few hours, although the ears may ache or throb for a few days. Bandages are replaced with a surgical dressing after a few days, and stitches are removed within the week. Adults often return to work in five days and children may return to school in seven. Otoplasty leaves a faint scar on each ear that fades with time.

You should not expect your new ears to match exactly; even normal, natural ears are not identical.

» Contact us for more information on Ear Surgery

back to top