What is cosmetic surgery?

Cosmetic Eyelid and Facial Plastic Surgery

What is cosmetic eyelid and facial plastic surgery?

Cosmetic eyelid and facial plastic surgery is another term for cosmetic periocular (around the eyes) surgery. It embraces a number of procedures to correct hooded or baggy eyelids and improve the aesthetic appearance of the eyelids and surrounding area of the face, including the eyebrows, forehead and midface. There are also related aesthetic treatments.

What does Cosmetic Surgery include?

The two most common cosmetic surgery operations carried out by Oculoplastic Surgeons are:

  1. Blepharoplasty
  2. Brow lift

The most common aesthetic treatment carried out by Oculoplastic surgeons are:

  1. Botulinum toxin A (formulations include BOTOX® and DYSPORT®)
  2. Filler injections (formulations include Restylane®)

What is blepharoplasty?

This is a surgical procedure to remove excess tissue – skin, muscle and sometimes fat, from the upper and/or lower eyelids. It is often done in conjunction with other treatment such as a brow lift and botulinum toxin. There are cosmetic and functional reasons for blepharoplasty surgery.

What is a brow lift?

This is a surgical procedure to raise the level of the drooping eyebrows and forehead, often done in association with upper eyelid blepharoplasty. The aim is to correct eyebrow ptosis.

There are several different brow lift techniques, endoscopic or non-endoscopic, with or without fixation e.g. Endotine®.

What is Botulinum toxin treatment?

This is injection of botulinum toxin A  into overacting muscles which cause deep activity lines on the face, especially the forehead and around the eyes, such as the vertical frown lones and the smiles lines. Common sites for injection are the glabella lines (vertical frown lines), forehead lines and smile lines aound the eyes (crow’s feet). botulinum toxin A causes reversible inactivation (chemodenervation) of the facial muscle causing these lines. Mulitiple small injections are made which have a peak effect one week after the injection then gradually wear off over three months approximately.

What is a filler?

A filler is an inert synthetic substance such as Restylane ® which is injected into the depressions or tear troughs below the eyes and the lines between the nose and the mouth (nasolabial folds). Fillers can be temporary, semi-permanent or permanent, depending on what material is injected. Restylane is temporary.

The patients’ own fat (autologous Coleman fat) can also be used to fill out depressed areas around the eyelids.

Who should perform cosmetic eyelid and facial plastic surgery and aesthetic treatments?

A number of different surgeons can perform cosmetic eyelid and facial plastic surgery and aesthetic treatments