Posts Tagged ‘blepharoplasty Charlotte’

Unique Considerations for an Upper Blepharoplasty or Eyelid Lift in Males

Tuesday, October 30th, 2012

The eyes are one of the first areas on the face that begin to show signs of aging.  The eyes are central in our non-verbal communication and tired aged eyes can create a discord on how we feel on the inside (young and energetic) and how we look on the outside (aged and tired).  As a male and as a facial plastic surgeon in Charlotte, I understand that there are unique considerations when performing an upper blepharoplasty or eyelid lift in males.  There are certain characteristics of the eye that create a masculine and a feminine appearance.  As an eye specialist, it is imperative that I keep the masculine appearance of the eye during the rejuvenating procedure in a man.

Lets look at what creates and attractive masculine and feminine upper eyelid.

A male upper eyelid should have a low lid crease 6-8 mm above the eyelashes.  The lid should have some excess skin, some skin crepe and some skin redundancy, but not the excess that forms during the aging process.  The goal during male upper blepharoplasty should be to remove a conservative amount of skin and possibly fat, to create a more refreshed appearance to the eye.

Attractive Young Male Eye 197x300 Unique Considerations for an Upper Blepharoplasty or Eyelid Lift in Males

Young Tom Cruise Attractive Male Eyes. Low lid crease and some excess skin.

A female upper eyelid should have a higher and deeper lid crease 8-10 mm above the eyelashes.  There should be minimal excess redundant or crepy skin.  During a female upper eyelid lift, typically the goal is to make a higher and deeper lid crease.  If this is performed on a man, this can feminize a male face and produce a poor result.

Young attractive female eye 300x240 Unique Considerations for an Upper Blepharoplasty or Eyelid Lift in Males

Young Katie Holmes with Higher Lid Crease with Minimal Excess Skin

Before undergoing an upper eyelift in Charlotte, I thoroughly discuss with all of my patients what their goals are concerning:

1)      The height of their eyelid crease

2)      The depth of their eyelid crease

3)      The possible locations of the incision

4)      The position of their eyebrows

After I understand these goals, I can formulate the best surgical upper blepharoplasty plan to create the most optimal outcomes for my patients undergoing eyelid surgery in Charlotte.

 

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How Does a Charlotte Facial Cosmetic Surgeon Make the Eyes Look Better After an Upper Blepharoplasty (Eyelift)

Monday, August 20th, 2012

The eyes are typically the first area to show signs of aging, but this can be dramatically improved by an upper blepharoplasty (eyelift).  As a Charlotte facial cosmetic surgeon, I have had many patients seeking upper eyelid rejuvenation, but they do not understand what the procedure entails.

I believe the appearance of the eyes are the single greatest factor in how others judge our mood, feelings, and level of consciousness.  People with open, bright, and beautiful eyes are considered energetic, intelligent, and attractive.  As we age, the upper eyelid begins to droop and develops wrinkles and hollowness.   A beautiful upper lid should gently overlap the colored part of the eye and have 3-6 mm of skin showing below the upper lid crease.

Charlotte Beautiful Eye 300x276 How Does a Charlotte Facial Cosmetic Surgeon Make the Eyes Look Better After an Upper Blepharoplasty (Eyelift)

A Beautiful Eye Has 3-6 mm of Skin Before Eye Crease

Picture used from permission from Master Techniques of Blepharoplasty and Periobital Rejuvenation, Springer Science and Business Media PLLC, 2011

 

As we age, the skin begins to sag onto the eyelashes, and we lose the 3-6mm of the skin below the upper lid crease.  The smoothness of the skin above the crease either becomes hallow or fat begins to bulge in this area.  Bulging fat in this area creates fullness over the eye and contributes to upper eyelid bags.

Aging Eye That Need Blepharoplasty in Charlotte How Does a Charlotte Facial Cosmetic Surgeon Make the Eyes Look Better After an Upper Blepharoplasty (Eyelift)

The Aging Upper Lid Loses the Crease of the Upper Lid

Picture used from permission from Master Techniques of Blepharoplasty and Periobital Rejuvenation, Springer Science and Business Media PLLC, 2011

 

During an upper blepharoplasty excess skin and sometimes fat is either removed or moved to a better position.  If the upper eyelid has lost fat, then fat should not be removed.  In this situation, I may move excess fat from a full area to the hallow area.  During an upper eyelid lift different amounts of skin will be removed depending on the patient.  The typical amount and location of skin that is removed is seen in the photo below:

Upper Blepharoplasty incisions Charlotte How Does a Charlotte Facial Cosmetic Surgeon Make the Eyes Look Better After an Upper Blepharoplasty (Eyelift)

Typical Amount of Skin Removed In Upper Eyelid lift

After the skin is removed, the 2 fat pockets, nasal and pre-aponeurotic, and the lacrimal gland, are inspected.  The fat pads are then removed or moved as needed, and the lacrimal gland is re-suspended if it is sagging.  The incisions are then closed with sutures.  Sutures are removed 1 week post surgery and bruising and swelling resolves over 7-14 days.

The outpatient surgery procedure takes about 1 hour to complete and it is a wonderful procedure to bring back youthful and more expressive eyes.   As a facial cosmetic surgeon, I believe an upper eyelift  is one of the best procedures to get my patients looking on the outside how they feel on the inside.

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Thin Skin

Thursday, May 31st, 2012

The skin around the eyes is extremely delicate. Thinner than other areas, such as the cheeks and chin, it is also subject to stretching in various directions when you rub your eyes, wink, smile or carelessly smear on moisturizer. Perhaps its thinness, combined with these daily “assaults,” contributes to the periorbital skin (skin around the eyes) showing signs of aging more quickly than other areas of the face. Wrinkles, crows feet, bags and drooping eyelids are common occurrences as time marches on.

Eyes Need a Lift?

In this day and age it’s actually possible to reverse the signs of aging around your eyes with an eyelift surgery, or blepharoplasty. An eyelift isn’t just one procedure, it’s actually two — upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty — that can be customized for your particular case.

Eyelift Surgery

Generally an upper eyelid blepharoplasty involves correcting drooping eyelids. Incisions are made in the natural eye creases and excess skin is removed. At times, an upper eyelid surgery can be medically necessary. Eyelids that sag so much they obstruct vision are often covered by medical insurance. Your Charlotte eyelift specialist may also recommend a brow lift to better improve your vision.

Lower eyelid blepharoplasty differs slightly. Your Charlotte eyelift surgeon can help fix bags under the eyes by removing the excess fat deposits and repositioning them elsewhere. These deposits might be moved into the cheeks to create a smooth transition between the eyes and the cheekbones. Should you need fat underneath your eyes to improve appearance, it can be taken from another area of the body and deposited in the tear trough or lower eyelid bag.

Eyelift Specialists

If you live in Charlotte, NC, you are in luck. One of the best facial plastic surgeons available is based in your city, and he specializes in rejuvenating the face. Eyelift procedures are part of Dr. Kulbersh’s forte. He spent years studying facial reconstruction surgery among the top plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills. By honing in on one area of the body, Charlotte’s Dr. Kulbersh can perform eyelifts, rhinoplasties and other face-specific surgeries with greater skill than surgeons who don’t specialize.

Men Need Work, Too

Men can also benefit from eyelift surgery, especially if it’s performed by Dr. Kulbersh. His philosophy is to fix droopy eyelids and puffiness without producing a “plastic” result. In his hands, you will appear more youthful without looking like you’ve had surgery.

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Video Blog of Dr. Kulbersh Discussing Insurance Coverage of Blepharoplasty in Charlotte

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012

I am frequently asked if blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) in Charlotte is covered by insurance.  The answer is…  maybe. See video below for the answer:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdckGKpuPNI

 

Enjoy!

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How Old Do You Want to Look?

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

Have you tried everything you can to look younger? Have you changed your diet, colored your hair, bought the latest skin firming cream or gotten a chemical peel? All these things can definitely help gain you a year or two, but you might not get the dramatic results you crave. If you have deep-set wrinkles in your forehead, sagging skin or perpetually puffy under-eyes, a face lift might be worth looking into. In Charlotte’s competitive work atmosphere, it can give you an edge by turning back the clock seven years.

Seven Years is a Long Time

In a new study, published in February 2012, researchers sought to find out just how many years younger people looked after undergoing a face lift. Sixty patients between the ages of 45 and 72 had various forms of facial plastic surgery.  Patients were placed in groups depending on the amount of procedures completed – with group one having the least amount of procedures and group three undergoing the most. Before and after photos were polled by a group of first-year medical students, who gave approximate ages for each picture.

The Award for Youngest Looking Goes to….

The results of the study found that all participants looked younger post-face lift surgery, with the average age approximation being 8.9 years younger than chronological age. The three surgery groups’ results did differ, however. Patients in group three, who had the most procedures done, seemed to reap the greatest benefit, as the judges awarded them with the largest age gap when compared with the other two groups.

Types of Face Lifts

Now that you know a face lift can literally erase seven years of wear and tear on your face, you might wonder what face lift options you have in Charlotte and other cities in the U.S. No two face lifts are alike, states the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, but the goal is typically the same – to look younger without appearing fake or “plastic.” Discussion and evaluation with a cosmetic surgeon is essential; you have to agree on what you want done and what actually can be done during your face lift. Your Charlotte-based surgeon may suggest eyelid surgery to reduce a “droopy-eyed” appearance or he might opt to tighten the skin around your jaw and chin to create a younger looking profile.

Do Your Research

Make sure you check out all the cosmetic surgeons in Charlotte before you get a face lift. Finding the right doctor to work with is important; you wouldn’t trust your face to just anyone. You also need to understand the procedures you’ll have done, and the risks associated with the surgery. Doing it right the first time is important, as botched face lifts are difficult to remedy.

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Ouch, Eyelid Surgery?

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

The eyelids are delicate structures that protect your eye from dirt, debris, sunlight and other potentially harmful substances. They are thin layers of skin with highly tuned, fast muscles that react involuntarily. So thinking about trimming them during an eyelid surgery seems painful! Perhaps, but sometimes a little pain is well worth the results.

The Eyes Are the Windows to the Soul

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, being able to see them clearly is important. Eye contact is a big part of the culture in the U.S., providing people you meet with an indication of your personality and confidence. Unfortunately, as we age our eyelids can droop, becoming weighed down with fatty deposits and wrinkled skin. This phenomenon not only detracts from your appearance, but it can also obstruct your vision. Fortunately, there are corrective procedures that can help improve your range of sight as well as boost your appearance.

Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty, the technical term for eyelid surgery, is performed on the upper and/or lower eyelids. The eyes are one of the first places to show signs of aging, as the muscles and skin lose tone and weaken. Typically these eyelid surgery procedures are performed in Charlotte and elsewhere for aesthetic reasons; however, upper blepharoplasty can also be performed when the upper eyelid impairs vision.

About the Procedure

During upper eyelid surgery, the incision is made in the natural crease of the eye. Your Charlotte-based surgeon will remove excess skin, making your eyelids appear smoother and more open. Lower eyelid surgery is mostly used to reduce puffiness or bags under the eyes. These bags are due to excess fat deposits, which your surgeon in Charlotte will remove. To hide the incision site, your surgeon will place it inside the lower eyelid or under the eyelashes.

Eyelid Surgery Recovery

Because your eyelids will swell, you will not be able to do much during the first few days of recovery after surgery. Make sure you take at least two weeks off from work. Resting, drinking plenty of fluids and keeping your head elevated are essential components to your comfort. Stitches are usually removed five to seven days after surgery, at which point your doctor may clear you to wear make-up or shower. Seventy percent of the swelling is gone after about three weeks, but each case is different. It’s important to listen to your doctor, waiting until you are given the OK to start exercising or doing anything strenuous.

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Innovative Technique for Eye Support in Patients with Facial Paralysis

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

I have a special interest and passion for treating patients diagnosed with facial paralysis. These patients normally have many functional, aesthetic, and emotional concerns.  During my training in Beverly Hills, I worked with a team of facial plastic, oculoplastic (eye plastic surgery specialist), and head and neck surgeons rehabilitating and reconstructing patients at the Facial Paralysis Institute.  During my training, in cooperation with two of my mentors, Dr. Babak Azizzadeh and Dr. Guy Massry, we developed anew minimally invasive technique to help support the lower lid, known as the MIOS procedure.

Patients that have facial paralysis lose all muscle tone in the face.  With the loss of the facial tone, there is a loss of support for the lower lid.  This can cause the lower lid to droop, possibly causing an aesthetic issue and also contributing to eye dryness. (Please see picture on link)

The new procedure uses two incisions, one hidden inside the eyelid and the other in the crease of the upper lid.  After releasing tissue that pulls the eyelid down, the eyelid is pulled up with a suture through the incision in the upper eyelid crease.  This works well on patients that have mild to moderate sagging of the lower lid.  It also has a lower complication rate when compared to other techniques.  I feel so fortunate to have worked and learned innovative techniques from the skilled surgeons in Beverly Hills, and I am glad to be able to offer them to the my patients in the Carolinas.

 

 

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