Laser Blepharoplasty: The Advanced Technique to a Classic Procedure

“The eyes are the window to your soul,” one of our timeless classics believed. Whether it’s true or not, the eyes are a trademark of beauty, and they deserve to be visible. Unfortunately, through natural aging and factors such as sunlight and gravity, the anatomy of our eyelids begins to change.   

Over the past decades, cosmetic eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty has been the go-to procedure for patients who want to rejuvenate their periorbital area (i.e., the area surrounding the eyes). Through this procedure, plastic surgeons can remove excess skin and fatty tissue in the upper and lower eyelids for a refreshed, younger, awakened look. Apart from the aesthetic benefits, patients choose blepharoplasty when dealing with sagging upper eyelids that impair their eyesight. 

For many years, patients could only opt for the surgical version of the procedure, called traditional blepharoplasty. However, as the world of facial rejuvenation is evolving continuously, a new, more advanced technique is making a name for itself on the market – the laser blepharoplasty! Today, we’re going to talk about the differences between the two techniques and how a laser blepharoplasty, with its superior benefits, can help you achieve your aesthetic goals.  

What’s Involved in a Traditional Blepharoplasty?

The traditional blepharoplasty technique involves using a scalpel, through which the plastic surgeon makes incisions and removes unwanted tissue. It is a straightforward technique – the plastic surgeon can perform the procedure and apply stitches to the incisions in less than an hour.

The Transition to the Laser Blepharoplasty

Despite its effectiveness, researchers have been looking for ways to reduce surgical blepharoplasties’ side effects and risks, such as bleeding and swelling. They were looking for a more versatile technique, one that could play the parts of both a cutting tool and a cautery device.

The result of this search was laser blepharoplasty. This in-office procedure harnesses laser energy to correct any deformities and improve the aesthetic appearance of the periorbital area for an enhanced, rejuvenated look. As we’ve seen earlier, patients undergo this procedure for cosmetic and medical reasons (e.g., removing visual impairments). During the procedure, the laser works as a cutting tool to remove unwanted tissue and as a cautery device to seal blood vessels and prevent substantial bruising.

Now that we are acquainted with the laser blepharoplasty technique, let’s look at how plastic surgeons perform this procedure in each of the eyelids.

Upper-Eyelid Laser Blepharoplasty

As a rule of thumb, upper-eyelid laser blepharoplasty is performed to deal with sagginess in the upper eyelids. Using the laser, the plastic surgeon makes bloodless incisions along the lid crease to gain access to the excess fatty deposits above the eyes and removes them if needed—furthermore, the laser contracts any excess muscular tissue present in the upper eyelids.

Lower-Eyelid Laser Blepharoplasty

If you are looking for a rejuvenated, less-fatigued look, lower-eyelid laser blepharoplasty is the way to go! The plastic surgeon removes the excess lower eyelid skin, in a bloodless fashion, using the laser and removes excess fatty tissue through small incisions along the line.  This technique significantly reduces the baggy appearance to lower eyelids that make our eyes look tired.

Before

After

Laser Blepharoplasty Recovery Time

Because of its reduced recovery time, more and more patients choose laser blepharoplasty over the traditional technique. According to RealSelf, as long as you follow postprocedural instructions, you should be able to return to your day-to-day lifestyle after one week. Compared with the traditional blepharoplasty, where the social downtime can be 2 to 3 weeks, in laser blepharoplasty, recovery time is significantly reduced. This approach is perfect for patients whose hectic schedules are not permissive.
Furthermore, we have some useful tips for those who want to speed up the recovery process:

• Protect your eyes with sunglasses or a hat, especially in Florida.
• Give your eyes enough time to rest.
• Stay away from strenuous activities, such as reading at nighttime or long hours in front of the TV.
• Avoid stressful activities.
• Refrain from smoking.

What are the Main Benefits of Laser Blepharoplasty?

Versatility, efficiency, safety, and quicker recovery – are the main characteristics of the laser blepharoplasty technique. In the medical field, researchers compared the surgical and laser procedures to try and figure out which of the two is best suited to rejuvenate the patient’s periorbital area. A study published in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology concluded that the laser technique enjoys superior safety standards to the surgical one while bringing numerous additional benefits:

• Minimized bleeding – multiple advantages are to be noticed from using lasers as a cautery device. First, the blood vessels are sealed immediately, amounting to less bleeding during the procedure. Second, because of less bleeding, the plastic surgeon has a more clear view of the treated area, making it easier to deliver superior results.
• Reduced scarring risk – The treated area will heal with less wound contraction and scarring.
• Less swelling – Generally, the more bleeding occurs during surgery, the more patients have to deal with bruising and swelling. Because it works as a cautery device, laser blepharoplasty greatly reduces the amount of bleeding and postprocedural swelling. That allows patients to notice their results early in the recovery period, especially those who are eager to enjoy their rejuvenated look in the mirror.

Restore a younger, smoother look to your eyes

Here at the Vinyard Institute of Plastic Surgery, William J. Vinyard, MD, FACS, has been performing blepharoplasty for over 10 years now with spectacular results.  With all the benefits mentioned above, Dr. Vinyard prefers using state-of-the-art laser technology when performing a blepharoplasty procedure.  With his proven experience, our medical team is ready to help you achieve your aesthetic goals and guide you through your own path to facial rejuvenation. Ready to enjoy the VIPS experience and restore a younger, smoother look to your eyes? Contact us and book your complimentary consultation with Dr. Vinyard today!

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As you consider your skin rejuvenation goals, Dr. Vinyard and his team of experts wield many options for improving the aesthetic of your skin. A Morpheus8 treatment can be an incredible addition to your treatment plan, and Dr. Vinyard and his team of experts are ready to support you in achieving your aesthetic goals. Contact us to schedule a personal consultation, or call  (772) 212-0304 to find out the next steps in your skin rejuvenation journey! Our office at 291 NW Peacock Blvd, Suite 103, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986, proudly serves the South Florida area! We also invite you to check out our blog page, Facebook, and Instagram to learn more about the treatment options available at our office!

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