In terms of your face, your eyes are your most important asset. When your eyes look bright and youthful, so do you. When your eyes look "tired" you do too.
As we get older, our eyes can develop "heaviness" or "hooding" on the upper eyelids as well as "bags" under the lower eyelids. Both are due to variable amounts of excess skin, muscle and fat. Removal of these changes to create a more youthful look to the eyes is known as 'Blepharoplasty' and it can dramatically improve the appearance of one's eyes.
How We Do It Differently To Most
It is important to realise that Blepharoplasty can be done either by
scalpel or
CO2 laser and that there are significant differences between the two techniques that warrant your consideration before you decide on which one to have. The advantages and benefits of the laser technique stem from the fact that in contrast to a scalpel, a CO2 laser
seals the tiny blood vessels in the skin and tissues as it cuts. As a result, there is very little or no bleeding during your surgery. This in turn means:
- minimal post-operative bruising and swelling; and therefore
- a quicker recovery and return to work and social activities; and
- a reportedly safer procedure due to a reduced risk of post-operative bleeding/blindness; and
- the ability in the case of lower eyelids to place the laser incision on the inside of the eyelid and thereby avoid any external scar on the skin.
Unfortunately, because of the cost of these lasers only a minority of Blepharoplasty Surgeons have one. If you wish to avail yourself of the above advantages of the laser technique you need to locate an experienced Blepharoplasty Surgeon with an Ultrapulse (or equivalent) CO2 Laser. Dr Mayson originally trained in Laser Blepharoplasty in the USA in 1994 and has used this technique ever since with great success and not a single significant complication. Moreover, you may also take comfort from the fact that Dr Mayson has the added distinction of never having had a single instance of litigation, or even threatened litigation, in Blepharoplasty or any other procedure, over his entire career! Shortly after the laser technique was introduced into Australia, Dr Mayson was invited to present before & after segments on a patient having Laser Blepharoplasty on Channel Nine's Midday Show with Kerri-Anne Kennerley.
In summary, the essential differences of the two techniques are:
| |
Laser Technique |
Scalpel Technique |
| Post-Op Bruising & Swelling |
Minimal |
Usually considerable |
| Recovery Period |
Upper lids: about 7 days
Lower lids: about 4 days |
2-3 weeks is usual |
| Final Scar |
Upper lids: no difference
Lower lids: NO external scar (unless skin also removed) |
Upper lids: no difference
Lower lids: permanent external scar under lower eyelashes |
| Risk of Deforming Lower Lid |
Never seen by Dr Mayson |
More likely |
| Risk of Post-op Bleeding Leading to Blindness |
Never seen by Dr Mayson - Laser technique is believed to reduce this risk |
Reportedly 1:40,000 - 1:100,000 |
HOW IS IT DONE?
The surgery is performed in the privacy of our Clinic's own Operating Theatre under Intravenous (Twilight) Sedation and Local Anaesthesia administered for your comfort and safety by our Specialist Anaesthetist. You can go home about 2 hours after your procedure in the company of a responsible person. You cannot go home alone. Post-operative discomfort is minimal and easily relieved with simple analgesics which will be prescribed for you.
In the case of the Upper Eyelids, a bloodless laser incision is made in the natural crease of the upper lid. Through this incision the excess skin, muscle and fat is removed. The skin is then sutured with ultra-fine sutures which are removed 5-7 days later. With the laser technique you should be able to return to work and social activities after 7-8 days. Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty takes an average of 1½ hours.
In the case of the Lower Eyelids any 'bags' from fat protrusion are first removed through a laser incision placed on the inside of the lid. In this way there is no scar under the eyelashes as you would have with scalpel surgery. Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty takes about 1 hour. If you also have wrinkles or loose skin under the eyes, you may require an additional procedure such as Laser Skin Resurfacing or excision of the excess skin at the same time. Dr Mayson will explain all your options and individual costs at your initial consultation based on what specifically needs to be done.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Approximate costs are cuurently:
Upper Blepharoplasty: $3,000 +GST
Lower Blepharoplasty: $2,800 + GST
There will be additional fees for the Operating Theatre and Anaesthetist depending on the duration of your procedure. Dr Mayson will provide a detailed and itemised quotation at your initial consultation.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR BLEPHAROPLASTY SURGEON
Once you have decided on the technique, the next step is to choose your Blepharoplasty Surgeon. Don't be afraid or embarrassed to seek straightforward answers to the following important questions:
- How long has he/she been doing Blepharoplasty?
- How many Blepharoplasty procedures has he/she done?
- If you prefer Blepharoplasty by laser, can they provide this?
- What complications have they seen?
- Have they been the subject of any litigation in that procedure? If so, how many times?
- Does he/she hold hospital accreditation?
Hospital accreditation is a very important criterion. Although Blepharoplasty does not necessarily need to be done in a hospital, hospital accreditation is an indication that the doctor in question has satisfied a Hospital Accreditation Committee as to his surgical training and experience generally. And Blepharoplasty is certainly a surgical procedure!
