What Is Lower Lid Blepharoplasty? Lower lid Blepharoplasty is a surgical technique, which is used to improve the lower eyelid appearance. It is used to reduce lower eyelid wrinkles and fat bulges, by removing fat and excess skin from the lower eyelid. Today, fat and excess skin are still removed, though tissue preserving is growing using orbital and suborbicular fat repositioning. Fat transfer techniques are used to restore any volume loss associated with the natural ageing process.
Hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers were introduced in the 2000s and were used on the lower eyelid. Laser treatments and light-based treatments have also been used as a non-surgical way to improve eye appearance. Before lower lid blepharoplasty, the patient will undergo a full physical examination, along with providing information on medications and allergies, including latex allergies. Blink rate and strength are also taken into consideration, along with a thorough skin evaluation. Lower lid Blepharoplasty focuses on lower eyelid asymmetry. The patient must have realistic goals and expectations and be stable medically to achieve the best results. The process is straightforward in this common eye surgery, using effective surgical rejuvenation techniques. Surgeons use appropriate techniques, using a single procedure with a combination approach to achieve the desired results. While the patient is seated, the eyes are marked. This procedure is often carried out under local anaesthetic and with topical anaesthetic drops. The cornea is covered with a shield to ensure eye protection. A common and popular lower lid blepharoplasty approach is the transconjunctival approach, which is ideal for patients who do not have a lot of excess skin but have lower eyelid fat prolapse. This procedure uses a retractor, which provides exposure for an incision, which is made in the conjunctiva and lower eyelid. The surgeon uses traction stitches. They gain access through the lower eyelid fat pads without disrupting the orbital septum. The skin approach is also a popular method, where a small incision is made in the eyelash line, usually no more than 2mm in length. Using a skin pinch, the surgeon identifies the redundancy without causing traction on the eyelid margin. Sometimes a skin flap is created, ensuring that the eyelid shape is not distorted. Usually, the patient gazes upwards with an open mouth, to ensure that the right amount of eyelid is removed. If there is significant lower lid laxity, which is documented before the lower lid blepharoplasty, then it can be managed with a lateral canthoplasty or canthopexy, using fat grafting techniques to add volume to the hollows, along with the lid and cheek junction. All plastic orbital rims and implants improve volume. Chemical peels, laser skin ablative and non-ablative resurfacing may be used to improve the lower eyelid skin quality, reducing dyschromia and hydatidosis. Laser treatment and ligation are effective in eliminating unwanted lower eyelid veins, which may be prominent in some patients. Botox injections can also reduce creases that may form on the lower eyelids.