Skin Care Indianapolis
Aging begins to occur on the face around the eyes first. Often the lower eyelid is affected more than the upper one. It begins initially by the development of some loose skin and wrinkling in the crow’s feet area. As it progresses, more wrinkles appear and lower bags may begin to bulge as fat herniates outward. This aging progression is subtle in the late 30s and early 40s and becomes much more prominent in the late 40s and early 50s.
A lower eyelid tuck or blepharoplasty is a common plastic surgery procedure to improve the appearance of this facial area. In its fullest extent, the skin and muscle are lifted up and trimmed and bulging fat is removed. However, the lower blepharoplasty operation can be tailored to the amount of aging that is present. Early onset eyelid aging does not usually require the full blepharoplasty operation
Limited lower blepharoplasty procedures are ideal for younger patients. In such ‘mini’ lower eyelid surgery, several millimeters of lower lid skin are pinched up with a special instrument rather than making an extended incision and dissection under skin down to the orbital rim bone. The pinched up skin is simply trimmed off and the blood supply to the remaining lower eyelid skin is unaffected. This then allows a moderate depth chemical peel to be done using either a 25% or 35% TCA (trichloroacetic acid) solution. The combination of some skin removal and skin tightening helps fresh up the lower lid and reduce wrinkling. Because it is a more limited lower procedure, recovery (looking good with no telltale signs of having had surgery) is usually complete in one week.
When herniated fat is also present, this can be removed by an incision on the inside of the lower lid (transconjunctival) This also does not disrupt the blood supply to the skin so a chemical peel can still be done.
This pinch and peel lower eyelid technique can be done in several variations as well. How much skin is pinched up, whether fat is removed, and the strength of the chemical peel solution are all variables that can be altered and mixed and matched. In the office, pinches of lower lid skin and chemical peels can be done under local anesthesia. When fat removal is needed, this then requires a trip to the operating room with an anesthetic.
Dr Barry Eppley is a board-certified premiere plastic surgeon in private practice in Indianapolis, Indiana at Clarian North Medical Center in Carmel Indiana and at Clarian West Medical Center in Avon Indiana. (http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com) He writes a daily blog on plastic surgery, spa therapies, and medical skin care at http://www.exploreplasticsurgery.com
Dr. Eppley can be heard weekly on his radio show, Doc Chat, on WXNT 1430AM Indianapolis on Saturday afternoons.
Visia Complexion Analysis at Ology Spa