Let’s face it: if you’re like most people, you don’t get enough sleep. But if you’re waking up looking tired all the time, it’s not always the quality (or quantity) of your sleep that’s the problem. Looking tired is often connected to signs of aging. Unfortunately, that’s not something you can solve with a good night’s sleep. Drooping, sagging, and wrinkled skin around the eyes can make you look tired, even when you’re wide awake and well rested. Luckily, you don’t have to stay sleepy. Blepharoplasty could be the perfect solution for waking up your tired eyes!
Why Does Aging Make You Look Tired?
It’s not fair, but aging around the eyes can do more than make you look older. It can actually change your overall resting facial expressions. For some people, the creases that appear on the forehead and between the eyebrows can make them look angry, even when they’re happy and relaxed. Aging eyes often start to sag, show wrinkles, and develop puffy lower bags. All of this can make you look tired. Upper eyelid heaviness and sagging, combined with lower eye bags, are often the culprits in a chronically sleepy expression.
The Power of Blepharoplasty for Tired Eyes
It can be extremely frustrating when you’re wide awake but look like you just rolled out of bed. Other people might form an incorrect opinion of you when they first meet you. You might also find yourself surprised by your appearance every time you look in the mirror. Fortunately, blepharoplasty has the power to change that.
Blepharoplasty (cosmetic eyelid surgery) is a common procedure that is used to lift and tighten the tissues around the eye area. As skin loses its elasticity and begins to sag, surgical intervention can reverse some of this aging by tightening the skin and repositioning fat in the eye area. The results is a more youthful appearance and expression. Many people who are self-conscious about looking tired regain their confidence when their outer appearance once again matches their inner personality and mood.
Good Candidates for Blepharoplasty
Anyone who is interested in blepharoplasty for correcting an overly tired expression should be in good general health and have realistic expectations about the results of the procedure. Blepharoplasty, though it is a surgical procedure, requires less downtime and discomfort than many patients think. It’s most commonly performed on men and women in their late 30’s to 50’s. This is because the eyes are typically one of the first areas to show signs of aging. However, even some younger patients seek blepharoplasty when their eyes are genetically predisposed to look perpetually tired.
How is Blepharoplasty Performed?
The surgical procedure will vary based on the patient’s individual needs. In some cases, it may be appropriate for the surgeon to treat only the upper or lower lids. However, many patients will need to have both areas addressed. Upper Blepharoplasty is normally performed under local anesthesia with oral sedation. Lower Blepharoplasty requires IV sedation, and both procedures can take 1 or 2 hours to perform.
During the procedure, the surgeon will make small incisions which will be hidden by the eyelids. Though most people believe that removing excess skin is the main problem the surgeon will address, it is actually only part of the procedure. The skin will be trimmed and tightened for a refreshed, youthful appearance. Additionally, the musculature and fat in the area will also be address. A skilled plastic surgeon will be able to tighten the tissues and remove extra fat and skin without creating a hollowed appearance, which occurs when too much tissue is removed. The goal of the procedure is to produce a natural-looking appearance, rather than an “overdone” result.
Once the procedure is complete, patients can return home shortly afterward. Cold compresses and pain medication will be helpful in controlling initial discomfort. Patients will need to dedicate a few days to recovery before beginning to resume normal activities. Most patients return to work in about a week, and sutures are removed just before this time.
Combining Treatments
On order to get their desired results from blepharoplasty, some patients might need to combine the surgery with other treatments. Sometimes, fat transfer, a forehead lift, or midface lift is appropriate for contouring the face and rejuvenating the expressions. You and your surgeon will discuss all your options during your consultation.
Next Steps
If you’re interested in exploring the possibility of blepharoplasty to correct a tired expression, your next step should be consulting with a qualified plastic surgeon. Only a board certified plastic surgeon should perform your surgery. It’s also important to choose someone with the experience, skill, and compassion to give you the results you want.
Dr. Edward Buckingham is well known for his skill and artistry in facial plastic surgery at Buckingham Center in Austin, TX. He is double board certified and dedicated to giving patients the most natural rejuvenation results possible. If you’d like to refresh your expression and wake up your eyes with blepharoplasty, call Buckingham Center today at 512-401-2500!