We all want to look our best during social events over the holiday season. These gatherings with family, friends, and coworkers involve staged and candid photos shared on social media and hung in picture frames in your home or office. Many men and women seek plastic surgery in the fall and early winter to improve their appearance in time for these annual photos and events. The Plastic Surgery Center can help you look your best this year with eyelid surgery or another face procedure.
Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) is one of the most popular face procedures before the holidays because it involves a faster recovery than other facial plastic surgeries and provides noticeable facial rejuvenation with brighter, more refreshed eyes.
What Does Blepharoplasty Do?
The eyelids may age faster than other areas of your face, causing the thin eyelid skin to stretch and sag. The supporting muscles in the eyelids weaken, leading to the upper eyelid drooping down over the eye, and the lower eyelid may pull away from the eye. Fatty tissues in the upper eyelids may gather around the lashes, causing a puffy eyelid appearance. Fat in the lower eyelids may sink and cause under-eye bags and puffiness. Severely sagging upper eyelids can even affect your vision by hanging over the eyes. Blepharoplasty removes the excess eyelid skin and adjusts the underlying muscles and fat to restore a youthful eyelid contour.
Upper eyelid surgery involves an incision along the eyelid fold or crease through which excess skin (and possibly fat) is removed. The loose muscles are trimmed and repositioned, and the incision line is concealed in the natural crease. Lower eyelid surgery requires an incision just under the eyelash line or inside the lower eyelid. One of our plastic surgeons removes or redistributes the excess fat and sagging skin and adjusts the muscles.
Timing Your Blepharoplasty Procedure Before the Holidays
Eyelid surgery is an outpatient procedure that leaves some bruising and swelling. These side effects typically improve or disappear after the first one to two weeks when the sutures are gone. Most patients return to work seven to 10 days after blepharoplasty.
Our plastic surgeons recommend having upper eyelid surgery at least two weeks before a big event or holiday gathering when initial recovery is complete and you can enjoy a well-rested and youthful eyelid appearance. Bruising and swelling have improved by that time, and the skin has tightened. Lower blepharoplasty causes more bruising with visible bruising and swelling that may last two to four weeks. We recommend scheduling lower eyelid surgery at least four weeks out from a social or holiday event.
Upper eyelid recovery takes as little as seven days for you to feel comfortable in public, while lower eyelid surgery may take 14 to 21 days.
Schedule Your Eyelid Surgery Consultation at The Plastic Surgery Center
The holidays tend to inspire a surgical frenzy where patients take advantage of extra vacation days, remaining HSA balances, and more time spent indoors. If you’re interested in eyelid surgery before the holidays, contact The Plastic Surgery Center. Schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons at our California offices in Sacramento at (916) 929-1833 or Granite Bay at (916) 773-5559.