Plastic-aesthetic eyelid surgery | Specialists and information

Eyes and eyelids have a formative function in the face. It is not for nothing that the eyes are considered the mirror of the soul in many cultures. However, eyelids can require treatment due to age or for medical reasons. Specialists in eyelid surgery are usually specialists in plastic and aesthetic surgery or ophthalmology and are therefore fully trained to achieve the best results in eyelid surgery.

On the one hand, eyelid surgery may be medically necessary, e.g. for tumors or eyelid malpositions. On the other hand, there is also purely aesthetic eyelid surgery, for example to remove excess skin (blepharochalasis) on the upper eyelid in the case of so-called drooping eyelids and to remove fat pads that usually protrude nasally in the eyelid crease. Excess skin folds or age-related sagging eyelids or eyelid edges are also treated with great care on the lower eyelid .

It is important to note that medically justified eyelid surgery is partially or fully covered by statutory and private health insurance companies as a curative measure, while aesthetic surgery is purely an out-of-pocket expense. An exception to this is the reconstruction of facial areas and eyelids following an accident.

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Plastic-aesthetic eyelid surgery - Further information

What is purely cosmetic eyelid surgery?

Purely cosmetic eyelid surgery refers to surgical procedures on the eyelid, such as eyelid lifting, without a medical indication. This usually involves the correction of age-related changes to the eyelid.

An exception to this is excessive excess skin on the upper eyelid, for example, which restricts the field of vision. Examinations by the ophthalmologist using visual field measurement objectify this finding.

A successful result of plastic aesthetic eyelid surgery is a natural, unoperated appearance and an overall harmonious facial aesthetic. The treatment usually also results in an improvement in function.

Upper eyelid lift (blepharoplasty)

Due to age, many people, sometimes with a family history, suffer from upper eyelid drooping (drooping eyelids). This causes the upper eyelid to droop, narrowing the field of vision of the eye. Due to the reduced amount of light entering the eye, upper eyelid drooping can also promote chronic fatigue and exhaustion.

The eyelid surgery specialist will surgically remove the excess skin on the upper eyelid, parts of the sagging muscles and small deposits of fat and thus tighten the eyelid. In specialized clinics that routinely offer eyelid correction, the procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis and under local anaesthetic.

The so-called pseudo droopy eyelid is caused by a sagging forehead and eyebrow area, which makes the upper eyelids look like droopy eyelids. An effective and proven surgical technique is the forehead brow lift described below to correct the upper third of the face with the lowered eyebrows and the excess skin that protrudes into the upper eyelid area

Lower eyelid correction

The lower eyelid has a very complex anatomical structure and "rides" on the cheek. It descends as part of the natural ageing process and can be gently and moderately lifted by an eyelid surgery specialist. This is often combined with a retaining suture of the lower eyelid attached laterally to the periosteum or bone (= lateral canthopexy) in order to counteract the pull of the cheek region, which also sags with age, and the sagging of the supporting tissue of the lower eyelid.

Larger excess skin should always be removed with the utmost caution, as otherwise too much tension is exerted on the eyelid and a so-called ectropion (= protrusion of the lower eyelid edge, "droopy eye") may occur as a result. As part of lower eyelid correction, some of the bulging fatty tissue can also be carefully removed or shaped and the sagging muscles tightened.

The possibilities and risks of this procedure in particular must be carefully considered and discussed with the patient. The result should look natural and unoperated so that it blends harmoniously into the face.

Forehead brow lift

The natural ageing process often leaves its mark on more than just the eyelids, especially on the face. A correction of the eyelid alone cannot always achieve a rejuvenated face and a fresh appearance with a sagging forehead and brow area.

With the help of a subcutaneous forehead and brow lift with an incision discreetly hidden in the hairline ("hairline cut"), almost all signs of ageing in the upper third of the face can be eliminated:

  • sunken brows and tired-looking, small eyes,
  • Transverse wrinkles,
  • frown lines,
  • crow's feet, etc.

The brow lift is a complex procedure that affects the upper half of the face and therefore the aesthetic appearance of the entire face. Only experienced specialists have the knowledge and sensitivity to perform this procedure with optimal results and to achieve a harmonious result that matches the rest of the face.

Wrinkle correction

The correction of small wrinkles on the frown lines or "crow's feet" in the early stages does not usually require surgical intervention. Here, targeted botulinum toxin A (Botox) or hyaluronic acid injections can often achieve a sufficient and satisfactory improvement.

The disadvantage, however, is that the effect of the injections is limited in time and therefore requires a new treatment session at regular intervals. Above all, hyaluronic acid must be injected into the correct tissue layer in the eye area (where the skin is particularly thin), as otherwise there is a risk of irregularities in the skin relief.

Which specialists are experts in eyelid surgery?

Specialists in eyelid surgery are specialists in plastic and aesthetic surgery as well as specialists in ophthalmology with specialization in plastic-aesthetic or plastic-reconstructive eyelid surgery. Membership of a specialist society, such as

  • the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG),
  • the German Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (DGPRÄC) or
  • the German Society for Aesthetic Surgery (GÄCD)

also stands for continuous further training of eyelid surgery experts and treatment according to the latest scientific research results. When choosing a clinic for eyelid surgery, make sure that the surgeons regularly perform such eyelid procedures and provide you with comprehensive and individual advice before the procedure.

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