Excess tissue hanging over the lashes may indicate excessive laxity of the eyelid skin, or it may be a sign of a droopy brow. Making the correct diagnosis is of paramount importance, since a wrong diagnosis may lead to erroneous treatment, subsequent complications, and unhappy patients.
When the problem proves to be excess skin and laxity of the upper eyelid, the condition is known as dermatochalasis. It is more common in older patients as it is generally related to age. Dermatochalasis usually causes the appearance of a “droopy eyelid” and is associated with eye fatigue or a heavy eyelid. Droopy brows, on the other hand, tend to run in families, meaning there is a genetic component. They usually affect younger females, although it is not uncommon in males. Brow ptosis is noticeable on the lateral edges of the eyelids (known as lateral hooding), while dermatochalasis tends to affect the whole eyelids.
The treatment for upper eyelid laxity is pretty straightforward. Raising a droopy brow, however, is a bit more complicated. Let’s have a brief overview of how to treat these common conditions.
What is an eyelid lift?
The treatment for excess upper eyelid skin or laxity is not complicated. For older patients with this condition, an upper eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, is the procedure of choice. Blepharoplasty is an outpatient operation that is done with local anesthesia or mild sedation. The duration of this procedure is about 45 minutes, and its recovery is painless. An eyelid lift achieves excellent results that may last for more than a decade.
An upper eyelid lift can also be performed without surgery. CO2 laser resurfacing or, more recently, fractional plasma technology Plasmage ®, are excellent alternatives to lift and rejuvenate the upper eyelids that don’t require surgery. Keep in mind, however, that these treatments are not suitable for everyone. An evaluation by your surgeon is necessary before considering these options.
What is the best treatment for droopy brows?
Droopy eyebrows may be treated with different approaches depending on the severity of the problem, the patient’s age, and his or her expectations.
In younger female patients, the tail of the brow may be nicely elevated with Botox or Xeomin, medications that relax the muscles which depress the brow. Dermal fillers such as hyaluronic acid may also help to restore brow position and contour in younger patients. If the patient is a good candidate for these options, the results are excellent. Treatments may be applied in the doctor’s office on the same day as the consultation. A possible disadvantage is that these treatments only last about 6 months to a year and must be repeated to maintain their results.
For older patients with significant brow descent, a surgical brow lift may be the best choice to achieve good brow elevation. The best way to surgically raise an eyebrow, when brow ptosis is moderate to severe, is to perform an endoscopic brow lift. The BEAUTYlift is an outpatient operation performed under sedation. The recovery time is a bit longer than for a blepharoplasty, but the results last up to 15 years. The browlift is perhaps one of the most rejuvenating facial plastic surgery operations available.
Eyebrow and eyelid lift in Costa Rica
Making the distinction between a droopy eyebrow and excess eyelid skin is crucial to selecting and achieving the right treatment and preventing complications.
Performing an upper eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) on a patient who requires a brow lift worsens the problem and may put the patient at risk of complications such as the inability to close the eye after surgery.
Oculoplastic surgeons in Costa Rica have extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of dermatochalasis and brow ptosis. We can help you choose the right treatment and achieve long-lasting and elegant results with little downtime.
|