<p>Until recently I worked for an ophthalmologist who does blepharoplasties. He uses local anesthesia and does not use a laser. Lasers are used in corneal surgeries but not eyelid surgery. I would imagine patients who could stay still enough during a blepharoplasty without anesthesia are few and why would they want to?</p>
<p>How do you know they won’t take too much off the eyelids, leave a too wide-eyed look?</p>
<p>I thought a " brow lift" was the preferred method to raise and tighten skin around upper lids and brow. Otherwise, don’t they do an incision on the eyelid? I know they try to do it in the fold, but I have heard the incision line is often subtly detectable.</p>
<p>When my mother in law had hers done it was outpatient at the hospital, with general anesthesia.</p>
<p>HarvestMoon, from what I’ve read, a “brow lift” seems like part of a face lift, whereas the eyelid procedure just corrects the lids obstructing vision (ptosis).</p>
<p>My mother had one lid that drooped, thanks to childhood polio, and eventually got it fixed. She said that at first she kept jumping when something approached her from that side, like a cart in the supermarket. She never realized how restricted her peripheral vision has become on that side until it was repaired.</p>
<p>I would happily accept a subtle line on my eyelid in exchange for being able to wear eye makeup at all, not to mention not worsening the forehead wrinkles I’ve sudenly started to get from constantly lifting my eyebrows.</p>
<p>I ended up with faint lines on my eyelids, but you have to look really, really close to see them. The lines are in the eyelid crease and are easy to cover with makeup.
My surgery was done in a surgery center.
As for having too much done and a wide eye look, I chose a plastic surgeon who was recommended by a friend and knew that he was known for doing “subtle” work. My eyes look natural, just better :)</p>
<p>I have a friend who just did the brow lift. Think they made an incision in the scalp along the front hairline and tightened the skin. It corrected the baggy eyelids and some wrinkles on her forehead. It won’t do anything for underneath the eyes. She looks great and I think it really is an improvement. Sure the “down time” is longer but I guess a professional can best advise on what procedure is right for each person.</p>
<p>Consolation - Local anesthesia. Basically, a numbing shot. Sorry. And yes, the cutting was done with a laser but that’s because this particular eye doctor was a laser freak and would use a laser for absolutely anything given the choice. I guess you could call the facility a surgery center but it was really just a back room in the eye doctor’s office. For larger procedures involving general anesthesia he used a nearby surgery center. There are tiny lines in the fold that fade with time. A brow lift can help with the upper lid problem, too. It’s a bigger deal, though. And, it won’t do anything for the puffy under eye area. I don’t know anyone who has had a brow lift, probably because unless its a huge issue Botox can give the forehead a pretty good lift.</p>
<p>The cause of the problem determines the procedure. Brow ptosis, ptosis and orbital fat prolapse can be treated with different procedures. Insurance will usually pay if certain criteria are met, such as loss of visual field, which can be measured at an ophthalmology practice. Insurance almost never covers the lower lids but some patients will pay out of pocket to have it done at the same time. </p>
<p>Luckily, my lower lids are just fine. :)</p>
<p>Be sure to ask if you just need the bleph or if you need brow lift as well. I’ve had both, due to congenital defect in one eyelid. The Bleph is easy peasy. The brow lift is more painful, causes much worse bruising for longer. Both were worth it for me. After having had bleph as a 20 something,second repair could not be made without brow lift also, but vision is improved. Very minor thin line scarring. My procedures were outpatient.</p>
<p>Sadly, I really need the lower lids done. Thanks to my father and my damn genes.</p>
<p>I just wanted to say that “orbital fat prolapse” is one for the ages. :D</p>
<p>H needs it and doctor did all tests to confirm it’s a problem with the muscles by the eyes. Aetna reviewed the case and determined his field of vision is not impaired enough, which sucks, so he will wait until it is. The doctor administered some drops that firmed up the muscle and he was amazed at how much he could see. </p>
<p>The droopy lids, which have his eyes half-closed, and his white hair make him look 10-15 years older than he is. I look 10 years younger, so many people are shocked to find out we’re the same age. </p>
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<p>Temporary fix for lower lids–a cosmetic filler.</p>
<p>Bad news about Aetna–that’s my insurer. They have pictures on their website that led be to believe I might have a chance. Oh well, we shall see.</p>
<p>Getting medically qualified is difficult. Doctors will always say insurance may pay but that’s because they know once they get you in there most people will come up with the cash or finance it. Interestingly, this is the one area of medicine where prices are falling. It’s very competitive. Good luck!</p>
<p>Sounds like you have had a bad experience with blepharoplasty, or with a rogue ophthalmologist.</p>
<p>Oh no, not at all. You must be misunderstanding me completely. I love him and he is beyond amazing and very well respected. Actually, kind of an industry leader with the whole laser thing in the nineties. But, far beyond him, cosmetic surgery is a business and for a number of reasons not related to being a patient I’m pretty familiar with how it works. That said, I’m a total fan.</p>
<p>It is nearly always elective. Yes, there are exceptions. The vision field test requires significant obstruction to consider it medically necessary . Usually around 30%. That’s a lot. But, it makes to me very sad to read about people not doing these procedures because insurance won’t pay. Of course, I live in a land where even the waitresses have 5k implants so maybe it’s a little different out here. lol.</p>
<p>Anyone have an idea of what lower lids would cost in the Washington DC area?</p>