Brow and Forehead Lifts
Time, sun exposure, gravity and facial habits like squinting can leave their marks on our faces, especially on a person’s forehead. Genetics also play a role in how our faces age. When you have deep lines or sagging heavy eyebrows, this can make you look older, tired and even angry. Some patients also have difficulty with their vision if their eyebrows have sagged enough to obstruct sight.
Luckily, today there are surgical and nonsurgical options to provide a lift to these sagging areas and create a more alert but still natural appearance. Our brow and forehead lift doctors have years of experience and training to perform these procedures.
What Brow and Foreheads Lifts Can Correct
- Horizontal forehead lines
- Sagging eyebrows
- Vertical frown lines
Sometimes brow and forehead lifts are combined with eyelid surgery to raise drooping eyelids at the same time for a more comprehensive appearance update and improved visual field.
How Brow and Forehead Lifts Work
During surgical procedures, incisions are typically made on the hairline to allow for removal of excess skin and fat and to reposition the underlying muscles and tissues. The goal is to smooth and tighten the forehead area. The exact placement and size of any incision necessary will depend on the amount of restructuring needed. To achieve natural-looking results, our doctors combine their surgical skills with in-depth knowledge of facial anatomy and an artistic eye to provide just enough lift for a more youthful appearance.
Brow and Forehead Lift Recovery
Patients should expect to recover for 2 weeks after brow and forehead lift surgery. It is important to follow your doctor’s post-op instructions completely to reduce your risk of complications such as infection, poor wound healing, pain and more.
BOTOX® Cosmetic can also be used for temporary reduction of the appearance of facial lines and to provide a temporary brow lift.
Not every patient is a good candidate for a brow or forehead lift. The only way to find out for sure about your personal situation is by scheduling an appointment with our brow and forehead lift doctors. We will discuss how the procedure is performed and fully explain all of the potential risks of brow and forehead surgery so you can make an informed decision about whether or not to have the procedure.
Abnormal Eye Lashes
Your eyelashes serve an important function: to protect your eyes from foreign substances. When you have any type of eyelash abnormality, you may experience eye discomfort, pain or even damage to your eyes.
Reasons for Abnormal Eyelashes
- Eyelashes that curve inward (trichiasis)
- Inward-turned eyelid (entropion)
- Infection
- Inflammation of the oil glands (blepharitis)
- Trauma
- Excessive lash growth (trichomegaly)
- Extra layer of eyelashes (distichiasis)
Treatment for Abnormal Eyelashes
Some eyelash problems may correct themselves; you may also be able to easily remove a wayward eyelash. However, more serious conditions that are affecting your vision or causing discomfort may require electrolysis treatment or eyelid surgery. The only way to know what treatment will be right for you is to schedule an eye exam with one of our doctors.
Eyelid and Facial Reconstruction
Being involved in a traumatic injury like a car accident, fall and penetration injuries or animal bite can leave a serious impact on your vision and your facial structure. It is also possible for similar results to occur from skin cancer removal or even previous surgeries.
If you are struggling with your appearance or visual function as a result of injury or trauma, our eyelid and facial reconstruction doctors can help you. Whether you need facial reconstruction or a smaller surgery to repair specific damage such as mole or cancer removal, our board certified doctors have the extensive experience and training to restore your appearance and function in the most natural manner possible.
Every patient’s situation will be completely unique; no two treatments will be exactly the same. Our doctors will take the time to fully analyze your condition, understand your lifestyle and personal goals and recommend the most effective treatments for your reconstruction.
Eyelid Growths
There are several types of growths that can appear on the upper or lower eyelids. Besides being unattractive, they can also interfere with vision. Not all eyelid growths are serious, but they should be checked by an ophthalmologist to ensure they are not cancerous.
Common Types of Eyelid Growths
- Xanthelasma: yellow-white bump on the eye caused by an accumulation of fat. These may be caused by high cholesterol levels and are not cancerous.
- Chalazion: soft or firm lump on the middle of the eyelid caused by an obstruction of the meibomian gland in the eye. These are not cancerous.
- Styes: small, painful lump on the edge of the eyelid caused by an infected meibomian gland in the eye. This is an abscess that will be filled with pus. These are not cancerous but can recur.
- Basal cell carcinoma: shiny bump that increases in size and can break open and bleed/scab. This is a common form of skin cancer that occurs around the eyes. A biopsy will be recommended.
- Squamous cell carcinoma: scaly, thick growths that do not heal. This is another form of skin cancer that will require a biopsy.
Eyelid Malpositions
Malposition is defined as an abnormal position. If you have an eyelid malposition, your eyelid has moved into an awkward position. It can turn inward or outward leading to eye discomfort, irritation, infection, excessive tearing, dry eye, light sensitivity and more.
- Ectropion: eyelid turns out, often occurring in the lower eyelid
- Entropion: eyelid turns in so eyelashes rub against the eye
Causes of Eyelid Malpositions
- Eye muscle weakness as a result of aging
- Previous eyelid surgeries
- Paralysis of the face
- Injury
- Eyelid growths
- Eye infection
Surgery for Correcting Inward or Outward Eyelid Positions
At Arizona Eye Specialists our doctors will assess the cause of your eyelid disorder and recommend the best course of action. Surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia. A small part of the eyelid may be removed to tighten and reposition the eyelid. If the cause is from scar tissue, a skin graft may be necessary to allow the eyelid to rest properly on the eye. The small stitches used to close the incisions will dissolve within two weeks.
Expect mild bruising and swelling on the eye for approximately two weeks after surgery. Following your doctor’s post-op instructions will help minimize discomfort. Medications, antibiotic ointments and cold compresses will most likely be prescribed to help your eyes heal. Most patients experience immediate relief of their symptoms following surgery and recover quickly, with minimal discomfort.
Your doctor may also perform a non-surgical procedure to treat entropion, in which he strategically places sutures that turn the eyelid outwards. This method works well for patients who are not candidates for surgery.
Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is a very popular and effective technique used to improve the appearance and function of your eyelids. Just like other areas of your body, your eyelid skin can lose elasticity as you grow older. This can cause sagging of the upper eyelids and bags under the eyes. Not only can this make you look older and tired, drooping eyelids can also interfere with your vision.
The most expressive features of your face are your eyes and eyelids. Together, they give your face personality and communicate the whole range of human emotion. An eyelid lift is a relatively simple and straightforward procedure which can dramatically improve your appearance.
How Eyelid Surgery Works
At Arizona Eye Specialists we perform eyelid surgery as an outpatient procedure. Modern eyelid surgical procedures are quite safe and are usually performed under local anesthesia on a same-day, outpatient basis. In most cases, both excess skin and tissue are removed through tiny incisions neatly placed into the natural folds of the eyelid, Once healed, the thread-thin scars are virtually invisible. To achieve the most natural-looking results, it is important to have eyelid surgery performed by a board-certified eyelid surgery doctor that has extensive training and experience with this delicate procedure. Our eyelid surgery doctors have a strong track record of successful procedures and can share their experience and results with you.
Eyelid Surgery Recovery
It is common for the eye areas to have mild bruising and swelling for a week or two after surgery. Your eyes might also be sensitive to light and be prone to tearing. These are typically temporary side effects that can be minimized by following your doctor’s instructions for applying lubricating ointments, cold compresses, medications, etc.
Possible Complications of Eyelid Surgery
Your doctor should explain all of the potential complications that may occur with eyelid surgery, including:
- Scarring
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Dry eyes
- Temporary lid lag
- Blurry vision
- Pain
- Vision loss
- Revision surgery
Eyelid surgery is a great method of facial rejuvenation and vision enhancement – if it is done correctly. If you are unhappy with the appearance or function of your eyes, contact us today to discuss your individual situation and find out if eyelid surgery might help you enhance your life.
Orbital Surgery
Any type of damage or trauma to the bony eye socket (orbit) can be serious because it houses all of the components that support healthy eye function:
- Eyeball
- Blood vessels
- Muscles
- Optic nerves
- Fat to protect and cushion the eye
Eye socket problems can lead to eye pain, swelling, vision loss, facial numbness, sunken eyes or double vision. Our surgeons can diagnose and repair eye socket problems caused by:
- Fractures
- Thyroid eye disease
- Orbital or intraocular tumors
- Inflammatory and infectious conditions
Treatment may include removal of tumors, reconstruction of the orbit or removal of an eye in severe cases. If you are experiencing any vision problems, a comprehensive eye exam is the only way to determine the root cause of your problems.
Thyroid Eye Disease
Thyroid eye disease can occur in people who have an overactive, underactive or even normal thyroid gland function. Thyroid eye disease, also known as Graves’ ophthalmopathy, results when white blood cells attack the tissue around the eyes, causing swelling and inflammation. Most commonly this is due to an autoimmune disease that attacks the normal tissues in your thyroid gland and eyes.
Symptoms of Thyroid Eye Disease
- Dry eyes
- Gritty feeling
- Bulging eyes
- Eye redness and swelling
- Double vision
- Upper eyelid retraction
- Irritation
- Light sensitivity
- Decreased vision
- Eye pain
Besides impacting vision and causing discomfort, serious cases of thyroid eye disease can cause permanent damage to the optic nerve. Regular eye exams are essential to monitor any signs of thyroid eye disease, especially if you have a thyroid disorder or a family history of the disease.
Treatment for Thyroid Eye Disease
Even if you are successfully treated for a thyroid dysfunction, your eye problems may still exist. In fact, your symptoms may come and go over the years. If your symptoms are affecting your daily life, our Phoenix thyroid eye disease doctors may recommend different treatment options to relieve irritation and minimize enlarged eye muscles:
- Steroid medications
- Lubricating drops and ointments
For more advanced cases, eyelid surgery may be necessary to help your eyelids close, provide optic realignment or to increase the size of the eye socket and reduce optic nerve pressure.