“Dear Dr. McCollough”…Clearing Up The Hype On Skin Treatments and Procedures with Dr. E. Gaylon McCollough. Dear Doctor: How do I know if I need a “brow lift” or “eyelid surgery”? I am also interested in finding out more information on each. Dear Reader: Examine your eyelids and brows prior to consultation in front of a mirror at home. A good way to tell whether you need an eyebrow lift or eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is to look at your upper lid and see if you have a crease that begins about one-quarter of an inch above your eyelashes. If the skin hangs down to the level of the lashes, you could benefit from an upper eyelid blepharoplasty. To be sure, you can send a photo to me and I will let you know which procedure is recommended. As a rule, eyelid procedures are associated with minor disability and allow one to return to routine living after a few days using cosmetics and sunglasses. Most patients tell us that there is little or no pain in the postoperative period. Each operation is followed by varying degrees of swelling and/or discoloration, most of which usually subsides within 7-10 days. By this time, too, the scars can be camouflaged by makeup; these scars gradually blend in with the surrounding skin. After several months have passed – in most cases – scars become perceptible only upon close scrutiny. A heavy eyebrow causes the upper lids to drop or descend until in the advanced stages, eyelid skin pushes the eyelashes downward.. Patients often complain that their eyes appear to be getting smaller or deeper-set and that eye make-up usually ends up high on the upper part of the lids within a short while after it has been applied. Drooping eyebrows definitely contribute to the “tired look.” This condition may be improved by the forehead-brow lift operation or by the excision of skin above the drooping section of the brow. This procedure “lifts” the brow, upper lid, and surrounding tissues which usually results in eyes that appear larger, more rested and more youthful. If you would like any more information on this or other health related topics, call the McCollough Institute for Appearance and Health at 251-967-7600, email info@mccolloughinstitute.com or visit our website www.mccolloughplasticsurgery.com. If you would like to ask Dr. McCollough a question, please submit the question using our online contact form at http://www.mccolloughplasticsurgery.com/contactus.html. .
