BLEPHAROPLASTY SEATTLE
(EYELID SURGERY SEATTLE)

BLEPHAROPLASTY IN SEATTLE & TACOMA – DR. SANTOS

Blepharoplasty also known as eyelid surgery Seattle is a facial plastic surgery that corrects sagging and wrinkled skin on and around the eyelids. Also known as eyelid lift Seattle or blepharoplasty, it is a procedure that produces dramatic results and can brighten up the entire face. Aging can make you look perpetually tired. But, with an eyelid surgery by the best blepharoplasty surgeon Seattle, Dr. David Santos at Seattle Plastic Surgery, you can improve your overall facial appearance and look years younger. Dr. Santos offers the best eyelid surgery Seattle provides.

UPPER VS. LOWER BLEPHAROPLASTY SEATTLE

Often performed together, an upper and lower blepharoplasty target different areas of the eyes. It is possible to need one and not the other. Though, they often complement each other and involve tightening skin, muscle, and working to remove excess skin.

An upper eyelid lift Seattle focuses on the upper eyelids. The procedure tightens the skin between the eyes and brows while trimming away excess skin and fat. It can correct vision problems when the skin or fat sags into the line of vision. It also can provide a more awake and more youthful appearance.

A lower eyelid lift Seattle targets the lower eyelids. Like with the upper version of the surgery, this procedure tightens the area and cuts away extra skin and fat. This can revitalize under eye bags and darkness to make you look more awake.

Dr. Santos will often recommend combining the two procedures for the best blepharoplasty eyelid surgery Seattle results. Depending on your needs, you may or may not need both an upper and lower blepharoplasty. During your consultation at Seattle Plastic Surgery, Dr. Santos can determine the right combination of procedures to fit your cosmetic needs.

Blepharoplasty is surgery of the upper or lower eyelids (often both) that removes sagging skin, fat, and wrinkles on and around the eyelids. The procedure requires a skilled and experienced surgeon, like Dr. Santos, to provide long-lasting results that take years off your age.

Dr. Santos offers all of his surgical procedures under both local and general anesthesia.

HOW IS SEATTLE BLEPHAROPLASTY SURGERY PERFORMED?

The surgical method Dr. Santos will use to perform your Tacoma blepharoplasty will vary depending upon if it is an upper or lower blepharoplasty, as well as, on your unique eyelids and needs for the surgery. 

For an upper eyelid surgery Seattle, Dr. Santos begins by making a thin incision in the natural eye crease. This ensures your body naturally hides your incisions and scars. Dr. Santos works to make scarring as minimal and hidden as possible. He may use an incision on the underneath side of the upper eyelid which keeps scarring completely hidden. After the incision, Dr. Santos removes excess skin and fat, tightens the surrounding skin muscles, and finally, lifts the skin to create a natural and younger look.

Dr. Santos performs lower eyelid surgery Seattle in a similar fashion. Using a small incision in the lower last line, he tightens the skin and muscles. He may also remove small portions of fat if necessary. Dr. Santos may also reposition fat or skin to prevent a hollowed under eye look and generally brighten the appearance of the under eyes.

With both Seattle eyelid surgery procedures, Dr. Santos and his team carefully stitch the incisions to prevent scarring. Before performing the blepharoplasty eyelid procedure, they will place eye guards under your eyelids to protect your eyes. If you have an upper and lower blepharoplasty performed at the same time, the surgical techniques do not significantly change.

6 REASONS PATIENTS SEEK EYELID SURGERY SEATTLE

The motivations behind seeking eyelid surgery Seattle are personal and can range from medical need to improving self image. Dr. Santos will ask about your reasons for seeking an eyelid surgery procedure Seattle. He will then cater his recommendations and techniques to fit your needs and desires. A few reasons individuals seek and eyelid lift Seattle include:

• Dark eye circles
• Vision problems caused from skin or fat on/around the eyelids
• Constant tired look
• Under eye bags
• Wrinkles and saggy skin on the upper/lower eyelids
• Hard time applying eye makeup 

WHAT KIND OF ANESTHESIA IS USED FOR EYELID SURGERY TACOMA?

Dr. Santos offers all of his surgical procedures—including eyelid surgery Tacoma–under both local and general anesthesia. Using local anesthesia lowers the risk of complications associated with general anesthesia. While not fully sedated, your comfort is ensured with a light oral sedative and you can expect to not be fully aware. 

When seeking your eyelid surgery Tacoma, it is important to consider all of your options. Local anesthesia can significantly lower risk and is a lower cost option. You are less likely to experience uncomfortable side effects of general anesthetic like nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.

For higher risk patients, older patients, and those with certain medical conditions, local anesthesia is a safer option for undergoing eyelid surgery. Anyone–even perfectly healthy patients who have had no prior complications from general anesthesia–can benefit from a surgery under local anesthesia.

WHAT IS RECOVERY PROCESS FROM EYELID SURGERY?

Since eyelid surgery Seattle is a surgery on a sensitive area of the body, recovery from eyelid surgery is an important step in achieving the best results. For the few days after surgery you may notice symptoms such as: dry eye, sensitivity to light, excessive tearing, and blurred vision. These side effects should only last for the time immediately following your surgery, but it is important to avoid activities that can overexert your eyes or cause eye dryness. Some activities you should avoid following eyelid lift Seattle are: watching TV, using a computer, crying, and wearing contacts. Dr. Santos will advise you on when you can begin these activities again. Usually, it is within two to three days.

Following an eyelid surgery procedure Seattle, you can expect to take around one week off work. You will need to refrain from fully exertional exercise and activity for at least two weeks. Any bruising and swelling should go away in about a week. By then, you can hide other symptoms with makeup. Dr. Santos will decide when you can return to work and resume certain activities on a case-by-case basis.

During eyelid surgery Seattle recovery, you can expect to do some at-home aftercare including: applying ointment to your incisions, elevating your head to a 30 degree angle, applying ice or cold compresses for the first 48 hours, and getting up a few times a day for healthy circulation.

Procedures Often Performed With A Blepharoplasty:

While many patients choose to have Dr. Santos perform upper and lower eyelid surgeries at the same time, you can combine other facial procedures with your eyelid surgery. Having multiple procedures done at the same time allows for a shorter recovery time (as the recovery time for all procedures is combined), means you will not need to go under anesthesia more than once, or take extra time off work.

Patients often combine a blepharoplasty with other procedures such as:

• CO2 Laser Resurfacing
• Brow lift
• Facelift or mini facelift
• Fat grafting or fat transfer 
• Liposuction of the face
• Extended facelift

Possible candidates for eyelid surgery Seattle include nearly anyone with sagging skin, wrinkles or other facial issues on or around the eyelids. The ideal candidate is a non-smoking patient in good general health who has a good understanding of the procedure and their goals for it. While not being an ideal candidate does not disqualify you from undergoing a blepharoplasty Seattle, it is important to discuss your full medical history with Dr. Santos.

Patients of all ages can benefit from either an upper eyelid lift Seattle or other eyelid surgery procedure Seattle. The average age of upper blepharoplasty patients range from 40 to 85 while the range for a lower blepharoplasty patient is 30 to 85. Only a consultation with Dr. David Santos at Seattle Plastic Surgery can determine if you are a good candidate for eyelid surgery Seattle.

Dr. Santos May Decide You Cannot Have Blepharoplasty Surgery In Tacoma If:

While Dr. Santos has years of experience and lowers the risk of his surgeries using local anesthetic, he may determine you are not a good candidate for blepharoplasty surgery if you have:

• Chronic dry eye
• Cardiac or pulmonary disease
• Thyroid disease
• Blood disorders
• Underlying eyelid malposition
• Significant sagging of the brow
• Any other major or untreated medical illness
• Unrealistic expectations or goals for the procedure
• Unwillingness to cease eyelash services such as lash lift and tint or lash extensions

DOUBLE-BOARD CERTIFIED SEATTLE BLEPHAROPLASTY SURGEON DR. SANTOS:

The best blepharoplasty surgeon Seattle, Dr. David Santos, offers patients at Seattle Plastic Surgery a high level of skill and expertise. He is board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He has over twenty years of surgery experience and often spreads his knowledge to others in the field.

Dr. David Santos often appears when searching “best eyelid surgeon near me Seattle” because of his patient centered approach to care and years of experience. Dr. Santos individualizes each surgery to fit your desires and needs, instead of performing the same exact eyelid surgery Seattle on every patient.

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