As people get older, it’s common for them to experience some drooping or sagging of the skin of the face. Sometimes this drooping or sagging can be very pronounced. In the case of the eyelids, sometime the drooping or sagging may be so severe that it actually impairs a person’s vision. This is particularly true of the upper eyelid. It’s for this reason that Williston, ND laser eye surgery patients and those in South Dakota visit our practice. By offering blepharoplasty and other oculoplastic surgery treatments, we can help address such matters simply and effectively.

The Problem with Eyelids and Vision

When the upper eyelids droop or sag, the loose skin can block out part of someone’s vision. In extreme cases of sagging or drooping, it may be very difficult for a person to see normally through one eye or both eyes. Similarly, in some cases the eyes may be extremely narrow because of the lack of a fold in the eyelid. The vision is affected adversely as a result.

In both such cases, South Dakota eye doctors who are trained in oculoplastics are the best people to seek out for treatment, and the best option for treatment is blepharoplasty.

What is blepharoplasty?

Blepharoplasty is a surgery that addresses the eyelids. You may be familiar with the surgery in a cosmetic context. In those cases the surgery is known as an eyelift or cosmetic eyelid surgery. That said, a blepharoplasty definitely has applications in oculoplastics. In this case, we’re specifically talking about blepharoplasty for the upper eyelids rather than the bags under the eyes and of the lower eyelids.

Who are good candidates for blepharoplasty?

The best candidates for blepharoplasty are people with eyelids that droop and sag in such a way that the vision becomes impaired or people who have very narrow eyes as a result of genetics/ethnicity. These people should be in good overall health and not suffer from any sort of health condition that would make surgery a risky proposition. All prospective Rapid City, SD and Williston, ND oculoplastics patients will be checked by members of our team to ensure that they are well-suited for the procedure.

How is blepharoplasty on the upper eyelids performed?

During blepharoplasty, the surgeon will first place the patient under general anesthetic to reduce any pain or discomfort. An incision will be made on the upper eyelid along the natural crease/fold. Through this incision, excess skin/tissue is removed in order to reduce sagging. For patients who have narrow eyes, the surgeon will create a fold in the upper eyelid during this surgery to help make the eyes less narrow.

Other Options for Advanced Vision Care

In addition to oculoplastics, we are pleased to offer many other eye care and vision correction treatments to meet the needs of patients throughout South Dakota and North Dakota. We will be more than happy to discuss all such matters during your visit to the practice.