Your eyes are a huge part of how people see you, as many people look at the eyes before any other part of the body when they first meet someone. If you feel that your eyes are losing their youthful glow because of excess skin and crow’s feet, it may be time to rejuvenate them with a blepharoplasty. In having a blepharoplasty, you are investing in your youthfulness and newfound confidence. It is a big step and whether or not it is right for you or you have found the right surgeon, it is a big decision to make following your consultation. The best way to turn this step into a confident leap is to ask the right questions from the initial consultation onward.
1. Am I a good candidate for a blepharoplasty?
The number one question to ask at a blepharoplasty consultation is whether you are an ideal candidate for the procedure. Reasons for getting a blepharoplasty and the extremities in patients’ conditions can vary, but in general, a good blepharoplasty candidate relates to the following:
- You are looking to improve signs of aging around the eyes
- Excess skin has impaired your vision
- You have no medical conditions that will affect your ability to heal
- You are not currently smoking
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says good blepharoplasty candidates should also have a positive outlook and realistic expectations of their results.
2. Am I a better candidate for a surgical or non-surgical blepharoplasty?
Keep in mind that Dr. Kaplan offers both surgical and non-surgical options for rejuvenating your eyelids. If you require only moderate improvements in the wrinkles and excess skin around your eyes, you may be a good candidate for the non-surgical option, a pinch blepharoplasty.
A pinch blepharoplasty addresses skin laxity, wrinkles, and fine lines non-surgically by removing excess skin and tightening the area around the eye without altering muscle or fat pads. When you start noticing signs that you need a traditional blepharoplasty, for example when minimally invasive options are not sufficiently adequate to improve signs of aging around your eyes, you may be a better candidate for a surgical blepharoplasty option or a SOOF elevation. During a SOOF elevation procedure, Dr. Kaplan realigns hollowed fat deposits below the eye and redrapes fat deposits over the lower part of the eye near the lower eyelid to revert them to where they naturally were before aging and environmental factors took effect.
3. How should I prepare for the blepharoplasty procedure and recovery?
The worst thing you can be going into any type of procedure is unprepared. You should ask Dr. Kaplan how to prepare mentally and physically, and what you may need to buy for surgery day and recovery. All procedures are followed by different roads to recovery, so you should know if you’ll need someone by your side to help you during recovery and whether you’ll need to hire people for nannying, pet sitting, housekeeping, and so on. A blepharoplasty recovery lasts anywhere from 10-14 days according to Cleveland Clinic, depending on the extent of your surgery, but complete healing can take a few months.
4. How long will my blepharoplasty results last?
As you are investing in yourself and your confidence when you get a blepharoplasty, you want to know how long your results will last. Depending on your condition at the time of the procedure and the skill of your surgeon, your results could last anywhere between 10 years and a lifetime.
5. Can I see before and after photos of blepharoplasty procedures you have done?
Experienced, honest surgeons such as Dr. Kaplan are proud of the work they have done and want to be as transparent as possible about the results they have given patients in the past. One of the first things you should do if you are serious about getting a blepharoplasty is ask to see before and after photos of past blepharoplasty patients. Are their results impressive? Has the surgeon achieved the results you want on former patients?
6. Can my blepharoplasty be covered by insurance?
If the excess skin on your eyelids has drooped to the corners of your eyes and impaired your vision, you may qualify to have your blepharoplasty covered by insurance. Be sure to ask Dr. Kaplan if it is worth inquiring about this with your insurance company.
7. Are you qualified to perform a blepharoplasty?
If Dr. Kaplan is out of your reach and you are consulting with local surgeons, you may not be aware of their qualifications. Blepharoplasty is a very meticulous procedure that requires highly skilled and highly trained surgeons to perform it accurately, safely, and achieve the best results. Be sure to discuss a surgeon’s qualifications with them and ensure they are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery before trusting them with altering something as important as your eyelids.
8. How many blepharoplasties have you performed?
Even if a surgeon has the qualifications to perform a blepharoplasty, it’s important to note that the more a surgeon performs a specific procedure, the better they typically become at doing it. If a plastic surgeon has only performed 2-3 blepharoplasties, you may want to look for a surgeon with more experience in meeting the needs of other patients that are similar to your goals.
9. How can I maximize results after my blepharoplasty?
Although Dr. Kaplan performs the procedure and helps make your eyes more youthful again, you will have to listen to his advice on how to keep those results. There are steps you should take to maximize your results and ensure they remain exceptional in the long term. Ask your surgeon before surgery what you can do to keep your results and stay youthful. Dr. Kaplan may mention some of the best eye creams and sun protectants to apply regularly, and ways you can combat environmental factors that have such an effect on the aging of eyes.
The eyes are the “windows to the soul” as they say, and they are a vital part of the face for both appearance and functionality. If you feel that your eyes have lost their youthful glow to aging and/or that your vision has been affected by loose skin drooping over them, a blepharoplasty is a great step in the right direction.
If you are considering a blepharoplasty and would like to discuss your candidacy for the procedure with a board-certified, highly skilled plastic surgeon with vast experience performing the procedure, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kaplan here.
