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Blepharoplasty

Get a More Youthful and Alert Look with Eyelid Surgery in NJ

The aging process tends to make skin and other tissues grow lax and shift downward, which can create a sagging, drooping look in several parts of the face. This change is particularly visible on the eyes, where upper lid sagging causes hooding, and lower lid sagging contributes to pouches and a look of tiredness. Blepharoplasty at the NJ-based Burnett Plastic Surgery can address both upper- and lower-lid laxity, with Dr. Carlos Burnett tightening the skin as necessary to give patients a more awake, alert, and youthful appearance.

The common term for blepharoplasty is eyelid surgery, and it may be performed on just one lid, both upper lids, the lower lids, or in whatever combination is necessary. Dr. Burnett's goal is not just to address the sagging, but to ensure that the eyes appear symmetrical and proportional with the rest of the patient's facial features.

Burnett Plastic Surgery

Contact Westfield's Burnett Plastic Surgery today to discuss blepharoplasty in NJ. Call (908) 233-0200 or send a message online.

Blepharoplasty Basics

Because blepharoplasty surgery is so personalized, an initial consultation is critical. This gives the patient a chance to get more information about the procedure and allows Dr. Burnett to assess the eyelids to determine the best approach.

For patients with upper lid sagging, he will remove a small amount of skin and suture the remaining skin in place to keep it tight and prevent it from drooping. This blepharoplasty technique can correct a constant look of tiredness or boredom due to a lax eyelid, as well as address an obstructed field of vision, since sagging skin can intrude on a patient's ability to see properly. This means upper lid blepharoplasty can be performed for both cosmetic and functional reasons.

Lower lid sagging is an element in the formation of "bags" under the eyes, with the primary problem being a shift in facial fat. Gravity pulls the fat cells downward to where they eventually settle in bulges. Lower lid blepharoplasty typically focuses on addressing these fat pads by removing or repositioning them. Note that eyelid surgery does not correct dark "circles" below the eyes—just the contours.

Unfortunately, the lower lid can be weakened by blepharoplasty surgery, causing it to roll outward and pull away from the eye. This exposes a considerable amount of the "white" of the lower half of the eyeball, as well as the moist, red inside of the lid. The condition, known as ectropion, can be more than cosmetic. If left untreated by eyelid surgery, it can cause the eye to dry out more quickly, prompting some people to turn to regular use of eye drops to keep their eyes properly moistened. Ectropion can also develop naturally as tissue laxity progresses with age.

To counter this, Dr. Burnett frequently uses the "pinch" eyelid surgery technique, which involves the removal of a small amount of skin from the lower lid to keep it from sagging. Because the lower lids are especially delicate, this blepharoplasty technique can yield desirable results while minimizing potential side effects.

Another specialized blepharoplasty-related technique employed at Burnett Plastic Surgery is canthopexy, which tightens a specific tendon associated with the lower lid, which can loosen during surgery. Keeping this band tight prevents the outward rolling of the lower lid.

Meet Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Carlos Burnett

Founder and Leader of Burnett Plastic Surgery in New Jersey

Dr. Carlos Burnett is a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience serving Westfield, New Jersey.

American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery American Society of Plastic Surgeons American Board of Plastic Surgery
Dr. Carlos Burnett

Blepharoplasty Recovery

As with all surgeries, blepharoplasty requires that patients allow for time to recover and heal. Some initial bruising and swelling should be expected, with the surgery-related side effects resolving on their own in the days after the procedure.

Most eyelid surgery patients find that they are basically back to normal within two weeks, but the overall healing process can last for a couple of months. The Burnett Plastic Surgery team will provide each patient with care instructions intended to help get the best cosmetic results possible during the eyelid surgery healing period.

What Complements Blepharoplasty?

In terms of facial surgeries, Dr. Burnett also performs rhinoplasty surgery to shape the nose. He may also perform liposuction to help a face look slimmer and more proportional.

Nonsurgical options include a variety of injectables. Most notably, BOTOX® is commonly used to smooth out forehead lines and crow's feet—a strategy that can enhance the results of eyelid surgery. Dermal fillers are also frequently employed to address wrinkles and folds lower on the face, and to restore youthful contours in the cheek area.

Surgical procedures and nonsurgical treatments can often be combined to great effect, with the surgeries creating more youthful contours, injectables smoothing out wrinkles, and other options—such as chemical peels—improving skin tone and fading spots and other superficial signs of aging. The Burnett Plastic Surgery team can educate each patient about the range of options, as well as guide the decision-making process so that results are effective, satisfying, and long lasting.

Burnett Plastic Surgery

Contact Westfield's Burnett Plastic Surgery today to discuss blepharoplasty in NJ. Call (908) 233-0200 or send a message online.