Around the Eyes

Frequently, a patient starting at the age of 30 develops what appears to be excess upper lid skin. Although this is sometimes the case, the primary event that causes this appearance is the descent of the eyebrow and forehead. The ideal procedure to correct this situation is a brow lift, typically preformed through an incision behind the hairline. The incision is usually approximately 1-2 inches over three areas in the scalp to allow either a small T.V. camera or a direct view of the brow during the surgery. In some cases with extremely low brow, the incision is made throughout the length of the scalp to allow correct lift. The procedure is appropriately done when the lateral brow areas is elevated so that there is a slight arch to the brow. The central portion is not lifted because this can lead to a surprised appearance.

Apparent Excess Lower Eyelid Skin

In some patients there is excess lower lid fat, which in many cases can be removed through a small incision hidden on the inner surface of the eyelid (transconjunctival approach). When necessary, skin excess can be removed to smoothen the wrinkles of the lower eyelid. In addition, a canthopexy is performed to tighten and lift the lower lid, resulting in a mini eye lift, similar to a face lift. This prevents any rounding or saddened appearance of the eyelid that can occur with removal of the skin only without additional support.

Mid Face Lift

In combination with this canthopexy, the mid face is frequently lifted through the small incision below the eyelid. This allows the nasolabial area to be lifted, which is an area that is difficult to address through a traditional facelift technique.

Face Lift

A facelift generally treats the lower third of the face at approximately the level of the mouth and into the neck. These areas are less frequently involved in the younger non-Caucasian patient who is less than 50 years old. The preferred procedure to rejuvenate the face is the brow lift and upper and lower eyelid surgery and the mid face lift. The traditional face and neck lift is reserved for patients with sagging around the lips, jaw line and neck area, which occurs much less frequently in non-Caucasians compared to the Caucasian population. The SMAS lift is included to help with longevity and the natural look of the facelift.