Eyelid Lift Patients: Happier!

Eyelid Surgery Comments (2)

Patients always say they have more self-confidence and zest for life after a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure. But has that attitude ever been scientifically tested?

Not until now! Cosmetic surgeons and researchers Dr. Mrinal Supriya, Neil McCluney and Dr. Muhammad Shakeel, all of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in Aberdeen, Scotland, selected and tested 26 patients who had no other cosmetic surgery procedures besides upper and lower eyelid lifts.

Also known as a blepharoplasty, the procedure surgically removes drooping skin, fat and muscle from the eyelid, creating a more open and youthful eye.

Results? The patients showed top marks for all the quality of life questions on the test

The lower eyelid lift removes bags from under the eyes. Either one or both of the blepharoplasty procedures is commonly regarded as one of plastic surgery’s best buys that provides more bang for the buck.

With normal aging, eyelids stretch and droop, often falling over the eyeball itself and obscuring vision. Fat deposits are common, too, and may cause the bagging appearance under eyes.

Benefits of eyelid lift surgery include:

• A relatively low cost
• The procedure is done in-office in most cases
• Recovery is relatively quick

In the United States, the average cost for the upper and/or lower blepharoplasty procedures done in 2008 was $2963. (2008 is the most current year for which plastic surgery statistics are available.) 221,400 blepharoplasty procedures were done in ‘08.

The Aberdeen Royal Infirmary gave the 26 eyelid lift patients a standard test that measure quality of life before and after their surgeries. The test subjects had both upper and lower eyelid lift on both eyes.

Quality of Life” measures include:

• Financial and job status
• Sexual functioning
• Health status
• Local safety issues
• Divorce rate

The study was released at the 2009 American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation Annual Meeting.

It’s noteworthy because the only two medical specialties qualified by the American Board of Medical Specialties to call themselves cosmetic plastic surgeons are those with board certification in:

• Plastic surgery
• Head and neck surgery

Surgeons who are otolaryngologists (Head and neck surgeons) usually specialize in cosmetic surgery of the face. (Learn more about board certification in plastic surgery.)

admin @ October 9, 2009