Bethesda Eyelid Surgeon Discusses Avoiding Lower Blepharoplasty Complications with Good Techniques
Dr. Albert Cytryn describes his approach to lower eyelid surgery that helps minimize under correction, other potential complications, and yields natural looking and long lasting outcomes.
Bethesda, MD — Lower eyelid surgery, also known as lower eyelid blepharoplasty, is a popular cosmetic procedure designed to treat excess tissue, wrinkled or crepey skin, displaced fat, or hollowing of the eye socket. When done properly, the result can create a refreshed and more youthful look. According to Bethesda eyelid surgeon Albert Cytryn, MD, key factors in achieving this rejuvenated appearance—while also ensuring natural looking and long lasting results—are choosing the right technique for each patient and addressing the individual anatomical differences that might otherwise lead to an under correction or potential complication.
In a recent blog post titled, Techniques for Avoiding Potential Lower Eyelid Surgery Complications, Dr. Cytryn provides some insight into what this type of approach to lower eyelid blepharoplasty entails, highlighting two patient cases with pictures and descriptions for each. Regarding the first patient—who has notable lower lid skin redundancy in combination with slight detachment of the skin from underlying musculature—he states: “Several things need to happen to achieve the most optimal result. In addition to removing significant amounts of skin, the midface area needs to be undermined and re-draped so that the skin that isn’t removed is now tightly adherent to the underlying muscle.” Dr. Cytryn goes on to note that tightening of both the eyelid and midface is also necessary—which he says is an added step that not only helps avoid the potential complication of the eyelids pulling downward as they heal, but also enhances the final outcome by creating an aesthetically pleasing continuum between the cheek and eyelids that would otherwise not be achieved.
In reference to the second case—which is a younger patient whose aesthetic issues include fat protrusion from the eye socket into the eyelid and dark circles under the eyes created by hollowing of midfacial tissues—the Bethesda eyelid surgeon explains: “The main component of the surgery is releasing the various ligaments that lead to the hollow areas under the eyelids. While some of the fat is removed, much of it is placed into a different position under the original fat pad [a technique called ‘fat transposition’], thereby eliminating the dark circles that are the most noticeable aspect of the patient’s pre-operative complaint.” While he says a skin incision is not always necessary in cases such as these, Dr. Cytryn notes that tightening of the eyelids and midface is important for the same reasons as the first patient.
Ultimately, Dr. Cytryn stresses that the key takeaway is to understand how each presentation is quite different and unique. Unfortunately, he adds, most surgeons performing these lower eyelid surgeries are not fully trained in the art of redraping fat or tightening the eyelid and midface. Consequently, many patients undergoing these surgeries tend to be slightly under corrected and may achieve less than optimal results. In fact, Dr. Cytryn says almost 10 percent of his practice is devoted to the revision of eyelid complications secondary to previous cosmetic surgery. “If the surgeon truly understands what anatomical changes need to occur, and the proper tightening techniques are used, then the overall results should be outstanding.”
About Albert Cytryn, MD
Dr. Cytryn has over two decades of experience in cosmetic surgery of the eyelids and face. In addition to lower blepharoplasty, he offers upper eyelid surgery, Asian blepharoplasty, midface lift, facelift surgery, brow lift surgery, laser resurfacing, and numerous injectables. He also performs several reconstructive procedures—including eyelid ptosis surgery, eye socket reconstruction, and treatment for Graves’ disease—as well as revision eyelid and facial surgery.
Dedicated to continually advancing his own education as well as that of others, Dr. Cytryn maintains active membership in the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and he lectures both locally and abroad on a wide array of facial plastic surgery topics.
To learn more, visit cytryneyelidsurgery.com. Dr. Cytryn is available for interview upon request.
Contact:
Cytryn Eyelid & Facial Plastic Surgery
Bethesda Office:
6420 Rockledge Drive, Suite 4300
Bethesda, MD 20817
Phone: 301-571-0000
Annandale Office:
3301 Woodburn Road, Suite 201
Annandale, VA 22003
Phone: 703-849-8185
Greenbelt Office:
7501 Greenway Center Drive, Suite 220
Greenbelt, MD 20770
Phone: 301-513-9134
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