South Florida Plastic Surgery Associates - Don R. Revis, MD











Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Upper and Lower Eyelid Lifts Restore a More Youthful Look

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is a surgical procedure designed to restore a youthful appearance to your eyes. The goal of eyelid surgery is to remove excess skin, muscle, and fat that may develop as a result of aging, gravity, and sun exposure. Eyelid surgery can remove this excess skin and puffy bags, but it will not remove crow's feet or dark circles from beneath your eyes. To accomplish these, several other procedures may be performed alone or in conjunction with your eyelid surgery. Depending on your individual circumstances and goals, you may choose to have your upper eyelids treated, your lower eyelids treated, or both your upper and lower eyelids treated.

Wrinkles, crow's feet, and dark circles may be treated with Botox injections, laser resurfacing, or chemical peels. I encourage you to read the pages on these topics if you are concerned with these problems.

While blepharoplasty will address your concerns regarding your eyelids, it will not change the position of your eyebrows. Because drooping of the eyebrows often accompanies aging of the eyelids, eyelid surgery is also commonly performed with a lifting of the brow. If you feel you would be a good candidate for a brow lift, please read the information regarding brow lift surgery located elsewhere on this website.

If you are concerned about the appearance of your eyelids and would like to restore a more youthful appearance to your eyes, you might be a good candidate for eyelid surgery. This page will give you a basic understanding of the procedure and the results you can expect.

The cornerstone of Dr. Revis' approach is to individualize treatment to your specific circumstances and goals and to ensure that you have an adequate understanding of the issues involved so that you are able to make a fully informed decision. This will help you achieve the appearance you desire with the least invasive procedure available, thus creating a mutually rewarding experience. Dr. Revis invites you to visit his office for a complimentary consultation to discuss the procedure in greater detail. You are also invited to email Dr. Revis with your questions, or we can mail you more detailed information regarding the procedure.

As you consider plastic surgery, one of the most important decisions you will make is choosing your surgeon. Our pledge to you is to provide the latest, state of the art cosmetic plastic surgery in a safe and professional environment. Dr. Revis is a recognized specialist in the field of cosmetic plastic surgery and is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the only plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. He is also an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and has also been named among "America's Top Surgeons" by the Consumers' Research Council of America.

Our goal is to provide you with the ultimate patient experience. Our well-trained staff will help you understand your procedure, our financial policies, the scheduling of your surgery, and your post-operative care. We are available to assist you during our regular office hours, Monday through Friday. Dr. Revis is also available 24 hours a day to post-surgical patients; he will give you his cell phone number after surgery so that you will always be able to reach him with any questions or concerns you might have during your recovery.

The Consultation

During your initial consultation, Dr. Revis will inquire about your medical history, prior procedures, medications, allergies, and your motivations for seeking plastic surgery. It is very important that you be thorough when providing your medical history, as this information helps to prevent complications during your care. When asked about medications, be sure to include any vitamin or herbal preparations, as these can affect your blood pressure and clotting ability. Honesty regarding your use of tobacco and alcohol is also very important, as these may have a profound impact on your recovery period and your ability to heal following your procedure.

After reviewing your medical history, Dr. Revis will discuss your concerns, priorities and motivations for pursuing plastic surgery, as well as your fears. After examining you, Dr. Revis will be able to offer advice and options to help you achieve the appearance you desire. He will explain the advantages and disadvantages of the different options you have before you.

At the completion of your consultation, our Patient Coordinator will give you a written estimate of the cost of your procedure. At this time, you will also have the option to schedule your procedure if you so choose. The decision to undergo surgery is a very important one, and the final decision should be given very careful consideration. Dr. Revis realizes the importance of this decision, and at no time will you be pressured to make a decision. You are also encouraged to bring your spouse, significant other, family member, or a friend to your consultation.

Where Your Procedure Will Be Performed

Dr. Revis has been granted staff privileges at our local hospitals and outpatient surgery centers. In the interest of the safety of his patients, he only performs surgery in fully accredited facilities with the proper services and staff. Dr. Revis usually performs blepharoplasty procedures at Broward General Medical Center or Imperial Point Medical Center (fully accredited hospitals) or the Imperial Point Surgery Center (a fully accredited ambulatory surgery center). The staff of these facilities are very experienced in the care of plastic surgery patients in general and specifically in the care of Dr. Revis’ patients.

Types of Anesthesia

Anesthesia is an essential part of any surgical procedure and must be performed safely. General anesthesia is the deepest form of anesthesia. You are asleep, feel no pain, and will not remember the procedure. This form of anesthesia is usually not necessary for a blepharoplasty.

Intravenous sedation, called twilight sleep, is a combination of local anesthetic administered at the surgical site by Dr. Revis and intravenous sedation administered by the anesthesiologist. You breathe for yourself, but you are in a deep sleep throughout the procedure. You should feel no pain, and you will not remember the procedure.

An intermediate form of anesthesia, the laryngeal mask airway (LMA), is a relatively new technique. This technique is similar to twilight sleep in that you are breathing on your own, but the method of sedation differs. With an LMA, you actually breathe anesthetic gases administered by the anesthesiologist, rather than receive intravenous sedation via your intravenous line. These anesthetic gases cause you to sleep during the procedure. At the completion of the procedure, the gases are turned off and you wake up from your sleep. You will feel no pain, and you will not remember the procedure.

The prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting is also a focus of Dr. Revis' approach to blepharoplasty. To improve your overall experience and ensure you feel better faster following your eyelid surgery, he has developed a technique that has resulted in a very low incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting. You will be given an intravenous dose of Zofran at the beginning of your operation. Zofran is a new drug which is currently the best medication available to prevent nausea and vomiting. Dr. Revis feels it is a very important component of his overall approach to make sure that your experience is as pleasant as possible.

Dr. Revis will discuss all of these options with you more thoroughly at the time of your consultation, and please ask him about anything you do not understand.

Details of the Procedure

Eyelid surgery usually takes one to one and a half hours to perform. After you are properly anesthetized, Dr. Revis will make an incision in each eyelid to be treated. Depending on your needs, he will then carefully remove the necessary skin, muscle and fat that is associated with the appearance you wish to correct. After correcting the appearance of your eyelids, Dr. Revis carefully closes the incisions to minimize your scar.

Antibiotic ointment specially pH-balanced for your eyes is then applied to your incisions.

Products to Help You Heal

Silagen Made with 100% pure medical grade silicone, Silagen 100% Pure Silicone Gel for Scars is a clear, fast drying gel that will help flatten, soften and smooth scars. It also helps reduce redness, discoloration, itching, and pain.

SinEcch Arnica Montana is a natural product from Sweden which has been shown in clinical studies to reduce post-operative bruising and swelling. Begun the evening prior to surgery, this product is continued for four days post-operatively.

These products are available for purchase in our office. Please ask us about these products and others if you have any further questions about whether or not these would be beneficial for you during your healing period.

After Your Procedure

Eyelid surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, unless you are having multiple procedures performed such as a facelift or a brow lift. After recovering in the recovery room for approximately one hour, you will be able to go home in the company of a friend or family member. You should place ice packs over your eyes for the remainder of the day of your operation. Dr. Revis will show you the proper method for applying these ice packs.

The antibiotics that were prescribed during your preoperative visit (usually Augmentin) should be taken twice daily beginning on the evening prior to surgery. Continue this medication until it is gone. The pain medication prescribed by Dr. Revis during your preoperative visit (usually Lortab or Vicodin) should be taken fairly regularly, every four hours or so, during the first 24 hours (when you are not asleep, of course). Most patients find that they are able to transition to Tylenol after three or four days. It is not safe to drive a car within 24 hours of taking pain medication, as your reflexes and alertness may be altered.

You should plan to take it easy following your surgery. No strenuous activities, heavy lifting (over 20 pounds), aerobic exercises, swimming, contact sports, tennis, or golf should be planned for the first several weeks. As Dr. Revis monitors your recovery, he will advise you when it is safe to resume specific activities.

Sutures in your eyelids will be removed four to five days following your surgery.

The Results You Can Expect

A moderate amount of swelling and bruising around the eyes can be expected following your surgery. After this subsides, you will discover your more youthful appearance. You should be able to resume your normal daily activities the day after surgery, and you should be able to resume all of your physical activities within two weeks of surgery.

Eyelid Lift Before & After Photos

Please call (954) 630-2009 or email Dr. Revis for further information or to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Email: DrDonRevis@hotmail.com

 

Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Site Map

Copyright 2022 South Florida Plastic Surgery Associates