Correction of Eyelid Drooping and Bags Under Eyes (Blepharoplasty)

As early as our 30’s and 40’s, some of us get excess skin developing in our upper eyelids, which often leads to some drooping and the appearance of aging eyes.  Others may experience loose skin, wrinkles, and bags forming underneath the eyes.  Some individuals will have both. 

Blepharoplasty surgery (eyelid tuck) is performed to cosmetically and functionally rejuvenate the eyelids and associated structures. As we age, the skin and muscle associated with eyelids may become loose and baggy. This may result in a saggy or sad appearance that may make us look older and tired.  In addition, tissues that separate the fat that surrounds the eyeball may become weak and the fat may bulge forward, forming bags below the eyes. Many people may develop some problems seeing because the excess upper eyelid skin may partially obstruct their vision.  Thus, many people have eyelid surgery for functional as well as cosmetic purposes.

It is not uncommon to perform cosmetic eyelid surgery on patients in their 30's and 40's.  Despite eating well, exercising and staying fit, we may still have aging issues around our eyes due to the genetics we’ve inherited from our families.  Many of us find ourselves looking older than we feel when we look in the mirror. Our friends may be asking us if we are tired since we have lost that happy, refreshed look.  Droopy and baggy eyelids simply make us look older and tired.  By rejuvenating the eyelids, we can look more alert, awake and refreshed.

Eyelid surgery is performed in our office facility under local anesthesia. This surgery does not take long to perform and the recovery time is usually about a week although swelling and bruising can persist into the second week. During this time, the patient must refrain from any heavy activity and lifting. The eyes often bruise for several days after surgery. Most patients that have eyelid surgery on Thursday or Friday can recover over the weekend and get out of the house by Monday or Tuesday with sunglasses to cover the surgery.

Dr Cole can also treat the excess lower eyelid skin with laser resurfacing. This allows significant skin tightening without cutting away skin. No incisions are required with this laser technique. When performing laser resurfacing of the lower eyelid skin, the patient will be red for a week and then pink for another week. Makeup can be used to cover the pinkness until it resolves. For minor to moderate lower eyelid wrinkling, a chemical peel can be performed and heals in about a week.  The results are not quite as dramatic as with the laser treatment, but the recovery is faster.

When considering cosmetic eyelid surgery, it is important to inform Dr. Cole of any abnormalities of your eyes, vision, or general eye health. You should also schedule your surgery when you can relax afterwards for at least a week. Eyelid surgery is very safe but complications can occur when patients over exert themselves. When having eyelid surgery, patients often feel great shortly after surgery and can have a tendency to over due activities such as sports, gardening, exercise, etc. It is truly important to refrain from strenuous activities that require bending or lifting for a week after surgery to avoid complications. In addition, any drugs that increase bleeding such as aspirin, anti-inflammatories, some vitamins and herbs, and some over the counter medications need to be discontinued 2 weeks before surgery.

UltraShape® Non-Invasive Fat Reduction & Body Contouring

UltraShape® has developed a totally non-invasive body contouring treatment that effectively and safely reduces unwanted fat deposits in men and women. UltraShape is clinically proven to reduce fat thickness and body circumference. The UltraShape® “walk-in walk-out” procedure takes place in our London office after a consultation session between Dr. Cole, his nurse and patient. Dr. Cole first examines and marks the treatment area. Then, while the patient lies back on a comfortable bed, the nurse uses the hand-held transducer to convert electrical energy into ultrasound energy and gently deliver focused, therapeutic ultrasound energy over the marked region. In this way, the fat cells are selectively and safely disrupted. The entire procedure is guided by UltraShape’s advanced tracking technology, which ensures smooth, uniform contouring. Before you resort to surgical solutions such as liposuction, tummy tuck, injections, incisions or other invasive techniques - consult with Dr. Cole and his nursing staff at the Cole Clinic to see if UltraShape is right for you! Get results with no discomfort, no downtime, no anesthesia and no risk of harmful side effects. A new body contour in three treatments! Safe, effective and convenient. No surgery. No anesthetics. No recovery time.

UltraShape requires no downtime, no follow up maintenance, and no recuperation period. The safe and effective procedure - ranging between 45 to 90 minutes--can treat multiple areas like the abdomen, flanks and thighs. Following treatment, patients can immediately resume their daily routines.  After 3 treatments, clinical results show an average reduction of four centimeters and as much as ten centimeters.
The UltraShape solution is based on a technological breakthrough that uses ultrasound waves to selectively break down fat cells without affecting neighboring structures such as nerves and blood vessels. After treatment, the body’s natural pathways clear away the disrupted fat cells.
The procedure requires no anesthesia or sedation (unlike the much more painful Liposonix system). Equally important, the safety and effectiveness of the UltraShape solution are endorsed by extensive clinical trials.

Treatmeant Areas The UltraShape procedure is designed to treat: Abdomen (1) Flanks (“love handles”) (2) External Thighs ("saddle bags" ) (3) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Who is it for? The UltraShape® treatment has been designed to help average to overweight men and women acquire an improved body contour. It offers an alternative to patients seeking effective reduction of localized fat deposits without surgery. What body areas are treated? The UltraShape™ treatment focuses on the abdomen, thighs (“saddle bags”) and flanks (“love handles"). What results can I expect? In a multi-center, controlled, clinical trial, an average of 2 cm reduction in circumference was achieved after a single treatment of the abdomen, outer thighs, or flanks. In independent studies and in commercial use, multiple treatments have shown incremental circumference reduction and high patient satisfaction.

What does the UltraShape treatment feel like?
Most patients report a painless and comfortable experience with side effects being extremely rare. Patients are immediately able to resume their daily routine.

What happens after treatment?
As soon as the session is over, you can immediately resume your daily routine. There is no recuperation period, and no need for follow-up visits. Patients state that there is no post-treatment pain or discomfort. The skin surface remains smooth and the fat texture remains homogenous.

How does the UltraShape treatment work?
The UltraShape™ treatment uses scientifically proven, non-invasive ultrasound technology to break down unwanted fat. Focused ultrasound energy selectively targets fat cells in the chosen body area without harming surrounding tissues such as nerves or blood vessels.

What happens to the fat?
During the UltraShape™ treatment, the membranes of the fat cells are disrupted. The fat cell content, primarily comprised of triglycerides, is dispersed into the fluid between the cells and then transported through the vascular and lymphatic systems to the liver. The liver makes no distinction between fat coming from the UltraShape treatment and fat originating from consumed food. Both are processed by the body’s natural mechanisms.