Eyelid, Facial & Brow Surgery
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Southern Eye Associates is pleased to offer the expertise of Dr. Tyler Pace, a board-certified ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon who also completed a highly-competitive American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery fellowship.
Oculoplastic surgeons are experts in eyelid, orbit, and lacrimal surgery. An ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgeon is a board-certified ophthalmologist who has completed additional fellowship training in plastic surgery as it relates to the eyes and surrounding structures. This field of medicine is devoted to treating problems of the eyelids, eye socket, and tear drainage system.
Treatment Information
As ophthalmologists, oculoplastic surgeons understand that the eyelids are an integral part of vision. A drooping or heavy upper eyelid can block vision. Because surgery of the eyelid area can affect one’s ability to see, ophthalmic plastic surgeons are best qualified to perform this delicate surgery and also provide any care that the eye itself may need.
Some of the conditions treated with surgery and some of the surgery types are as follows.
Ectropion or Entropion
When your eyelid is turned out, you can experience watering, pain, and irritation due to the eye’s exposure. An eyelid that’s turned in can cause discomfort or lead to more serious eye conditions.
Orbital Fractures
Orbital or eye socket fractures are serious and can cause permanent damage. Seek immediate attention from an eye doctor.
Blepharoplasty
Sometimes known as an eyelid lift, blepharoplasty can help your appearance and vision.
Brow Lift
If drooping eyebrows are changing the way you look, we may have the solution. A brow lift can help with the heavy feeling and impaired vision that are often caused by droopy eyebrows.
Chalazion
A small eyelid bump known as a chalazion can cause irritation and be a distraction. Dr. Pace can provide relief from this.
Ptosis
Drooping eyelids, or ptosis, affect many older people. Ptosis surgery will help restore your field of vision.
Upper & Lower Eyelid Surgery Refreshes The Appearance of Your Eyes
Our eyes are one of the first things that people notice about us. As such, they are an important part of our overall appearance. As we age, the delicate skin around the eyes can appear puffy or saggy. Eyelid skin stretches and droops, muscles weaken, and the normal deposits of protective fat around the eye bulge. Eyelid surgery to remove these excess tissues (skin, muscle, or fat) is called blepharoplasty.
How Can an Eyelid Lift Help Your Appearance?
Blepharoplasty can be performed on the upper or lower eyelids for either cosmetic or functional reasons. Often people choose cosmetic blepharoplasty to improve their appearance by making the area around their eyes firmer. This refreshes the appearance of your eyes giving them a more youthful look. Dr. Rhonda Barrett, a board-certified oculofacial plastic surgeon, specializes in eyelid lift surgeries and is passionate about helping her patients achieve their desired outcomes.
How Can an Eyelid Lift Help Your Vision?
There are also medical reasons for why you may need an eyelid lift. When heavy upper eyelid skin drapes across the eyelid margin and blocks vision, it is considered a functional problem rather than cosmetic. Heavy upper eyelids can often cause difficulty with driving, working, or reading. Eyelid surgery can correct this problem and many patients report improved vision and comfort levels. Many insurance providers cover this surgery. Dr. Rhonda Barrett will evaluate whether you are likely to qualify. Schedule a consultation to learn more about this procedure.
Blepharoplasty
As we age, the delicate skin around the eyes can appear puffy or saggy. Eyelid skin stretches, muscles weaken, and the normal deposits of protective fat around the eye bulge. The surgical procedure to remove excess eyelid tissues (skin, muscle, or fat) is called blepharoplasty.
Blepharoplasty can be performed on upper or lower eyelids for cosmetic or functional reasons. Often people choose cosmetic blepharoplasty to improve their appearance by making the area around their eyes firmer. When heavy upper eyelid skin drapes across the eyelid margin and blocks vision, it is considered a functional problem rather than cosmetic. Heavy upper eyelids can often cause difficulty with driving, working, or reading. Surgery can be performed to correct this problem and many patients report improved vision and comfort levels. Many insurance providers cover this surgery, and your doctor will evaluate whether you are likely to qualify.
Ectropion
Ectropion means that the lower eyelid is “rolled out” or sagging away from the eye. The sagging lower eyelid leaves the eye exposed and dry. If ectropion is not treated, the condition may lead to chronic tearing, eye irritation, redness, pain, a gritty feeling, crusting of the eyelid, mucous discharge, and breakdown of the eye surface due to exposure.
Ectropion is most commonly caused by age-related stretching of the normal eyelid tissue, and this condition can be corrected with eyelid surgery. Most patients report increased comfort and less tearing following this reconstructive procedure with little, if any, post-operative discomfort.
Entropion
Entropion means that the lower eyelid is “rolled in” toward the eye, often with the eyelashes rubbing on the surface of the eye. This can cause eye irritation or the sensation of a foreign body in the eye. If entropion is not treated, the condition may lead to chronic tearing, light sensitivity, eye irritation, redness, pain, or a breakdown of the eye surface due to the constant rubbing of the lashes on the eye. The eye surface may develop a painful abrasion, ulcer, or scarring if the condition is not treated.
It is important to have surgical correction of an entropion to prevent harmful damage to the eye surface. The success of this surgery is quite high and most patients report immediate relief of the eye irritation with little, if any, post-operative discomfort.
Ptosis Repair
Ptosis is the medical term for drooping of the upper eyelid(s) and this can occur at any age. There are many causes, although an age-related weakening of the eyelid muscle is the most common cause. When the eyelid droops, it may cover the pupil and decrease the field of vision. Patients often report that they can see if they raise their eyelids with their fingers. Other patients may raise their eyebrows in an effort to raise their drooping eyelids. This may make the eyelids feel tired and heavy, especially at the end of the day.
Ptosis can be corrected in many cases with surgery to tighten the slipped muscle. The goal of surgery is to raise the eyelid to allow a full field of vision and also to achieve symmetry with the opposite upper eyelid. Many insurance providers cover this surgery, and Dr. Pace will evaluate whether you are likely to qualify.
Skin Cancer
Areas of skin exposed to sunlight, including the eyelids, are at a higher likelihood of developing skin cancer. Any new bump or lesion of the eyelids should be evaluated to determine if treatment is required. Oculoplastic surgeons are specialists in the treatment of eyelid cancers and in the reconstruction of the eyelid following removal of the skin cancer.
Removal of skin cancers in the eyelid area often requires a team approach between the oculoplastic surgeon and a dermatologist with special training in Mohs surgery. Mohs surgery is a technique in which the dermatologist removes the cancer and inspects the margins at the time of the surgery to make sure that all of the cancer cells have been removed. Mohs surgery also allows for any normal tissue to be preserved. The eyelid is then repaired by an oculoplastic surgeon who is specially trained in eyelid reconstruction and who is able to restore the form and function of the eyelid.
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