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Blephoplasty: an option for tired eyes by Heather Woolwine Public Relations Take a moment to look at the people near you. Notice anything in particular about their eyes? For sure there are bags and wrinkles. The cause of those bags and wrinkles can be anything from age to exhaustion and are the source for much unhappiness associated with the aging process.   As an alternative to more invasive and expensive plastic surgery, Gene Howard, M.D., Storm Eye Institute, wants you to check those bags and wrinkles with him.   “As you look around, you’ll notice that people who are fit and look great in many other physical aspects might seem to look puffy and tired around the eyes,” he said. “For some it’s because of a genetic imprint that gives them an older look at a younger age, for others its loss of elasticity due to aging, and sometimes allergies can play a role in causing unwanted bags and wrinkles. It’s hard for these people who otherwise look and feel great to always have their friends and coworkers asking, ‘Are you all right? Gosh you look tired,’ and for them to always reassure others that they are fine.”   Howard performs upper and lower eyelid blephoplasties under local anesthesia for patients who desire to have that young, refreshed, rested look without major surgery and major recovery time. But the reasons for removal of wrinkles and bags are not just cosmetic.   “Some patients have loss of peripheral vision because of sagging skin over their eyelashes,” Howard said. “The excess skin is easily removed from either lid and is complimented by a laser procedure or chemical peel that smoothes out wrinkles around the eye.”   In addition to a blephoplasty, the laser steams away superficial skin and causes the collagen present in skin to tighten the area.   Howard believes that the normally one-hour outpatient procedure could benefit just about everyone and compared to a facelift, is a minor undertaking. “It’s a quicker healing process and a less drastic change to the face. It can even help with those dark circles,” he said.   For many who desire a change but are worried about the “wide-eyed” look of a face-lift, a blephoplasty from an oculoplastic specialist like Howard should assuage most fears. “When plastic surgeons receive their training, they are taught to operate on the entire body, and by that nature, can’t spend as much time learning to work on every area,” Howard said. “Eyes and eyelids are a small portion of that overall training. We have the benefit through our specialty of focusing just on the eyes and surrounding tissue. Plus, a benefit to seeing an oculoplastic specialist is that in the event that there is a complication, the patient won’t need to be referred to anyone else because the specialist can handle just about any problem that would arise.”   Blephoplasties run approximately one third the cost of a total facelift, making it an appealing alternative to those who wish to start addressing their skin issues earlier in age. “It’s more cost effective to start with subtle procedures when you’re younger,” Howard said.   He won’t perform a procedure on a young patient who simply believes that they have a wrinkle or two though. Every person who desires any procedure must go through a consultation and evaluation period to determine if the desired procedure is needed.  “We’ve told plenty of people that they’re just not ready yet,” he said.   Big believers in subtle changes to freshen the face as opposed to major surgeries, Howard and physician’s assistant Malissa LaRoche provide a variety of other oculoplastic services like chemical peels, Botox, injectible fillers for wrinkles, and permanent eye makeup. LaRoche is also well-versed in skin care and skin-care products.   For information, call 792-8100 or visit http://www.stormeye.org. MUSC nurse describes her experience Left photo: Lorraine DeMarois before the blephoplasty. Right photo: DeMarois after. “I am a young woman, full of energy and upbeat. Many times I was asked if I was feeling OK or had I slept well the night before. My eyes had depressions, wrinkles and discoloration. One year ago, I had a lower blephoplasty under local anesthesia. It seemed to help, but later I also opted for the CO2 laser. The first 10 days after the procedure were the most uncomfortable, but even then it wasn’t bad. There was very little pain, there was some itching, but overall it was very tolerable.   Now I receive many compliments on how I look, especially when they see my ‘before’ pictures. There is a defined change in the way my eyes look. People say, ‘Wow, your eyes look fantastic,’ and ‘You look so much younger.’   I feel refreshed and less sensitive about the way I look especially when I go to work without make-up on.” —Lorraine DeMarois, R.N., Ambulatory OR Friday, May 6, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. 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