• Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)
• Eyelid and Brow Ptosis Repair
• Ectropion and Entropion Correction
• Orbital Surgery
• Mid-Face Lift
• Browlift (Forehead Lift)

Tampa, Florida – Eyelid and Facial Plastic Surgery Procedures

Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)

Drooping eyelids and bags below your eyes can make you appear older and more tired than you feel. For patients desiring more youthful looking eyes, our Tampa, Florida practice offers eyelid surgery. This type of surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, can be performed on the upper lid, the lower lid, or both lids depending on a patient’s needs. It can also be performed in conjunction with another type of facial surgery.

Eyelid Surgery Procedure

When you visit our Tampa Bay, Florida area practice for eyelid surgery, your eye area will be numbed with topical anesthetic and you will be given a sedative or general anesthesia, depending on the extent of your surgery. Dr. LiVecchi will then make incisions following the natural lines of your eyelids. Working through the incisions, he will gently remove excess fat and trim sagging skin and muscle. The incisions will then be closed with very fine sutures.

For some patients, Dr. LiVecchi can perform transconjunctival blepharoplasty. In this procedure, fat pockets are removed through an incision inside the lower eyelid, leaving no visible scar. This form of eyelid surgery is usually reserved for younger patients with thicker, more elastic skin.

Recovery from Eyelid Surgery

Following surgery, your eyelids may feel tight and sore. However, this discomfort can easily be controlled with pain medication. You will be instructed to keep your head elevated for several days and to use eye drops regularly as your eyes heal. For the first few weeks after surgery, you may experience bruising, swelling, excessive tearing, sensitivity to light, and temporary changes in your eyesight. Most patients are able to go in public about one week to ten days after surgery, though strenuous activities such as exercise should be avoided for about three weeks.

Visit our Tampa Bay, Florida eye care center for additional information about eyelid surgery.

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Eyelid and Brow Ptosis Repair

Ptosis is the drooping of the upper eyelid or brow due to age, disease, injury, or birth defect. In addition to negatively affecting a person’s appearance, hanging skin caused by lax muscles can also obstruct vision and lead to other eye problems. To correct ptosis, Dr. LiVecchi strengthens or tightens the muscles in the eyelid or brow, usually under local anesthesia. If the muscles are extremely weak, he may also perform eyelid lift or browlift.

Insurance Coverage for Ptosis Repair

If ptosis is significantly obstructing your vision, your insurance company will most likely cover this procedure. When you visit St. Luke’s, we can discuss insurance coverage in greater detail.

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Ectropion and Entropion Correction

In patients with ectropion, the lower eyelid turns outward and sags, leaving the eye exposed and dry. The condition occurs when the lower eyelid muscles are too loose to hold the lid taut against the eye. Ectropion is most common among people over the age of 60.

Entropion is a result of the lower eyelid turning inward, causing the lashes to rub against the eye. Though it usually stems from a muscle spasm, entropion can also be caused by eye trauma or certain diseases.

Symptoms

The following are common symptoms of ectropion and entropion:

• Tearing
• Burning
• Irritation
• Sandy, gritty feeling
• Red eye

Treatment

Symptoms of ectropion and entropion can often be alleviated through the use of artificial tears. However, surgery to alter the position of the lower brow is usually the most effective method of correcting these problems. Please contact St. Luke’s Cataract and Laser Institute in Tampa, Florida for more information about this type of eyelid surgery.

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Orbital Surgery

The term “orbit” refers to the bony cavity on the face that contains the eyeball. If the orbit is damaged due to trauma, surgery may be necessary to protect the eye, restore a balanced appearance to the face, and preserve vision. Surgery can also be used to remove a tumor. When performing orbital surgery, Dr. LiVecchi may remove, rearrange, or reconstruct the bony plates that make up the orbit.

To undergo orbital surgery at our Tampa Bay, Florida center, contact facial plastic surgery specialist John LiVecchi , MD.

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Mid-Face Lift

If you are unhappy with sagging cheeks and deep folds between your nose and mouth, a mid-face lift can be performed to enhance the appearance of your face. The procedure is used to lift, tighten and smooth the cheek area, helping to eliminate deep lines and folds. It requires less facial trauma and a shorter recovery time than a full face lift.

The Surgery

A mid-face lift is usually performed endoscopically. Dr. LiVecchi first makes small, one-inch long incisions in two areas: above the ear (near the temple) and inside the mouth (over the cheekbone). Permanent stitches are then used to secure the fat pads of the cheeks to the tissue in the temple, providing a smoother, younger appearance to the cheeks.

Following a mid-face lift, most patients experience minimal bruising and slight swelling. Most are able to return to normal activities about a week after undergoing the procedure. To find out if you are a good candidate for a mid-face lift, contact Dr. LiVecchi today.

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Browlift (Forehead Lift)

A browlift, sometimes referred to as a forehead lift, can restore a youthful, invigorated look to the area above the eyes. The procedure helps to correct drooping brows and eliminate deep forehead furrows and horizontal lines. It is also effective at improving the appearance of the area surrounding the eyes. For some facial plastic surgery patients, browlift is performed in conjunction with eyelid surgery for maximum results.

Open vs. Endoscopic Surgery

There are two techniques that can be used to perform browlift surgery: the traditional “open” technique and the endoscopic technique.

Open Browlift: When performing an open browlift, Dr. LiVecchi makes an incision behind the hairline that extends across the top of the forehead and down to the ears. If a patient’s hairline is high or receding, he may alter the location of the incision to ensure that the scar is as discreet as possible. Dr. LiVecchi then works through the incision to remove tissue, alter forehead muscles, and elevate the eyebrows if necessary. Excess skin is removed to create a smoother, more taut appearance. Finally, the incision is closed with stitches.

Endoscopic Browlift: When performing endoscopic browlift surgery, Dr. LiVecchi makes three to five short scalp incisions (each less than an inch long), rather than one long incision. He then places a pencil-like camera, called an endoscope, through one of the incisions. Images taken by the endoscope are displayed on a television screen, allowing Dr. LiVecchi to view muscle and tissue beneath the skin. While looking at the screen, Dr. LiVecchi is able to lift forehead skin and alter muscle and tissue through the other small incisions. Once the surgery is complete, each incision is closed with stitches.

Though endoscopic browlift surgery offers some advantages over open surgery, not every patient is a good candidate for this procedure. When you visit our Tampa , Florida practice for a facial plastic surgery consultation, Dr. LiVecchi will evaluate your cosmetic goals and unique facial features to decide which type of surgery is best for you.

Recovery

Immediately following browlift surgery, patients experience varying degrees of numbness, temporary discomfort, and facial swelling. Pain can be controlled with prescription medication. As the nerves heal, many open browlift patients also experience itching at the top of the scalp. All browlift surgery patients are usually able to return to most normal activities (i.e. work) within about ten days, but should avoid vigorous physical activity for several weeks.

For more information about the risks and benefits of undergoing browlift surgery, contact our Tampa, Florida eye care and facial plastic surgery practice today.

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