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Blepharoplasty, commonly known as eyelid surgery, is a cosmetic surgery procedure designed to rejuvenate the area around the eyelids and restore alert, youthful appearance to the eyes. The procedure involves a number of steps, which can slightly vary depending on the correction required in upper, lower, or both eyelids.

Dr. Bryson Richards is a board certified plastic surgeon providing eyelid surgery and various other surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Dr. Richards will discuss the procedure steps during the pre-op consultation and address any concerns and doubts of the patient in detail. He provides blepharoplasty to patients in Las Vegas, Bullhead City, Laughlin, Pahrump, Mesquite NV, and surrounding locations.

Administering Anesthesia

Although eyelid lift plastic surgery is generally performed using local anesthesia and IV sedation, sometimes general anesthesia may be chosen, depending on the extent of surgery or the patient’s anxiety levels. In either case, the patient will be unconscious and fully comfortable while the procedure is performed.

Depending on the circumstances, an anesthesiologist or a certified anesthetist nurse will remain present throughout the procedure to monitor the patient. The decision about general anesthesia will be taken only after careful evaluation of the patient’s health history and current medical condition.

Lower Blepharoplasty

Lower eyelid surgery will involve small incisions placed in discreet locations to keep the scarring less conspicuous. Natural skin creases underneath the lower eyelashes may be used to create tiny incisions that will heal well and remain hidden. Loose skin and excess fat will be removed through the incisions. Underlying muscles may also be tightened in some cases.

If hollows exist under the lower eyelids, dermal filler injections or fat transfer procedure may be used to create a more even look. Once the procedure is completed, the surgeon will close the incisions with fine sutures.

Upper Blepharoplasty

Upper eyelid surgery will involve the creation of tiny incisions in the natural upper lid creases. Through the incisions, the surgeon will excise loose skin to correct the droopy upper lid appearance. This will also improve any partial vision obstruction. In some patients, the underlying weak muscles may also be tightened.

As the loose skin is trimmed away, the remainder skin will be lifted and reattached for a smoother, tighter upper lid appearance. The incisions will be closed with sutures following the procedure. Experienced plastic surgeon Dr. Richards receives patients from Las Vegas, Bullhead City, Laughlin, Pahrump, Mesquite NV, and nearby areas for blepharoplasty.

Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty

If the only problem is with the excess fat tissue around the eyelids, but the eyelid skin is reasonably elastic and smooth, a transconjunctival eyelid surgery may be performed. This is a less invasive surgery, which is more appropriate for patients who do not have very prominent under eye bags.

In this procedure, the surgeon will place multiple tiny incisions inside the lower eyelid after administering anesthesia. Excess fat tissue will be removed or redistributed through the incisions. No skin removal or muscle tightening will be performed in this procedure. This technique does not create visible scarring because the incisions are placed inside the eyelid.

If you would like more information on cosmetic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Las Vegas, Nevada plastic surgeon, Dr. Bryson Richards please contact us at 702.870.7070

Taking new patients from Las Vegas, Bullhead City,  Laughlin, Pahrump, Mesquite NV and surrounding areas.

Over the years, facelift cosmetic surgery has become much safer with a very high success rate. However, like any other surgical procedures, certain risks will still be inherent to facelift surgery. The patient should have full awareness about the potential risks and complications in order to make a well-considered decision.

Dr. Bryson Richards is a board certified plastic surgeon providing facelift and various other procedures for the face, body and breasts. Dr. Richards will ensure that the patient is properly educated about the procedure and its potential risks during the pre-operative consultation. He provides facelift to patients in Las Vegas, Bullhead City, Laughlin, Pahrump, Mesquite NV, and surrounding locations.

Facelift Risks

Potential risks involved in facelift plastic surgery include:

Poor Anesthesia Reaction

Although anesthesia has become an extremely safe procedure nowadays, but in rare cases, general anesthesia can still pose problems. A patient with a pre-existing medical condition may be at a higher risk of adverse anesthesia reaction. An experienced surgeon and anesthesiologist will usually manage to anticipate the reaction and minimize the risk.

Infection

Any surgical procedure entails some degree of infection risk. If the surgical center adheres to high standards of cleanliness and sanitation, the risk can be mitigated. The surgeon may also prescribe antibiotics and place drain tubes to collect excess fluid during early recovery phase. These steps can help to minimize the risk of infection.

Hematoma

Following facelift surgery, if the bleeding occurs beneath the skin, it can create swelling, pain and discoloration. Extreme hematoma cases may have to be addressed surgically. The risk of hematoma can be minimized by placing drain tubes below the skin for a few days to collect excess fluid.

Damage to Facial Nerves

In a rare situation, a cut or nick may occur in a facial nerve during facelift surgery. This can result in facial paralysis or numbness in the affected area. However, the damage is usually not permanent. A skilled cosmetic surgeon will be able to minimize this risk by keeping a conservative approach to facelift.

Visible Scarring

Although some degree of scarring is unavoidable after facelift surgery, it is possible to conceal most of the scars in discreet locations. A few minor marks may be visible in some cases if they are not correctly hidden in the hair or behind the ear. Dr. Richards receives patients from Las Vegas, Bullhead City, Laughlin, Pahrump, Mesquite NV, and nearby areas for facelift surgery.

Minimizing the Risk

An experience surgeon will strive to maintain a delicate balance between meeting the patient’s aesthetic goals and keeping a safe and conservative surgical approach. During the pre-op consultations, there should clear communication between the surgeon and the patient about all aspects.

The patient should be forthcoming about their medical history, current medications, and habits of smoking or drinking. Such information will enable the surgeon to make the right decisions about the extent of facelift surgery. The patient should be prepared to follow the surgeon’s pre- and post-operative instructions diligently in order to minimize the risk.

If you would like more information on cosmetic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Las Vegas, Nevada plastic surgeon, Dr. Bryson Richards please contact us at 702.870.7070

Taking new patients from Las Vegas, Bullhead City,  Laughlin, Pahrump, Mesquite NV and surrounding areas.

Facelift is one of the popular cosmetic surgery procedures to take several years off the face and make the face appear tighter, smoother, and rejuvenated. The patient should be aware of what to expect during the facelift procedure in order to make an informed choice. While facelift techniques may vary, the procedure steps largely remain the same.

Dr. Bryson Richards is a board certified plastic surgeon providing facelift and various other surgical and non-surgical procedures. Dr. Richards will familiarize the patient with the procedure during the pre-operative consultation and put them at ease about the surgery. He provides facelift to patients in Las Vegas, Bullhead City, Laughlin, Pahrump, Mesquite NV, and surrounding locations.

Anesthesia

The first important step in the operating room for facelift plastic surgery procedure is to place the patient under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with IV sedation, as per the surgical plan. The patient will be in deep sleep under either option, and will remain completely comfortable throughout the surgery.

The anesthesiologist or a certified anesthetist nurse may be present throughout the surgery to monitor the patient’s response to anesthesia. General anesthesia is more complicated, but may be recommended particularly in case of a full traditional facelift surgery.

Incision Placement

Once the patient has been anesthetized, the surgeon will begin the procedure by placing careful incisions. The incisions will be located as discreetly as possible to conceal the subsequent scars. In many cases, the major incision will be placed above the hairline to minimize scarring visibility.

Any other facial incisions may be placed in the natural facial creases. Healing is decent in these areas and scars are hidden well. In a full facelift, the incision typically starts from behind the hairline on one side of the head, a little above the temple. It then follows the hairline down to the ear to end in the lower scalp under the hair.

Trimming Loose Skin and Tightening Muscles

The cosmetic surgeon will lift the facial skin from the underlying tissue through the incisions. Excess skin will be trimmed away, extra fat will be removed or redistributed, and underlying muscles will be tightened to enhance the contours. Once the surgery is over, the skin will be re-draped smoothly and tightly and held together with staples or sutures.

The incision area will finally be wrapped with a bandage. The patient will be taken to an observation area to allow them to recover from the immediate effects of anesthesia and surgery. Dr. Richards receives patients from Las Vegas, Bullhead City, Laughlin, Pahrump, Mesquite NV, and nearby areas for facelift.

Facelift with Other Procedures

In some cases, the patient and surgeon may decide to have facelift in conjunction with other surgical or non-surgical procedures. Neck lift, liposuction and upper face procedures such as forehead lift or eyelid lift are commonly performed along with facelift surgery. The procedural steps will be altered to some extent when one or more procedures are combined with facelift surgery. The overall results can be more harmonious with such a comprehensive surgical approach.

If you would like more information on cosmetic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Las Vegas, Nevada plastic surgeon, Dr. Bryson Richards please contact us at 702.870.7070

Taking new patients from Las Vegas, Bullhead City,  Laughlin, Pahrump, Mesquite NV and surrounding areas.

Blepharoplasty or eyelid lift cosmetic surgery is a sensitive procedure, which should only be performed by a qualified surgeon. The surgeon will explain to the patient not only what to expect during the procedure, but also what to expect after the surgery. Like any surgical procedure, blepharoplasty will involve a period of recovery.

Dr. Bryson Richards is a board certified plastic surgeon providing eyelid surgery and various other procedures for the breast, body, and face. During the pre-op consultation, Dr. Richards will address all aspects of the procedure, including estimated recovery. He provides blepharoplasty to patients in Las Vegas, Bullhead City, Laughlin, Pahrump, Mesquite NV, and surrounding locations.

Estimated Time for Recovery

Eyelid lift plastic surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, but in a few cases, an overnight stay at the hospital may be required. The appropriate environment for immediate recovery will be determined by the preferences of both the surgeon and the patient. The patient should be prepared to undergo a downtime of about one week after eyelid surgery.

Within a week, most patients will be ready to resume their daily routine or return to their workplace. However, the complete recovery from eyelid surgery usually takes several weeks. Within two to five days, the sutures will be removed. The patient should give plenty of rest to the eyes during this early phase. Swelling and redness will be pronounced in the first week, but will progressively fade from the second week.

If the patient exerts the eyes with reading or watching TV in the early recovery phase, it can increase blood flow to the eyes and create complications or delay full recovery. The initial recovery phase may seem long or tiresome for the patient, but as the swelling and bruising gets resolved, they will begin to notice a welcome change in their facial appearance.

As the full results of eyelid surgery set in, the eyes will start looking more youthful and alert. It will make the patient cheerful and self-confident about their renewed upper facial look. Experienced cosmetic surgeon Dr. Richards receives patients from Las Vegas, Bullhead City, Laughlin, Pahrump, Mesquite NV, and nearby areas for blepharoplasty.

Temporary Side Effects

The initial side effects of eyelid surgery may include swelling and redness around the incision areas. Mild soreness, dryness, and itching in these areas may occur, and the eyes may tear excessively. These issues can be addressed with an ointment that the surgeon may prescribe.

Temporary blurred vision may also occur as one of the temporary side effects, and the patient may initially feel sensitivity to light. These effects will resolve quickly on their own as long as the patient follows the surgeon’s recovery instructions with diligence.

Aftercare

In addition to the ointment prescribed by the surgeon, the patient may also use over the counter pain medications for a few days to be more comfortable. Cold compresses may be placed over the eyes in the first few days to reduce swelling. The surgeon may also prescribe eye drops to prevent dry eye. Protection from sun and wind should be ensured for the eyes in the first few weeks.

If you would like more information on cosmetic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Las Vegas, Nevada plastic surgeon, Dr. Bryson Richards please contact us at 702.870.7070

Taking new patients from Las Vegas, Bullhead City,  Laughlin, Pahrump, Mesquite NV and surrounding areas.