Lower Eyelid Lift

Lower Eyelid Lift - 33 years of experience in surgery · 28 years of experience in plastic surgery · Extensive experience and comprehensive training and continuing education · Course instructor for colleagues · Own practice for 22 years · Practice clinic for 5 years

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Swelling under the eyes, which forms a wrinkle when severe, is colloquially referred to as bags under the eyes. They usually appear in the early hours of the morning and make those affected look tired. Anyone who struggles with pronounced bags under the eyes and dark circles, i.e., the dark shadows under the eyes, certainly feels helpless. These symptoms make you look tired and older. No matter how long you sleep, how much you drink, or what cosmetic creams you use, the bags under your eyes are always there. This is not due to your lifestyle or habits, but to poor drainage of tissue fluid. Many people often complain about swelling under their eyes after getting up, but this usually resolves itself during the day or with a light, cooling massage. However, if you suffer from permanently swollen eyes, a minor cosmetic surgery procedure can have a big impact. Eyelid lifts can make your eyes appear more relaxed and rested.

Caution! Swelling under the eyes is not always caused by bags under the eyes. If the supposed “bags under the eyes” do not disappear during the course of the day, it may be a disease-related accumulation of tissue fluid. In this case, cosmetic plastic surgery is not possible. It is best to have your family doctor examine you beforehand.

If you are interested in lower eyelid surgery, you should first make an appointment for a consultation. During the consultation with Dr. Münzberg, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the procedure. Once all questions have been answered, Dr. Münzberg will examine you and give you an initial assessment of the expected results. A small blood sample will then be taken to check your general health. Lower eyelid correction is usually performed under local anesthesia. However, it can also be performed under general anesthesia if desired. Since no visible scars remain, the result is very natural.

Once you have decided to undergo surgery, the surgeon will determine which method is best for you.

The counterpart to upper eyelid lifting is lower eyelid lifting. There are two methods for eyelid surgery below the eye:

In the first method of lower eyelid lifting, it is sufficient to remove only the fat pads. This procedure is performed transconjunctivally, i.e., the excess tissue is removed through an incision in the inner area of the lower eyelid. This leaves no external scar.

In the second method of lower eyelid lift, which is performed much more frequently, an excess strip of skin and muscle, padding of the bony part with autologous tissue (arcus marginalis release), and a proportion of fat pads must also be removed.

During eyelid lifting, Dr. Münzberg usually makes the incision 1 to 2 mm below the lower eyelid edge and extends it 4 to 6 mm outward at the lateral corner of the eye. If the excess skin of the lower eyelid edge is very soft or turned out (as in ectropion), or if the shape of the eye is to be changed, this requires additional canthopexy. This means that a small band, which runs directly in the area of the lower eyelid above the incision, is attached to the lateral bone of the eye (orbit). This prevents the lower eyelid from “everting.”

To fill the defect below the tear sac (eye ring), a so-called arcus marginalis release is often necessary. In this procedure, part of the cheek fat is moved toward the eye onto the bony part of the lower eye rim, which is prepared/exposed. In some cases, part of the fatty tissue from the tear sac itself is also used to fill the eye rim (below the tear sac) during lower eyelid lifting. This allows specialist Dr. Münzberg to achieve a good and long-lasting result. Depending on the technique used, the operation takes approximately 1.5–2 hours.

Since the skin and blood vessels around the eyes and eyelids are particularly sensitive, you should expect bruising and swelling. However, these are no cause for concern. In most cases, they disappear within a week. In order not to interfere with wound healing, you should refrain from physically strenuous activities such as sports during the first few days. Sunglasses provide additional protection from prying eyes in the first few weeks and conceal the still unfinished result. You can also gently cool the treated areas for a few minutes at a time to reduce the swelling. Once the wounds have healed completely, you can apply your usual makeup.

The intracutaneous skin sutures are removed 5 to 6 days after the lower eyelid lift in our clinic.

The full result is visible after approximately 10 to 14 days.

Every operation, whether performed under local or general anesthesia, carries potential complications. However, since eyelid correction is a minor and low-risk procedure, you should not expect any major complications. This is especially true if you are treated by an experienced plastic and cosmetic surgeon such as Dr. Münzberg. In rare cases, however, complications such as infections, wound healing disorders, scarring, post-operative bleeding, bruising, and temporary sensory disturbances in the wound area may occur. Please note that lower eyelid surgery carries a possible risk of eyelid edge distortion (ectropion), particularly due to excess skin tension.

Would you like to have your lower eyelids corrected? We recommend making an appointment at the practice of specialist Dr. Münzberg to plan the surgical procedure and assess your condition. During the personal consultation, you can express your wishes and ideas and ask any questions you may have about the cosmetic surgery. Feel free to call us, send an email to info@dr-muenzberg.de, or use the contact form. You can also request free information material in advance. We look forward to hearing from you.