Dear Dr. Seckel, Is laser blepharoplasty safe? How do you protect the eye from injury by the laser? Thank you, Sean, Austen Texas.
Dear Sean,
Laser blepharoplasty is a very safe procedure if done by a plastic surgeon who is skilled and experienced at laser eyelid surgery and blepharoplasty. In fact in a research study published several years ago by me in the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the complication rate was less with laser blepharoplasty than with traditional scalpel blepharoplasty. Results of laser blepharoplasty can be excellent.
During the laser blepharoplasty the eye is covered with a protective, laser impermeable shield during surgery so the laser cannot damage the eye during laser blepharoplasty surgery.
During laser blepharoplasty, the laser beam seals the blood vessels to prevent bleeding, thus there is less bleeding with laser blepharoplasty than with traditional scalpel blepharoplasty. Bleeding is the most feared and most serious complication of blepharoplasty. Since there is less bleeding with laser blepharoplasty, I feel laser blepharoplasty is a safer blepharoplasty operation. In the study mentioned above there was no injury to the eye or eye lases during any laser blepharoplasty in the study.
For further information on laser blepharoplasty or other eyelid or facial rejuvenation techniques visit my Boston Plastic Surgery Practice, read Save Your Face or contact me.
Boston, Massachusetts
Peabody, massachusetts