Blepharoplasty-How to avoid “hound dog eyes” or that sad eyed look
Blepharoplasty or eyelid tuck is one of the most commonly performed plastic surgery operations in the United States today ranking 3rd among women and men with 234,000 blepharoplasty operations last year. It is a very common skin or facial rejuvenation technique. Bleparoplasty is commonly done to remove eyelid bags, dark circles, loose skin, and that tired look.
It will not remove wrinkles.
One telltale sign or “stigma” often associated with the lower eyelid blepharoplasty is a sad eyed look also called “hound dog eyes”. When this happens the outside corner of the lower eyelid turns down or sags and more of the white part of the eye shows, an appearance often attributed to the Basset Hound, thus “hound dog eyes”. This is a very distressing complication, and if it is severe, the eye can become dry and painful and eventually the eye can be damaged.
This problem occurs when the support for the lower eyelid is damaged by the incision made on the outer eyelid skin during the lower blepharoplasty surgery. It can also happen when too much skin is removed during the blepharoplasty operation. Certain people are predisposed to this complication which is called ectropion in medical terms. People with bulging eyes, lax lower eyelids, and those with low or deficient cheek bones are particularly vulnerable.
A newer blepharoplasty technique called the transconjuntival blepharoplasty is designed to help avoid this complication. During the transconjunctival blepharoplasty the incision is made on the inside of the lower eyelid which is called the conjunctiva-thus the term transconjunctival blepharoplasty.
By avoiding the incision on the outside skin of the lower eyelid, the supporting muscles and structures are not cut, thus the lower eyelid support stays intact and the shape of the eyelid is not changed.
Transconjunctival lower eyelid blepharoplasty is a newer method which helps avoid the sad eyed or hound dog look following lower blepharoplasty. Some surgeons say the outer eyelid incision is necessary to remove excess skin from the eyelid, but in my experience this is just not the case.
When I do the transconjunctival blepharoplasty I also tighten the lower eyelid tissues from underneath by shrinking the tissues with the laser. I also tighten the lower eyelid by tightening a strucure called the canthal ligament a procedure called the canthoplasty. This is done through the upper eyelid incision if an upper blepharoplasty is being done.
Bleparoplasty can be a very remarkable facial rejuvenation technique and can restore a fresh youthful appearance to the face. However, a sad eyed look or ectropion will ruin the result and can damage the eye. The newer transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty is a very effective eyelid rejuvenation technique and a great solution for avaoiding the sad eyed look or hound dog eyes appearance. For more information contact me or call 617-262-2208 or read Save Your Face.
Boston, Massachusetts