Blepharoplasty-Transconjunctival laser blepharoplasty with ActiveFX Laser® Peel, the newest minimal down time eyelid rejuvenation technique.
The eyelid surgery called blepharoplasty or eyelid tuck is a very effective procedure for removing eyelid bags, puffy eyelids, and loose skin. When a procedure called arcus marginalis release is added, dark circles can also be improved.
The benefit of a transconjunctival approach, that is making the incision on the inside of the eyelid as opposed to the traditional technique of making an incision on the outside of the eyelid, helps preserve the natural shape of the lower eyelid and avoid the sad eyed or hound dog look after surgery.
Newer blepharoplasty technique involves using a laser to make the transconjunctival incision. The benefit of the laser is less bleeding, quicker surgery, quicker recovery, and usually less bruising.
Even with these advanced new techniques, however, one problem is that the skin of the lower eyelid still looks old after blepharoplasty surgery. The surgery can remove bags, tighten skin and improve eyelid aging changes, but the aged skin, “crepiness”, wrinkles, and brown spots are left behind and the rejuvenated eyelid skin still looks old. In the past, laser resurfacing was done to the eyelid skin to freshen the skin. Although laser resurfacing can create new smooth skin, down time after laser resurfacing is prolonged and redness can last up to 3 months. In addition with laser resurfacing of the eyelid, there is risk of ectropion or sad eyed look because the eyelid can be pulled downward by the laser tightening of the skin.
An exciting new technique using a new laser peel called the ActiveFX laser peel allows for a superficial skin refreshing peel of the eyelid skin without the risks and downtime associated with laser resurfacing of the eyelid. The new ActiveFX laser peel uses a new feature of the Lumenis® Ultrapulse® Encore® laser called CO2Lyte® which is designed to perform a superficial 70 micron peel of the skin to remove wrinkles, pigment and tighten skin without the risks of traditional laser resurfacing.
The down time after a Laserlyte Peel® is a remarkable 5-7 days! This is equal to or less than the downtime of a blepharoplasty alone. The laser has been modified to use a smaller treatment area and a different scanning mechanism so that old skin is vaporized and gently tightened using much less laser energy. Thus the irritation of the eyelid is less and recovery time is shorter.
This is a very significant new development in eyelid rejuvenation surgery and in my opinion will significantly change the way blepharoplasty is done and will enable plastic surgeons to perform total eyelid rejuvenation including skin renewal, with minimal down time and avoid the complications associated with old style laser resurfacing of the lower eyelid.
Contact me or read Save Your Face to learn more about this procedure