Cosmetic procedures are increasing in popularity among older Americans, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ report, Plastic Surgery Statistics 2015. According to the ASPS, many seniors chose to go under the knife for a wide range of procedures. Over 100,000 people over the age of 55 alone went under the knife to a have a blepharoplasty procedure to correct and repair their drooping eyelids. Blepharoplasty is a leading cosmetic surgery procedure for senior adults – for reasons both medical and cosmetic.
The blepharoplasty surgery procedure treats drooping upper eyelids, a condition also called ptosis, by removing excess skin, fat, and muscle. Eyelids stretch as a normal part of the aging process as skin quality begins to diminish. The muscles responsible for holding the eyelid in place can stretch out and allow the eyelid to droop. This can also cause eyebrows to sag or become uneven. When the eyelid muscles stretch, fat deposits can develop around the stretched out tissue causing further drooping.
Drooping eyelids can make an individual look older, which is a concern for many individuals. Many seniors, like other demographic age groups, want to look younger and healthy. “It is very natural to want to look younger – whether to attract a new mate, compete in the workplace or even just to feel good about yourself,” says Dr. Mayli Davis, M.D.
Davis is a Colleyville, Texas, ophthalmologist trained in ophthalmic plastic surgery. She performs hundreds of blepharoplasty procedures each year, many of which are on senior patients looking to regain a more youthful appearance. “Eyelid surgery can take years off a patient’s face, giving them a new look and self-esteem boost,” says Davis.
Since many patients in the senior demographic are divorced or widowed, the boost that blepharoplasty gives may help patients attract a new mate. “Many individuals are looking for a partner, and want to simply be attractive to potential mates,” explains Davis. The wish to look attractive is not limited to senior patients many younger people undergo elective blepharoplasty, as well. “It is a fairly common procedure – some individuals were born with drooping eyelids, some cultures choose to have the procedure to change the shape of the eye, and other individuals may have asymmetrical eyelids and brows and choose the procedure to restore symmetry,” says Davis.
Looking more youthful is also important to many older individuals because of job security. “Unfortunately, there are negative connotations in society that exist with getting older,” Davis explains. These connotations include weakness or feebleness. Many patients want to ensure they look younger to dispel any myths about their ability to perform their job duties, and eyelid surgery can make individuals look younger and more alert. Average lifespans have increased, which requires individuals to have a source of income to be able to provide for themselves longer and later in life, so for many, protecting their source of income is paramount.
Many senior patients choose to undergo the blepharoplasty procedure because their drooping eyelids impact their quality of life by preventing them from doing many activities they enjoy or keep them independent. One such activity is driving. Since drooping and sagging eyelids can impact an individual’s peripheral vision, driving can become dangerous.
In addition to baggy or sagging upper eyelids, candidates for eyelid surgery may experience the inability to completely open their eyes, reduced field of vision, excess skin below the eye, bags underneath the eyes and even droopy lower eyelids at times can cause more of the eye to show than is natural.
Candidates seeking eyelid surgery should be in good health, and discuss the procedure and expected with a qualified ophthalmologist trained in the blepharoplasty surgical procedure.
