Upper eyelid lift in Saarbrücken
The radiance of the eyes is decisive for the impression we make on others. The lash line, the natural crease of the eyelid and the eyebrows interact harmoniously. The mobile eyelid is located below the natural eyelid crease and the outer eyelid above it. The outer eyelid has a harmonious, slightly outwardly curved contour. The most important beauty feature is a balanced height ratio between the mobile eyelid and the outer eyelid.
What our patients say
Information at a glance
Operation duration
1 hour
Aftercare
6 weeks
Anesthesia
Local anesthesia / twilight sleep
Thread tension
Self-dissolving threads
Hospitalization
Outpatient
Socially acceptable
after 2 weeks
Costs
Additions or alternatives
What is a droopy eyelid?
With a droopy eyelid, the sagging skin covers the entire movable eyelid. The eyelid skin rests on the eyelashes and the upper eyelids feel heavy. The radiance of the eyes is lost. The eyes become smaller. Fat loss on the outer upper eyelid leads to an inward bulge and a shadow above the inner eyelid crease. This change is referred to as “A-frame deformity”. The so-called “A-frame deformity” makes you look more tired and older than you are. Seemingly small changes play an important role in the first impression.
- Formation of drooping eyelids
- Formation of lower eyelid wrinkles due to loss of skin elasticity
- Formation of bags under the eyes above the edge of the bone due to slackening of the connective tissue wall of the eye socket (“eyelid bags”)
- Formation of dark circles under the edge of the bone due to sagging of the skin and loss of fatty tissue (“tear trough”)
- Formation of a swelling above the zygomatic bone due to water retention and slackening of the supporting ligaments (“festoons”, “malar mounds”, “malar bags”)
1st eyebrow
2. fat pad of the eye socket
3. blood vessel supplying the eye
4. eye ring muscle
5. eyelid cartilage (eyelid plate, tarsus palpebrae)
6. optic nerve
7. connective tissue sheath of the eye (capsulopalpebral fascia)
8. connective tissue wall of the eye socket (orbital septum)
9. fat pad of the eye socket
10. inferior oblique eye muscle (Musculus obliquus inferior oculi)
11. bone edge of the eye socket (zygomatic bone)
12. fat pad behind the eye ring muscle
13. supporting ligament: orbicularis oculi ligament (zygomaticocutaneous ligament)
14. superficial buccal fat body
15. greater zygomaticus muscle (zygomaticus major)
What is an upper eyelid lift?
In the course of life and with increasing age, the elasticity of the skin and muscles of the eyelids decreases. If there is a familial predisposition, these changes can also occur before the age of forty. When the skin of the upper eyelid sags, so-called drooping eyelids form. Many patients opt for an eyelid lift for aesthetic reasons and also wish to have a lower eyelid lift in combination with it. In some cases, however, patients also complain of heavy eyelids or even an impaired field of vision. In these cases, it is not just a desire for cosmetic surgery, but a medically necessary surgical procedure to improve a patient’s everyday life. Surgical costs are covered by health insurance for this minor procedure with a major impact.
During an upper eyelid correction (also known as drooping eyelid surgery), the patient has a strip of skin and muscle removed by a specialized and experienced specialist. This method redistributes fat deposits and uses nanofat to achieve a balanced contour of the outer eyelid. The subsequent scar from drooping eyelid surgery can be hidden in the fold of the eyelid and is therefore not visible. Eyelid correction opens up the gaze and helps to achieve a “fresher” look. In a before-and-after comparison, the plastic-aesthetic procedure has also caused the tired appearance to disappear. When looking in the mirror, the patient notices that his eyes are now wider open.
1. outer lid (upper lid fold) 2. movable eyelid (pretarsal space) 3. limitation of the iris (inner limbus) 4. whites of the eyes (sclera) 5. inner corner of the eye 6. eyelid margin 7. eyelid crease of the lower eyelid 8. transition between eyelid and cheek (lid-cheek junction)
Eight advantages of an upper eyelid lift
- An upper eyelid blepharoplasty can make you look “rested” and “fresher”.
- The scar of a drooping eyelid operation is usually barely visible in the eyelid crease.
- If you suffer from pronounced drooping eyelids, your field of vision can improve after an upper eyelid lift.
- Many patients raise their eyebrows to counteract drooping eyelids. The constant tension of the forehead muscles can lead to headaches, which can be relieved by an upper eyelid lift.
- The stem cells of a nanofat treatment support skin regeneration.
- Correction of drooping eyelids can improve the quality of life.
- There is scientific evidence for the positive influence of an upper eyelid lift on personal self-esteem. However, this should not be the main reason for an eyelid lift.
- Drooping eyelid surgery can be performed on an outpatient basis and under local anesthesia.
What methods are available for an upper eyelid lift?
Excess skin can also be removed with a laser scalpel. The CO2 laser technique has no fact-based advantages over the conventional technique using a scalpel or electrocautery. The high-energy laser beam of the laser burns the tissue. The energy of the carbon dioxide laser scalpel penetrating deeper into the tissue also leads to the obliteration of vessels. The cutting radius of a scalpel blade is over 2,000 times smaller than that of a laser scalpel. Scalpel blades are usually made of stainless steel and have a cutting radius of five to one thousand nanometers. The scalpel cuts through the tissue at specific points and spares surrounding structures.
Carbon dioxide lasers produce a high-energy light with a wavelength of 10,600 nanometers. The laser pulses are emitted fractionally at short intervals. Where the laser beam hits the skin, the skin cells are vaporized. There is a slight burn on the surface of the skin. The skin’s repair mechanisms are accompanied by a slight shrinkage and smoothing of the skin. We will be happy to refer you to a specialist in this field.
High-energy ultrasound waves heat the tissue just a few millimeters below the epidermis. The changes in the tissue resemble a mild burn. Slight tissue shrinkage occurs during the healing process. The use of ultrasound treatment is therefore limited to minimal excess skin. The effect only lasts for a few years.
Different hyaluronic acids are available to compensate for tissue loss. The main differences lie in the duration of action and the filling effect. Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of connective tissue and is therefore well tolerated. Fillers can correct a loss of volume in the upper eyelid (“hollowness”). The effect lasts for twelve to eighteen months.
The treatment can improve skin elasticity. Small skin wrinkles can be improved. However, this form of treatment is not the procedure of first choice for a drooping eyelid.
Muscle-relaxing active ingredients are suitable for the treatment of dynamic wrinkles. Crow’s feet can be treated well in the eye area. Forehead wrinkles and frown lines also respond well to this treatment. However, the substance should not be used in the upper eyelid area. It can lead to paralysis of the eyelid elevators and possibly to a restriction of the field of vision. The effect lasts for four to six months. It is therefore essential that you choose a specialist for your treatment.
Procedure for an upper eyelid lift
Preparation
The safety of our patients is our top priority. For your safety, several experts (the surgeon, the assistant and the surgical specialist) check all parameters several times before the surgical procedure. The drooping eyelid correction only begins when the safety checklist has been filled out completely and correctly.
The OP
A light twilight sleep takes away your fear of the eyelid lift and reduces your sensitivity to pain. Before eyelid surgery, the surgeon marks the planned incision and checks each step of the eyelid lift to remove drooping eyelids and tighten the eyelid. For maximum precision and an optimal result, the plastic surgeon operates with magnifying glasses. The local anesthetic is injected into the eyelid. The surgical area is numb within five to ten minutes and the eyelid surgery can begin.
If you are not already deeply asleep, you will only feel that something is going on in your eyelids thanks to the local anesthetic. The adrenaline contained in the anesthetic prevents bruising.
To remove drooping upper eyelids, the excess skin and muscle is gently removed with a scalpel. Sensitive handling of the tissue keeps swelling to a minimum. Depending on the patient’s needs, excess fatty tissue is redistributed or nanofat is transplanted into the upper eyelid. Depending on the initial findings, the eyebrow can be raised. To reduce the frown lines, a small muscle can be removed from the inner corner of the eyelid (corrugator supercilii muscle). Various procedures can be combined to achieve an optimal aesthetic result. Finally, the wound edges are sutured. The local anesthesia lasts beyond the eyelid lift procedure. The surgery time for the upper eyelid lift of both eyes is approx. 45 minutes in total. You will receive a small bandage. It is important to cool the eyes after the eyelid lift.
After the procedure
You can find out what measures are taken immediately after the eyelid lift on our Eyelid correction FAQ page.
Frequently asked questions
You will certainly have many questions in the run-up to your eyelid surgery. However, you are also welcome to contact us at any time to arrange a personal consultation to discuss your personal concerns and dispel any doubts.
Special precautions are recommended after drooping eyelid surgery. The treating surgeon will explain this to you in a personal consultation.
Lifting of the upper eyelids is one of the most common aesthetic plastic surgery procedures for patients between the ages of forty and sixty. You will benefit from an eyelid lift if you suffer from a tired facial expression due to excess skin (drooping eyelids). If you have undergone laser treatment to correct a visual defect in the last six months, you should refrain from an eyelid lift. Drooping eyelid surgery can exacerbate pre-existing dryness of the eyes. Caution is advised if you suffer from dry eyes.
Dark circles, drooping eyebrows, crow’s feet, weakness of the eyelid lifting muscles, drooping lacrimal glands or possibly bulging fatty tissue can also affect the appearance. The surgeon will show you the treatment options for these changes in an individual consultation.
The consultation serves to discuss your desired result. If there is excess skin, the look can appear tired, stern or angry. In order to be able to assess the extent of the correction, it is very important to find out whether you have recently had treatment with muscle relaxants. In order to plan your follow-up treatment, you will be asked whether you suffer from defective vision or wear glasses or contact lenses.
In order to identify and prevent potential risks at an early stage, Dr. Santos Stahl will ask questions on the following topics:
- High blood pressure,
- Diabetes,
- Coagulation disorders,
- Pre-existing conditions, such as glaucoma or thyroid disease
- Previous operations, especially eye operations
- as well as allergies & the intake of medication.
You will also be asked whether you smoke or take dietary supplements. These factors have a major influence on your eyelid lift. Frequently asked questions are also clarified in the individual consultation and you receive further information.
A detailed examination of the skin, the palpebral fissure, the symmetry, the position of the eyebrows, the position of the eye and the elasticity of the eyelid is carried out. The force of the eyelid lift is also measured. After a complete and thorough physical examination, cosmetic surgery specialist Dr. Santos Stahl will discuss with you whether, in addition to removing excess skin, the removal or repositioning of fatty tissue may be an option. It shows you various alternatives to drooping eyelid surgery as well as the associated risks and limitations. Dark circles, drooping eyebrows, crow’s feet, frown lines, weakness of the eyelid lifting muscles, drooping tear ducts or bulging fatty tissue affect the appearance. In order to achieve a harmonious overall result, each change should be treated in a targeted and specific manner.
Of course, Dr. Santos Stahl will discuss all the details of the procedure with you and will also discuss the type of anaesthetic. The costs of an upper eyelid lift are presented transparently and comprehensibly. You can find out in advance with the help of our price calculator.
If you suffer from dry eyes, a so-called Schirmer test should ideally be carried out by an ophthalmologist beforehand.
Your health insurance will pay for an upper eyelid lift if the procedure is medically necessary. If an ophthalmologist determines and certifies a restriction of the visual field, the costs can be covered by health insurance. An eyelid lift, which is covered by health insurance, is performed to restore the visual field. Cosmetic surgery of the upper eyelid improves the appearance. Although both procedures are called “upper eyelid lift”, the goals and therefore the results, the surgical techniques and the effort involved are different. A medically indicated drooping eyelid operation excludes cosmetic surgery (aesthetic surgery without medical indication). Cosmetic surgery must therefore be performed independently of a medically indicated operation. Further information can be found on our page on the obligation of health insurance companies to provide benefits.
AUTHOR
Dr. Adelana Santos Stahl
Our aim is to offer optimal, discreet and precise treatment based on our extensive expertise in the field of plastic surgery.
Dr. Adelana Santos Stahl has a unique international perspective with a female view of plastic surgery. Your individual and detailed approach is the key to the beautiful and natural results. Having trained in Brazil, one of the largest and best-known countries for aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, she understands her patients’ desire to look and feel their best.
She completed her medical studies and training as a specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery in Brazil. In 2009, she also successfully passed the German equivalence examinations for the state medical examination.
Two years later, in 2011, she received the German and in 2012 the EU specialist certification (EBOPRAS) for plastic surgery. From 2009 to 2013, she deepened her knowledge of aesthetic and reconstructive facial surgery with world-renowned representatives of plastic surgery such as Professor Gubisch at the Marienhospital and Madame Firmin in Paris.
A VDÄPC Fellowship (continuing scholarship for graduate students) in Switzerland, France and the USA has further enriched her professional experience. Dr. Santos Stahl is active in various renowned professional associations. In addition to the DGPRÄC and DGBT, she is also a member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery – SBCP.
She is also the author of several scientific articles and, together with her husband, is dedicated to research and clinical studies in the field of plastic surgery.
She has been based in Saarbrücken since 2019.
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