Three Things You Should Know About Eyelid Surgery
Years of early mornings, late nights, and lots of squinting can do a number on your eyes. While your beauty routine can delay the effects of time and gravity for a while, eventually there will come a time when the only thing that will restore the youthful appearance of your eyes is eyelid surgery. If you're considering having this treatment done, here are three things you should know about it.
It Can Improve Your Vision
Also known as blepharoplasty, cosmetic eyelid surgery can do more than just improve your appearance. It can actually help you see better. The skin on your eyelids is just like the skin on the rest of your body. Over time, it loses its elasticity due to age and other factors, such as the environment you live in. This can cause the skin on the eyelids to loosen and sag.
If the sagging is bad enough, the excess skin may hang over the eyelashes. The can cause interference in your vision and prevent you from seeing clearly, regardless of whether you're wearing contacts or glasses. Eyelid surgery removes the excess skin, allowing for a dramatic improvement in your ability to view your surroundings.
Since people often have to tilt their heads in a variety of uncomfortable directions to compensate for obscured vision, getting eyelid surgery may improve other health issues you were experiencing as a result, such as a sore neck or headaches.
Results Are Not Permanent
Although there are many benefits of getting eyelid surgery, there are a few drawbacks, one of which is the fact that the results may not last as long as you would like. Some experts estimate you'll enjoy the fruits of the surgery for 5 to 7 years before you need a touch up. Others say the results will last for up to 15 years before you need to go under the knife again.
How long your results last will depend on a number of factors, including your genes, diet, beauty regimen, age, and environment. Some people will only need the surgery once, while others will have to have periodic touchups every half-decade. It's best to discuss all the factors that affect the longevity of eyelid surgery with your doctor to get a better idea of how long your particular results will last over time.
It May Be Covered by Insurance
Most cosmetic surgeries are not covered by insurance providers because they are elective. However, your insurance company may pay for the procedure if you can prove it is medically necessary. This involves showing that the sagging skin around your eyes is impeding your vision, damaging your eyes, or causing other medical problems that only removing the skin will fix.
For instance, sometimes the sagging skin from the upper eyelids will actually rub against the eyes. This can lead to the corneas being scratched, which will require even more expensive treatments to fix. Another common problem with droopy eyelids is that sometimes the skin will rub together, resulting in irritation and occasional infections.
Demonstrating proof of medical necessity requires having an ophthalmologist examine your eyes and write up a report on how the excess skin is affecting your vision and health. Depending on the problems you're experiencing, you may need to obtain supplementary reports from your primary healthcare provider or a specialist. It's best to contact your insurance provider for the specific procedure you need to follow to get the surgery approved for coverage.
Eyelid surgery only costs an average of $3,022. Even if you can't get your health insurance to cover the cost, there are many other medical financing options available. The cosmetic surgeon can make program recommendations that fit your needs and budget.
For more information about eyelid surgery, contact a cosmetic surgeon.