Treatment for Dermatochalasis in Delafield

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is dermatochalasis?
  Dermatochalasis is excess or redundant skin of the upper and/or lower eyelids, usually caused by aging and the gradual loss of skin elasticity. On the upper lids, it can create hooding that blocks part of the visual field. On the lower lids, it usually appears as puffiness or bagginess.
• What are the symptoms of dermatochalasis?
  Common signs include loose folds of upper- or lower-eyelid skin, hooding over the upper lash line, lower-lid puffiness, and a tired or heavy appearance around the eyes. In more severe upper-lid cases, the excess skin can obstruct the superior or peripheral visual field.
• What causes dermatochalasis?
  The main cause is the age-related loss of elasticity in the eyelid skin, together with changes in the surrounding connective tissue and weakening of the orbital septum. Genetics, chronic sun exposure, smoking, and repeated eyelid swelling or inflammation can also contribute.
• How is dermatochalasis different from ptosis?
  Dermatochalasis is excess eyelid skin. Ptosis is a drooping eyelid margin, usually caused by a weakened or stretched levator muscle. The two can occur together and may require different surgical approaches, so an eye care specialist distinguishes them during an examination.
• When should I see a doctor for dermatochalasis?
  See a doctor if excess eyelid skin obstructs your vision, makes it difficult to keep your eyes open comfortably, causes brow fatigue from repeatedly lifting the eyebrows, or bothers you cosmetically. Seek prompt medical attention for sudden swelling, redness, or rapid changes in the eyelids so that other conditions can be ruled out.
• How is dermatochalasis treated?
  Mild cases that do not affect vision may be observed. When the excess skin obstructs vision or is cosmetically bothersome, blepharoplasty removes redundant skin and, when needed, protruding fat. A brow lift may be combined with eyelid surgery when eyebrow descent also contributes to the hooding.
• What does eyelid surgery for dermatochalasis involve?
  Upper eyelid blepharoplasty removes excess skin through an incision hidden in the natural eyelid crease. Lower eyelid blepharoplasty addresses redundant skin and protruding fat, often through an incision just below the lash line or inside the eyelid. The procedure is commonly performed on an outpatient basis.
• How do I tell whether it is my eyelid skin or my brow?
  Usually, you cannot tell from a mirror or photograph because both can make skin hang over the lash line. The distinction depends on where the eyebrow sits relative to the bony rim above the eye, which has to be examined and cannot be established from a description alone. The answer changes the operation. If a descended brow is loading the lid, removing eyelid skin alone corrects the effect but leaves the cause. Dr. Boehm performs eyelid surgery and brow lifts, and his published eyelid cases include procedures performed alongside a brow lift. He can assess both without a referral.
• My upper lids block part of my vision. Does that change anything here?
  It changes what needs to be documented, not who performs the surgery. An eye examination can confirm visual-field obstruction, and that finding tells the surgeon how much skin has to be removed, which may differ from how much you would prefer removed. At Consona, it does not create a different payment route. Dr. Boehm's work is aesthetic surgery paid for privately, and eyelid surgery is planned that way regardless of what a visual-field study shows.
• Do the lower lids need treating at the same time as the upper?
  Not necessarily. The upper and lower lids are two separate decisions. The upper lid is a skin problem most of the time, while the lower lid more often involves fat position and the junction between the lid and cheek. The operations differ for that reason. Many patients treat only the upper lids. At consultation, the useful question is which area is producing the look that bothers you. Dr. Boehm quotes the upper and lower lids from separate rows, so a partial plan remains an option.