Procedures

The practice Dr. Hoffmann is specialised in plastic surgery concerning everything to do with eyes. This especially comprises the surgical correction of:

The eyelid and eye region is the central element of a face and decisively characterises the outward appearance of a person. When making eye contact with another person the eye region initially attracts attention.

The eyelid’s skin contains loose connective tissue. This tissue is firm and elastic in adolescence. In the course of life this elasticity reduces and an incorporation of liquid occurs. Thus - drooping eyelids - develop in the upper lid area and - tear sacs - in the lower lid area.

Apart from this natural aging process there is also a strictly genetic disposition to tear sacs and drooping eyelids at young age already.

Furthermore there are damaging exterior exposures which favour drooping eyelids and tear sacs:

Drooping eyelids result in a tired and sad facial expression. They cause a distinctly older appearance. Due to their weight they press the lash line of the upper eyelid down and thus create sensory disturbances. In distinct cases the sagging skin leads to limitations of the visual field (this means the area in which the eye is enabled to percieve optical images).

This prolapse of fatty tissue from the eye socket leads to the development of tear sacs.

Methods of treatment:

The superficial care of the affected skin areas does not have any effect as a rule as the penetration depth is small and the deep tissue areas are profoundly affected in the case of the development of drooping eyelids and tear sacs.

Therefore cosmetic eyelid lifting, which is also referred to as blepharoplastics, remains the only solution. In this procedure the surplus eyelid skin is removed in a laser supported operation. Where required the fatty tissue coming out of the eye socket is ablated.

After an upper eyelid lifting the cut runs along the upper eyelid fold which separates the lid area from the brow area. A sickle-shaped skin segment is removed whose exact size is measured before the operation. Subsequently the lid muscle is cut through and fatty tissue oozing out is ablated. The wound is sealed with a continuous suture and with tissue glue.

After a lower eyelid lifting the cut runs along about 1.5 mm below the lash line. The wound is sealed with tissue glue.

The bandage applied after the surgery can be removed the next day in the morning. Serious complications are extremely unusual. In some cases a hemorrhage into the loose tissue can cause temporary swelling of the eyelid and a - shiner -.

This wound is after-treated with an antibiotic eye ointment for one week. The stitches are removed after one week.

Subsequently we will prescribe an ointment which prevents a possible keloid. Use this ointment twice a day for one month.

A fine scar runs along a small skin fold and is therefore usually invisible.

Procedure:

If you have decided to undergo a cosmetic eyelid operation please make an appointment for the operation with us. At the day of the operation please appear with an empty stomach and without make-up. Please note that you are not allowed to drive a car yourself after the operation. In case you are taking anticoagulant medications these medications have to be discontinued after previous consultation with us and your family physician. First of all a picture of your eye region is taken. Then the eyelid region is disinfected, the incision is marked and the tissue injected with anaesthetic.Subsequently the operation takes place. The procedure is conducted ambulatory and with local anaesthesia. It takes about twenty minutes per eye.

Costs:

The costs for cosmetic eyelid procedures are not reimbursed by legal health insurance.Private health insurances reimburse the costs in special cases. You will receive a bill according to the official scale of charges for doctors. Please note that cosmetic procedures are taxable for VAT.