Blepharoplasty - Upper & Lower Eyelids

Are you tired of always looking tired? The loose skin over your eyes and the fat bags under your eyes can make you look more tired and older than you really feel. As you age, your eyelid skin can stretch, your muscles weaken and the fat accumulates around your eyes. Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) helps eliminate droopy eyelid skin, making you look younger and more alert.

Blepharoplasty can be performed using a local anesthetic. We place fine incisions in the crease of the upper eyelids and remove the excess skin and fat. A laser is often used to speed the recovery. To eliminate the lower lid bags, the surgery is performed through the inside of the lower eyelid to hide the incisions. The procedure, depending on the complexity, usually takes about 15-30 minutes.

Your medical insurance may cover an upper eyelid blepharoplasty. We would need to perform a special test to determine if you meet your insurance criteria.

Reconstructive and Cosmetic Plastic Surgery is performed by David Pratt, M.D.

Endoscopic Brow Lift

Lines in your forehead can be caused by aging, laughing, crying or even sleeping. This can be corrected with a forehead and brow lift. People with sagging eyebrows may choose this surgery to eliminate their sad or angry look. By elevating the brow, the tired and unhappy look may disappear completely.

Dr. David Pratt performs an Endoscopic Brow Lift using a small fiber optic camera inserted through tiny incisions placed in the hairline. This allows visualization of the surgery on a television monitor and reduces the incision size, minimizing scarring and allowing for a quicker recovery. He is one of only a few surgeons in Thurston County routinely performing this state-of-the-art surgery.

BOTOX® Cosmetic

BOTOX® is a treatment frequently used to reduce blepharospasms, eyelid twitching, and/or hemi-facial spasms. Botox is delivered by strategically placed injections in the affected muscles. Botox is a toxin produced by the same bacteria responsible for botulism. However, when very small amounts of the toxin are injected into the eyelid muscles it is proven to be safe and effective. The effectiveness is temporary; therefore periodic injections may be necessary.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a simple, nonsurgical, physician-administered treatment that can temporarily smooth moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people from 18 to 65 years of age. It is the only treatment of its type approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

One 10-minute treatment—a few tiny injections—and within days there's a noticeable improvement in moderate to severe frown lines between the brows, which can last up to 4 months. Results may vary.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a purified protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium, which reduces the activity of the muscles that cause those frown lines between the brows to form over time.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a non-surgical, physician-administered aesthetic treatment that can temporarily reduce the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows for up to 4 months. Within days, you may see a noticeable improvement. Results may vary. You can receive injections with BOTOX® Cosmetic up to every 4 months to help you maintain the results. If you discontinue treatment, the frown lines between your brows gradually will look like they did before treatment.

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LATISSE

LATISSE™ is the only FDA approved prescription treatment for hypotrichosis used to grow eyelashes, making them longer, thicker, and darker. The onset of effect with Latisse™ is gradual, but in clinical trials the majority of people saw a significant improvement after two months use. Call today to schedule a consult with one of our doctors to determine if Latisse™ is right for you.

LATISSE™ is a prescription treatment for hypotrichosis, the medical term used to describe an inadequate amount of eyelashes. With a nightly application of LATISSE™, eyelash growth is stimulated resulting in thicker, fuller, and darker eyelashes.

Results with LATISSE™ are gradual and usually become noticeable after 2 months. Individual results may vary. Patients must continue the use of LATISSE™ to maintain results. Once treatment is discontinued, your eyelashes will eventually return to their normal length and thickness.

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Blepharospasm

Blepharospasm (also known as benign essential blepharospasm or hemifacial spasm) is an abnormal, involuntary blinking or spasm of the eyelids, associated with an abnormal function of the basal ganglion from an unknown cause. The basal ganglion is the part of the brain responsible for controlling the muscles. In rare cases, heredity may play a role in the development of blepharospasm.

Most people develop blepharospasm without any warning symptoms. It may begin with a gradual increase in blinking or eye irritation. Some people may also experience fatigue, emotional tension, or sensitivity to bright light. As the condition progresses, the symptoms become more frequent, and facial spasms may develop. Blepharospasm may decrease or cease while a person is sleeping or concentrating on a specific task.

Tear Duct Surgery

If you are experiencing excessive tearing you may have a tear duct obstruction. Tears normally drain into the puncta (small holes located on the inside corners of the upper and lower eyelids). Tears collect in the tear sac that lies under the skin between the corner of the eye and the nose. The tears then flow through a small tube, called the nasolacrimal duct, into the nose. The tears are pumped through this drainage system by the blinking of the eye.

A blockage anywhere in the drainage system can prevent proper drainage of tears and lead to excess tearing. If it is determined there is a blockage in your tear system, it may be necessary to perform a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). A small incision is placed on the side of the nose. A small hole is then created in the paper-thin bone where a small, temporary tube is placed from the inside corner of the eye into the nose. The tube is used as a stent in the tear drainage system to prevent scarring. The tube is easily removed in the office approximately 3 months post-operatively.