Dr Kat has been performing oculoplastic surgery at Clinic 42 for several years. Depending on your desired results, she can guide you through the options.
Wrinkles and bags around the eyes are some of the most visible indicators of age. With time, the skin and soft tissues surrounding the eyes and mid-face lose their elasticity. This, along with bony volume loss and gravity, leads to the changes associated with ageing such as sagging upper eyelids and bags under the eyes. A person may look much older than they are or appear chronically tired and fatigued; this can lead to a loss of confidence or feeling unhappy about the way he or she looks. Commonly known by a variety of names — from eyebag surgery to an eyelid lift — there are a number of ways with which to improve the appearance of your eyes.
Dr Kathleeya Stang-Veldhouse is an ophthalmologist who specialises in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery. She is a clinical lead for the ADHB Acute Eye Service and a member of the New Zealand Society of Cosmetic Medicine, having received the NZSCM Ralph Saxe Award in 2018 for Most Outstanding Trainee. Dr Kat has been performing oculoplastic surgery at Clinic 42 for several years. Depending on your desired results, she can guide you through the options. Below are some of her most commonly performed procedures.
Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty
As we age, the supporting structures of our skin can loosen and weaken, causing the appearance of eye bags, excess wrinkling, or drooping of the eyelid skin. Careful surgical repair can significantly improve both function and appearance with immediate results. The upper lid blepharoplasty is performed either through a natural lid crease incision, or through one designed by the surgeon based on the desired outcome. For many Asian patients, an upper lid blepharoplasty is undertaken to create an upper lid crease or improve the position of the eyelashes. This procedure involves the removal and/or redistribution of the upper eyelid skin, muscle, and fat.
Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty
Depending on the overall goals for a patient, lower eyelid surgery involves either an incision just below the eyelashes, or one on the inside of the eyelid. This procedure also involves removal and/or redistribution of the lower eyelid skin, fat, and muscle.
Upper Lid Ptosis Repair
Upper lid ptosis is when the muscle that lifts the eyelid has become redundant or detached from its nearby structures. This leads to a drop in the eyelid margin itself, and if severe can obstruct vision. Through a natural lid crease incision, ptosis repair involves tightening or shortening the eyelid muscle to restore the eyelid to a more open and natural position.
Brow Ptosis Repair
Normally our eyebrows sit on or above the bony rim above the eyes in women, and at or just below the orbital rim in men. Similar to what happens in the upper eyelids, bony resorption, fat loss, and descent of tissues can cause a saggy appearance to the eyebrows. This can be more notable in the outer aspect of the brow, giving a sad and tired look. There are a number of ways to address this issue surgically.
During a brow ptosis repair an incision is made either above the brow for removal of excess skin and muscle (called a direct brow lift), or can be performed through a lid crease incision (an indirect brow lift) where a permanent suture is placed internally to create the desired lift and contour. This second surgery is often coupled with an upper lid blepharoplasty to give optimal results.
Mid-Face Lift
The lower eyelids blend into the upper cheeks. Over time, the fat pads within the cheeks lose volume and droop. The face can become more elongated and flattened, contributing to the ageing process.
One way to address this issue surgically is to perform what is called a sub-orbicularis oculi fat pad lift. Here, an incision is made in the outer corner of the eyelids. The cheek fat pad is lifted upwards and outwards with a deep and hidden permanent suture.
Ectropion and Entropion Repair
This is a procedure to correct an eyelid that turns in or turns out. This is more recognisable in lower lids that turn out, where the lashline is not up against the eye and you may be able to see the exposed inside of the eyelid. The surgery is typically carried out by an incision in the outer corner of the eyelid, so that the tendons can be tightened and the eyelid is restored to a more youthful and functional position.
