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COSMETIC SURGERY
Upper Blepharoplasty
Upper Blepharoplasty is a common surgical procedure that may be performed in combination with other facial procedures or alone under local anesthesia in the office setting. Upper blepharoplasty removes excessive fat and skin causing upper eyelid facial aging. This is measured and planned customized to each individual patient at the time of surgery.
What to Expect
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Incisions are made in the natural eyelid crease in an inconspicuous place when the eyelids are open.
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Procedure length is approximately 30-45 min
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Local Anesthesia (injections) in the skin are used to numb the skin prior to the procedure. This makes the procedure painless after the injection.
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Light Sedation can be used for patients who are more anxious.
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Early Recovery may include swelling, bruising, and minimal discomfort.
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Patients use ice every 20 minutes while awake for the first 48-72 hours, avoid strenuous activity, and keep the head elevated.
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Blurred vision is common for the first week and progressively improves over the course of the week.
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Patients may experience numbness to the lash line and dryness to the eyes that improves with time.
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Patients return in 1 week for suture removal.
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Patients can return to regular STRENUOUS activity (exercise and weight-lifting) one week after surgery.
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Eye make-up can be resumed 2 weeks after surgery.
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Patients notice a difference after swelling has subsided. (typically at 1-2 weeks for complete resolution of swelling; however dependent on each individual case)
Non-dissolvable sutures may be placed under the skin (subcuticular) to minimize scarring. The sutures are removed at 5-6 days after surgery.
Why Choose Dr. Bratton?
Dr. Bratton is an eyelid specialist and has performed thousands of blepharoplasties, allowing her experience and skill to achieve the best possible results for her patients.
WHAT PATIENTS ARE SAYING....
“I now live in another state but returned to Austin specifically for Dr. Bratton’s blepharoplasty work. I think she is a congenial, highly skilled, respected individual in this business. She cares. I am very pleased with my experience and amazing outcome after 2 weeks. At least go talk to her….and then get it done.” - Nancy (Healthgrades)
Before & After
Upper Blepharoplasty
Lower Blepharoplasty
Lower eyelid “bags”can be genetic or acquired with aging. Over time, loss of elasticity of the skin and soft tissues of the periorbital area and volume loss of the cheek contribute to the formation of eyelid “bags.” Because everyone has different anatomy causing the lower eyelid aging, lower eyelid blepharoplasty is a customized surgery for each individual.
What to Expect
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In the majority of patients, I will transpose the lower eyelid fat (meaning the fat is repositioned over the lower orbital rim into the tear trough to produce a smooth transition from the eyelid to the cheek. More rarely, I remove the fat.
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The skin will either be re-draped with an incision beneath the lashes or laser resurfacing will be performed at the same time as the repositioning or removal of fat.
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If you have had filler placed in this area previously, we may have to dissolve this prior to surgery.
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For patients with excessive loss of fat in the periorbital and cheek area due to aging, fat grafting may be combined with other techniques to give an optimal outcome.
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Procedure length is approximately 1-1.5 hours depending on the intricacy of anatomy and what needs to be done for that particular patient for the best outcome.
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The majority of cases are performed under sedation.
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Early Recovery may include swelling, bruising, and minimal discomfort.
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Patients use ice every 20 minutes while awake for the first 48-72 hours, avoid strenuous activity, and keep the head elevated.
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Blurred vision is common for the first week and progressively improves over the course of the week (due to swelling and ointment).
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Patients may experience numbness to the lash line and dryness to the eyes that improves with time.
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Patients return in 1 week for suture removal.
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Patients can return to regular STRENUOUS activity (exercise and weight-lifting) one week after surgery.
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Eye make-up can be resumed 2 weeks after surgery (depending on whether laser was used during the case for skin resurfacing).
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Patients notice a difference after swelling has subsided. (typically at 1-2 weeks for complete resolution of swelling; however dependent on each individual case)
Before & After
Lower Blepharoplasty
Endoscopic Brow lift
As we age, we lose volume in our periorbital area, including the brow fat pad that helps to support the brow when we are younger. We also lose elasticity in this area, causing our brow and forehead to descend, contributing to the hooding of our eyelids in many cases. We also develop descent of the glabella area, causing a tired look. Static wrinkles may form, known as the “11” lines. Endosocpic brow lift is a minimally invasive way to rejuvenate this area and can be combined with other procedures, such as upper eyelid blepharoplasty.
What to Expect
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Four small incisions are made behind the hairline to allow access to the forehead.
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An endoscopic is used to elevate the soft tissues of the brow.
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Suture is used to suspend the forehead soft tissue in an elevated position (I do not use implants such as endotines on a regular basis).
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The contour and height of the brow can be tailored to each individual patient’s desire depending on their anatomy.
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Procedure length is approximately 1-1.5 hours depending on the intricacy of anatomy and what needs to be done for that particular patient for the best outcome.
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The majority of cases are performed under sedation.
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Early Recovery may include swelling, bruising, and discomfort (some patients may have a headache for the first 48 hours that improves over the week).
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Patients use ice every 20 minutes while awake for the first 48-72 hours, avoid strenuous activity, and keep the head elevated.
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Patients return in 1 week for suture/staple removal.
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Patients can return to regular STRENUOUS activity (exercise and weight-lifting) one week after surgery.
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While some patients only have slight bruising and swelling, others may have some bruising and swelling that settles into the cheek and subsides over 2 weeks in most cases.
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Slight over-elevation is normal for the first few weeks and this settles over the course 3-4 weeks to a natural and desirable elevated position.
What Patients Are Saying...
“Tired of being asked if I was angry all the time, I researched eyelid surgery. Figured I probably needed upper blepharoplasty and spent a good year doing research and looking at doctors. I chose Dr. Emily Bratton because this is her specialty and she had positive reviews. With her patience and guidance, I ended up deciding on upper blepharoplasty with an endoscopic brow lift. Surgery went smoothly. Recovery over the last two months has been great. What’s even better is no one has asked me if I’m angry! I’m thrilled with the results.” – G.V. (Google Review)
“Dr. Bratton performed an eyelid biopsy, brow/forehead lift, and upper/lower blepharoplasty. I was very impressed with her thorough and honest information prior to the surgery to make sure we were aligned on expectations. I’m very happy with the results. Everything turned out the way she described. It’s been uplifting to find a doctor that is so skilled at what she does and yet takes the time to directly engage directly before and after the surgery.” -M.E. (Google Review)
Before & After
Endoscopic Brow lift
Mid-Face Lift
Cheek lift, or mid-face lifting can help to address descent of the cheek. This can also be used as an adjunct to restore volume to the mid-face and restore the subtle transition from the lower eyelid to the cheek to help with lower eyelid rejuvenation. Dr. Bratton has experience with approaching the mid-face lift through a small incision in the temporal hair line (many times at the same time as an endoscopic brow lift). This allows elevation of the cheek at the same time as the brow. This can be a powerful tour in restoring youthful volume to the cheek and mid-face in a natural way.
Before & After
Mid-Face Lift
Facial Fat Transfer
Volume loss plays a major contribution to the aging face, adding to the effects of loss of collagen and formation of facial wrinkles and facial descent. Restoration of volume with autologous fat has been perfected over the last years. Dr. Bratton has extensive training and experience in utilizing autologous fat transfer to the face and under eye hollows as an adjunctive to lower eyelid blepharoplasty or a stand-alone procedure. She utilizes both macrofat for volumization, as well as stem cells from microfat, in an effort to restore the tone and texture of the skin. As we age, we lose vital facial fat that helps to provide a smooth transition from the lower eyelid to the cheek. This evolution contributes to the “hollow” that many times accompanies a lower eyelid bag. In many instances volume restoration with autologous fat is used in addition to a transposition lower eyelid blepharoplasty to achieve a revitalized lower eyelid and cheek contour. Laser can be added to treat the wrinkles of the skin and provide “icing on the cake.” A discussion about this customized procedure is based on each individual case.
Before & After
Facial Fat Transfer
Combined Procedures
Whether performing upper and lower blepharoplasty with fat grafting and laser resurfacing at the same time or endoscopic brow lifting with upper and lower blepharoplasty, each combination for procedures can be done at the same time and tailored to each individual patients’ needs. Combining the procedures ensures the best outcome and allows for a more dramatic result. Nevertheless, the decision is tailore to each patients’ desire. Some patients are “dip your toe in” type of patients and some are “dive head-first.” We honor the one that describes you the best and adjust our decision making based on your comfort level.
Before & After
Combined Procedures
