Cosmetics
& Oculoplastics
Cosmetic Surgery and Procedures
Cosmetic Upper eyelid blepharoplasty
One of the earliest signs of aging changes in a person’s face is the laxity of the upper eyelid skin. The excess skin and fat in the eyelid is called dermatochalasis. The extra skin may hide the eyelashes and eyelid platform, and make the lid look droopy.
Dr. Clauss performs cosmetic upper eyelid blepharoplasties, a minimally invasive procedure that restores a youthful and energetic look. An incision is made in the eyelid crease (to hide the scar), and excess skin is removed. Any prominent fat is removed or repositioned. If the upper eyelid is too low (ptosis), the surgery can be combined with a ptosis repair.
Cosmetic Lower eyelid blepharoplasty
One of the most frequent issues patients report is the presence of fat pads in the lower eyelid, which can give them a fatigued appearance. The skin around the eyes is the thinnest on the body and is often the first to show signs of aging. The lower eyelids can pose a challenge due to the forward movement of the fat around the eyes can result in puffy eyelid “bags.” These fat pads cast a shadow on the lower lid, causing dark “circles”, also called the tear trough.
Dr. Clauss performs lower eyelid blepharoplasties through a lower eyelid incision, to remove and/or reposition the bulging fat pads. Fat repositioning is a newer variation of traditional blepharoplasty, in which little or no fat is removed. Instead, the fat is preserved and repositioned, to help fill the tear trough hollow and smooth the contour between the eyelid and midface. The excess skin is then removed surgically, or resurfaced with laser.
Cosmetic eyebrow/forehead lifts
As the eyebrows fall, patients may describe heaviness in the upper eyelids, hooding of the eyelid, and angry forehead lines. The brow decent occurs most commonly in the outer part of the brow, and will make the upper eyelid skin look heavy. It may even limit the superior visual field. Often, patients think they need an upper eyelid surgery, when really they need to elevate the eyebrow.
Dr. Clauss provides several options for lifting eyebrows. For many patients, elevating the outer portion of the eyebrow is enough. In others, a full brow or forehead lift will be a better option, for which an endoscopic browlift is an excellent option. 3-4 small incisions are made behind the hairline in the forehead and endoscope is used to guide dissection to release and raise the eyebrow. With this surgery, the scars are hidden behind the hairline and gives a natural lift to the whole brow and forehead.
Botulinum toxin injections
Skin wrinkles, also known as facial rhytids are the result of decades of muscle contraction and weakening of skin attachments.
Botulinum toxin works by reversibly blocking the signal for muscle contraction. It typically takes 4-7 days to take effect and lasts for 3 to 6+ months.
In the face, commonly treated areas (muscles) include:
- Forehead Lines (frontalis): 15-20 units
- Frown lines (corrugator and depressor supercilia): 15-20 units
- Crows feet (orbicularis oculi): 15-30 units
- Brow lift (orbicularis oculi): 5-10 units
- Bunny Lines (procerus): 5-10 units
- Lip Flip (orbicularis oris): 2-6 units
- Chin Dimpling (mentalis): 5-10 units
- Masseter reduction/Jaw clinching (masseter): 40-60 units
Filler injections
Facial fillers are injectable materials, used to minimize facial wrinkles, and plump up areas that have lost volume over time. The goal of facial fillers is to restore your youthful look by
Dr. Clauss performs filler injections to the cheeks, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, temples, chin and lips.
We use fillers made from hyaluronic acid, which is a normal part of the human body which is lost with age. If an overcorrection has occurred, or creation of an irregularity (bump/lump), a correction can be performed with the injection of a reversing agent (hyaluronidase). Swelling and bruising is variable, but expect swelling to subside within a few days.
