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August 10, 2011

Is Laser Eyelid Surgery the Best Method of Eyelid Surgery?

Filed under: asian eyelid surgery,blepharoplasty,cosmetic eyelid surgery,Cosmetic Surgery,double fold surgery,fixing eyelid surgery,lower blepharoplasty,oculoplastic surgery — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 6:35 pm

Whether your doctor uses a specialized cutting cautery, a scalpel, or a laser to make the incisions for your eyelid surgery doesn’t significantly impact the results of your surgery.   The most critical aspect of eyelid surgery is the proper design of the procedure and this in turn is dependent on a proper work up and diagnosis.  Finding a doctor who will listen to you and customize your treatment based on your desires and unique facial features is much more important than finding a doctor with the newest and most hyped surgical tools.

The risks of using lasers

Dr. Steinsapir avoids using the laser for surgery because the laser devitalizes the edge of the wound for approximately a half millimeter on each side.  This means that sutures need to be in for a prolonged period of time potentially leading to cysts and wound separation.  Using a CO2 laser for eyelid surgery is more marketing hooey than anything else.  Using a laser may be fun and sound high-tech, but it does not make for a better surgery.  For eyelid surgery, especially double fold surgery, the most critical aspect of the procedure is the surgeon’s skill and experience; does he or she understand eyelid surgery and the critical eyelid anatomy?

Why isn’t a laser more precise than a scalpel?

Precision during surgery is always important; eyelid surgery requires an experienced hand.  The CO2 laser may sound like it’s more precise, but in reality, it damages the skin surrounding the incision whereas a cold steel scalpel, if used by a skilled surgeon does not damage the adjacent skin.  If your surgeon uses a scalpel, the sutures can be removed much earlier that if the surgeon uses a laser.  Eyelid surgery performed with a scalpel has a down-time of about a week.  Your eyes may look a bit swollen for several weeks after surgery, but this is the case regardless of the type of cutting tool.

Is it possible to correct laser damage?

 The CO2 laser increases the risks associated with eyelid surgery.  The laser smoke voilitalizes free radical agents  and other carcinogens into the operating room aire even when smoke scrubbers are used.  While metal contact lens are used to minimize the risks of unwanted laser contact with the eye tissues, past pointing of the laser is a constant risk that can cause unwanted damage both to you and to operating room personnel.   The laser beam has caused operating room fires as well.  For these reasons and the unwanted tissue damage caused by the laser beam, Dr. Steinsapir generally does not feel that the limited benefits which included marketing hype do not outweigh the downside risks of using a CO2 to perform the cutting during blepharoplasty.

About Dr. Steinsapir

Dr. Steinsapir is a board certified eye surgeon and fellowship-trained in oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in Los Angeles where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology. Dr. Steinsapir has a private practice and also serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert in cosmetic surgery, which can be a vital part of your evidence-based treatment plan.

Services described may be “off-label” and lack FDA approval. This article is informational and does not constitute an advertisement for off-label treatment. No services should be provided without a good faith examination by a licensed physician and an informed consent with a discussion of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the likelihood of treatment success. Only you and your treating physician or surgeon can determine if a treatment is right for you.

June 29, 2011

Complications after surgery

Filed under: beverly hills facelift,blepharoplasty,cosmetic eyelid surgery,Cosmetic Surgery,eyelid reconstructive surgery,Eyelid Surgery,lower blepharoplasty,midface lift,midface surgery,oculoplastic surgeon — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 7:53 am

Complications following a midface lift and eyelid surgery are especially disconcerting because they can affect the basic functions of your eyes.  Whether your eyes begin to droop, tear, or fail to blink, any change in the way your eyes and face function is reason to be concerned.  But sometimes, inexperienced surgeons panic in these situations (even long-in-practice, but inexperienced surgeons) and respond with a shoot-from-the-hip, fix-it mentality, and may push you to undergo corrective surgery immediately.  Your surgeon may just want to take care of the problem as quickly as possible and as a result, you may feel pressured to have a corrective surgery.  There are certainly times where immediate work is appropriate.  Before you agree to such a fix, ask yourself if you are still comfortable trusting your surgeon.  In his book Blink, Malcom Gladwell describes the process of “thin slicing;” the way our intuition rapidly assesses a situation.  That intuition is ignored at our peril.  If the hair on the back of your neck is standing up because your surgeon wants to hustle you back to surgery, ask yourself: are you comfortable with what is being proposed?  If you are not comfortable, your best course of action is the natural one―dig in your heals.  There are occasional situations that are medical emergencies.  However, these are truly rare.  There is almost always time for a second opinion.

Undergo a consultation

Before taking any action to correct your complications, carefully weigh your confidence in your current surgeon.  There is no substitute for an in-depth personal consultation because discussing your problem with your doctor over the phone doesn’t allow him or her to see, and fully understand the physical complications.  Occasionally, the description of what is going on and the actual physical complications are not the same.  Fixing complications is specialized business.  Even if your surgeon does a lot of primary cosmetic surgery, he or she may be relatively unsophisticated when it comes to repairing surgical complications, especially when this work affects the function of the eyelids.

If you are not 100 percent confident in your surgeon and are casting about for opinions from strangers, listen to your feelings.  Do not blindly follow the recommendations your original surgeon or any surgeon whose recommendations do not make sense to you.  Don’t commit to a second surgery unless you have a clear understanding of the following:

  • What is going on and why these complications are occurring,
  • What type of surgery your doctor has planned,
  • Why a surgical solution is necessary,
  • The risks of a second surgery, and
  • The probability of success or failure.

The risks of midface and lower eyelid surgery and corrective surgery

Lower eyelid surgery and midface surgery have significant risks associated with them.  Your surgeon may not fully understand these risks.  If you’re experiencing complications it does not mean that your surgeon did something that another surgeon might have done in a similar circumstance.  However, how your surgeon addresses the problem can make a profound difference and he or she should not rush the process.

The anatomy described in some of the most important and most recent papers in the field of lower eyelid and midface surgery done through a skin incision under the lower eyelashes (infracillary incision) is inaccurate.  Dr. Steinsapir recently reviewed the literature on this subject and presented it before the Fall 2010 American Society for Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Scientific Symposium.  Some of the core papers describe anatomic hypotheses rather than proven anatomic fact.  Unfortunately, a hypothesis is a scientific guess―it does not make an established anatomic fact. Lower eyelid surgery through the lower eyelid skin is one example of this.  Surgery damages the motor nerves that help support the lower eyelid margin leading to complications that can surprise the unsuspecting surgeon.  Naturally, they are not going to say that they are surprised but be assured they would not perform surgery this way if they thought it would cause a problem.

So why do doctors still perform this kind of surgery despite the risks?  Despite the inaccurate papers it is possible to dissect in this plane in some cases without significantly altering the nerve supply to the orbicularis oculi muscle.   Motor nerve damage to the orbicularis oculi muscle near the upper and lower eyelid margin affects the blink and weakens eye closed.  Without this critical blink function, tears do not move across the corneal surface properly resulting in dry eye and tearing issues.  When the lower eyelid slumps, it does not properly cover the lower portion of the eye and there is increased corneal drying.

The remedy for midface and lower eyelid surgery complications

To address eyelid complications from a midface lift or lower lid surgery, the best answer is to avoid further eyelid tightening and allow the tissues to heal.  By preserving as much of the lower eyelid function and not cutting out additional tissue―as would be the case if your doctor were to try to fix the problems immediately following your initial surgery using a technique called canthoplasty―there are many more options and increased likelihood of an improved outcome if you allow the tissue to heal.  While in the healing process, keep lines of communication open with your surgeon or look for oculoplastic surgeons for consultation who have as a focus of their practice the repair of unsatisfactory cometic eyelid surgery.  Be skeptical of solutions that must be done “urgently” or don’t make sense.  While very few of these complications mend themselves, with time it may improve so less work than originally  thought may be necessary.

About Dr. Steinsapir

Dr. Steinsapir is a board certified eye surgeon and fellowship-trained in oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in Los Angeles where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology. Dr. Steinsapir has a private practice and also serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert in cosmetic surgery, which can be a vital part of your evidence-based treatment plan.

Services described may be “off-label” and lack FDA approval. This article is informational and does not constitute an advertisement for off-label treatment. No services should be provided without a good faith examination by a licensed physician and an informed consent with a discussion of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the likelihood of treatment success. Only you and your treating physician or surgeon can determine if a treatment is right for you.

February 24, 2011

Blepharoplasty Reconstruction

Filed under: cosmetic eyelid surgery,eyelid reconstructive surgery,lower blepharoplasty — Tags: , , , , , , , , — admin @ 6:31 pm

Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery or a lidlift, is one of the most common cosmetic surgeries and has a remarkable track record for safety.  Because incisions are made along the creases of the upper eyelid, below the lower lashes, or from the inside of the lower lid, scarring is minimal and relatively hidden.  Complications can occur, even when surgery is performed by experienced surgeons.  Complications that can compromise the outcome of eyelid surgery can include hematoma, infection, or eyelid function problems that result from excessive skin or muscle removal, or motor nerve damage.  When the cosmetic or functional result is unacceptable, reconstructive surgery is needed to address these issues.

Potential Concerns

The traditional approach to upper eyelid surgery has been to aggressively remove skin, muscle, and fat.  The result of this outdated philosophy is “the surgical look” with a high sulcus and no upper-eyelid fold.  While some are happy with the cleaned-up appearance created by this type of surgery, a certain percentage of individuals are unhappy with the alterations caused by their changed appearance.  Unfortunately restoring the upper eyelid fold is virtually impossible.  Fillers can help soften the appearance, but restoration of the upper eyelid is not feasible as it is with repair of the lower eyelid.

Other upper eyelid issues are more amenable to corrections.  One such concern is laxity of the skin in the upper eyelid, below the upper eyelid crease.  The skin takes on a crepe appearance.  Crepe skin appears thin and dry and doesn’t hold makeup.   This can be corrected with a precision anchor blepharoplasty.

The indiscriminate removal of skin, muscle, and fat can have more serious complications than just the “surgical look.”  Over-aggressive cosmetic surgery can, result in damage to the muscles that allow the eyelid to close, shortening the upper eyelid and preventing the eye from closing.  The lower lid can also become retracted, pulling the lower lid downward.  Often, individuals come to Dr. Steinsapir with unique issues that require unique surgical solutions.  While there are complications that can’t be fully corrected, many of these issues can be improved functionally and cosmetically by a very limited number of specialized eyelid surgeons who offer these types of reconstructions.  The process starts with a detailed personal consultation.

About Dr. Steinsapir

Dr. Steinsapir is a much sought after oculofacial surgeon.  He is an innovator in minimally invasive cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and has invented new methods for treating with BOTOX, Fillers and cutting edge reconstructive eyelid  and midface surgery.  He specializes in high precision eyelid surgery and is a leader in correcting prior facial and eyelid surgery, including multiple revised cosmetic eyelid reconstructions.  He attended medical school at the UCLA and completed ophthalmology residency at The University of Chicago.  He is multiple fellowship trained including three years of fellowship training in oculofacial plastic surgery at UCLA, and a two-year cosmetic surgery fellowship in Rancho Mirage.  He is widely published and lectures to other surgeons nationally and internationally.  He is an associate clinical professor of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA.  His private practice is located in West Los Angeles, immediately serving the Los Angeles and Bevery Hills communities.  Additionally, individuals from all over the country and the world regularly come to Los Angeles for this expert care.

February 9, 2011

I had cheek implants in the past. What are my options for improving my appearance now?

Filed under: Cosmetic Facial Fillers,Cosmetic Surgery,lower blepharoplasty,Microdroplet BOTOX — Tags: , , , — admin @ 2:38 am

If you have had cheek implants in the past and seek further improvement today, you have many options available to you depending on your present situation and goals in addition to the nature of your prior treatment.  The history of treatment approaches in combination with your medical circumstances and personal goals can shed much light on the best ways to improve the appearance after prior cheek implants.

You may already know that there is not a single type of cheek implant.  Nor do follow-up, refresher, or corrective treatments follow one simple or standard approach.  After all, cheek implants have evolved over the years, going through medical advancements and new approaches as cosmetic surgeons researched the most effective forms of cosmetic facial treatment.  Here are a few kinds of cheek implants styles that have been used or are currently in use and what can be done when issues occur.

The Early Cheek Implants

The cheek implants that were performed in the 1980s and early 1990s tend to follow two basic types: the older style “button” shape implants, or the elliptical shape.  With these cheek implants we see that as time passes after the original surgery, loss of cheek soft-tissue (which tends to happen with age) causes the contour of these implants to stand out.  The result that doctors and recipients of the early cheek implant observe here is prominent mounds of volumes where the implants are.  These appear obvious and stand out even to the untrained eye as disturbingly unnatural.

If you are experiencing this situation, consult with an expert facial cosmetic surgeon who can help you determine your best treatment option.  For some individuals, facial fillers can be used to soften the contour around these implants and obtain a more natural appearance characterized by the fuller and more balanced features associated with youth.  However, the best approach is usually the removal of the original implant and, when necessary, its replacement with an alternative and more natural implant as custom-designed by the best cosmetic surgeon for you.

Cheek Implants beyond the 1990s

Since the 1990s, implants have evolved to a more anatomic shape.  Most implant related issues are the result of oversized implants or implants that have settled in less than ideal fashiion.  Cheek implants fitting this description may require surgical removal and, if indicated, replacement.  Cheek implants like this were often placed through a lower blepharoplasty incision or through an incision in the mouth.  Implant placement can be associated with motor nerve damage to the muscles of facial expression or can compromise the appearance of the lower eyelid.  It’s possible that post-surgical changes associated with the eyelid surgery may need to be revised at the same time the prior cheek implant is removed.  Depending on the nature of the lower eyelid issue and the cheek contour, the old implant may then be replaced.  As many of these situations have unique characteristics, Dr. Steinsapir prefers hand-carving a custom ePTFE implant to replace the old implant.

Revisions to the Submalar Implant

Another style of implant is called a submalar implant, which sits low on the cheek.  While this submalar volume positioned at a low level may have appeared complementary at the time of the surgery, some find that this implant begins to look objectionable as the face ages.  Occasionally this problem is made worse because the original surgeon chose the wrong size of implant, or because the implant may not have settled correctly after surgery.  In these circumstances, the best approach is to remove the original implant, and then replace the volume deficiency with a hand-carved custom orbital rim implant in conjunction with a vertical midface lift.

Improvements with the Best Cosmetic Surgeon

The success of your follow-up improvements to prior a facial cosmetic surgery will be closely tied to your choice of a leading cosmetic surgeon who has specialized expertise in the treatment you need, and the establishment of open and comfortable communication that leads you to both feel confident in your treatment path.   As you seek a cosmetic surgeon whose experience and personality are a good match for your treatment needs, consider how Dr. Steinsapir can help you obtain the outcomes you desire.  Dr. Steinsapir attended medical school at UCLA, studied ophthalmology at The University of Chicago, and completed multiple fellowships in orbital and oculofacial plastic and cosmetic surgery.  Today he is an associate clinical professor of ophthalmology at UCLA’s prestigious Jules Stein Eye Institute, and his private practice in West Los Angeles helps many individuals to obtain the improved aesthetic and natural results they have always wanted.  To learn more about your cosmetic treatment options, contact us today to set up your no-risk consultation with Dr. Steinsapir.

January 20, 2011

Fixing Lower Eyelid Surgery

Filed under: best cosmetic surgeons,Cosmetic Surgery,eyelid reconstructive surgery,Eyelid Surgery,fixing eyelid surgery,lower blepharoplasty — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 1:34 am

Eyelid surgery is a great option for many people seeking to improve their looks and their interactions with others.  You can usually anticipate that your lower eyelid surgery will be a positive experience that improves your appearance and your confidence, but there are still occasions when an individual may need to seek revisional eyelid surgery with a top oculoplastic surgeon, especially if the original operating surgeon was not chosen with the greatest care.  If you are concerned about the outcome of a past eyelid surgery and want to know how to address any issue you perceive, here are a few items to consider as you move forward toward attaining your treatment goals.

Have you had time to heal?

After an eyelid surgery, you might experience some apprehension as you anticipate your results and wonder if you made the right decision.  Most individuals find that they are very happy with their eyelid surgery results, so before you start to fret make sure you’ve allowed yourself healing time to see improvement.  In a very few, rare cases an individual needs to seek immediate medical attention for eyelid surgery complications, but this is not common.

If your concerns are aesthetic, it’s generally advisable to wait six to twelve months after a lower eyelid surgery such as lower blepharoplasty to seek revisional treatments.  This is because it’s important to allow all the tissues to fully heal and observe your final results before modifying the outcome with additional surgery.  Especially in cases when an overaggressive surgery leads to the need for corrective surgery, your corrective surgery should preserve your tissue as much as possible to improve your look rather than making the problem worse.  This is why a conservative approach after ample healing time is most effective.

Since you begin to see the results of your eyelid surgery earlier than the time for corrective surgery, you should be openly expressing any concerns that arise with your original surgeon on an ongoing basis.  If you feel you could benefit from a second opinion with a specialist in eye plastic surgery and its correction, this can also help you to calm your worry and consider your options.

Who can help?

In many cases, individuals worry needlessly about an overall great surgery because they haven’t let themselves heal or are nervous enough to imagine problems that aren’t there.  On the other hand, with any medical procedure you run a risk that it will not go exactly as you had hoped, and eyelid surgery is no exception.  If you want to learn more about whether you might need your lower eyelid surgery fixed, you can be glad that expert help is available.

First you should consult with your original surgeon wherever possible.  Your surgeon who performed your first eyelid surgery should be eager to help you address any concerns you have and find the best solution together.  However, sometimes part of the problem may be that your surgeon lacks the specialized skill in conservative eyelid surgery that is needed for precise and natural results, and in these cases consider consulting with an additional doctor for a new viewpoint based on experience and expertise.

It takes extensive training, experience, skill, and specialization to be able to perform the best eyelid surgery, and additionally there are very few doctors with focus on skillfully correcting eyelid surgery.  We invite you to consult with Dr. Steinsapir, who makes eyelid surgery as well as corrective eyelid surgery based on years of education, training, and experience a major focus of his practice in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.  Dr. Steinsapir works from a philosophy that natural results are achieved through conservative surgery that enhances your eyelid’s natural contour.  This approach helps to prevent the need for corrective surgery to begin with.  If you are already concerned about a prior eyelid surgery, or if you are seeking lower eyelid surgery and want to minimize your risk of needing corrective surgery later, contact us today and consider how a fresh opinion from Dr. Steinsapir can help set you on the right track for to achieve your goals.

August 23, 2010

What is the Best Lower Eyelid Surgery?

Filed under: blepharoplasty,Eyelid Surgery,lower blepharoplasty,oculoplastic surgeon,oculoplastic surgery — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 2:08 pm

We say this a lot, so it should come as no surprise to hear again: the best lower eyelid surgery is customized for the individual and designed to meet his or her particular goals, medical needs, and circumstances. This means that the lower eyelid surgery ideal for one person may be a specialized type of blepharoplasty while for another it may be a midface lift designed to correct tissue descent and return it to its proper anatomical location in the lower eye area.

Upper and Lower Blepharoplasty

Upper and Lower Blepharoplasty

Beyond that, once you and your oculoplastic surgeon determine the best procedure, it must be customized even further to fit your features and obtain natural results. In short, of the various types of lower eyelid surgery, the one or ones best for you will need to be tailored. Conversely, the worst lower eyelid surgery takes a standardized, one-size-fits-all approach.

The Many Choices in Lower Eyelid Surgery

Let’s review a few lower eyelid procedures to get familiar with some options and what they mean.

Blepharoplasty

There are different kinds of lower blepharoplasty, including the transconjunctival blepharoplasty transcutaneous blepharoplasty, and transconjunctival arcus marginalis release. A blepharoplasty is plastic surgery on the eyelid that can be designed to address concerns ranging from eyelid ptosis, excess fat or “puffiness,” and loose or hanging skin. The doctor performing your blepharoplasty must carefully consider the subtle details of your facial features in order to determine details like how much (if any) fat to remove and where, how tight the eyelid skin should lie, and so on.

Canthal Surgery

Canthoplasty and canthopexy can be effectively combined with other eyelid procedures when the lower eyelid needs to be tightened with great precision, the canthal angle needs to be adjusted, or the eyelid position should be reinforced.

Fixing Eyelid Surgery

If you have had prior surgery whether from a specialist or nonspecialist and are now dissatisfied with your eyelid results, there is hope. By carefully choosing an oculoplastic surgeon whose practice emphasizes fixing eyelid surgery, you can improve your appearance and your confidence. Be sure to find a doctor who specializes in your concern, has a prestigious educational and professional background, and demonstrates his or her ability through natural-looking before and after photos. If you communicate clearly with a qualified doctor who makes sense to you, you can usually prevent unsatisfactory results.

Eyelid Reconstruction

Perhaps you have had lower eyelid cancer, partial facial paralysis, eye loss, or other medical complications that make you a candidate for beneficial eyelid reconstruction even if your issue occur years ago. The key here is examining and understanding the damage, then designing a treatment that addresses the structural needs of your condition. This type of surgery should address underlying problems and the special needs of trauma reconstruction.

Midface Lift

The midface lift is not specifically an eyelid surgery, but rather a midface surgery, as the name suggests. Many people who seek treatment for their lower eye concerns are surprised to learn that the problem may not be localized to the eyelid, but a problem of tissue descent in the midface. Restoring these tissues to their natural positions can make your eyes appear more alert and beautiful.

Under Eye Restylane

Under eye Restylane is a nonsurgical procedure to improve the under eye hollows, bags, or dark circles. This is an excellent option for those who may not be ready for surgery due to personal reasons, or for those who simply have a milder issue that does not need surgery yet.

Seek Specialized Treatment

After this briefest of tours through just some of the science-based lower eyelid treatments that have been proven effective, you can see why your best lower eyelid surgery is personal to you. If you are concerned about your lower eyelid appearance, we invite you to a no-risk consultation with Dr. Steinsapir today. Dr. Steinsapir holds extensive experience, education, fellowship trainings, and research leadership in the art of customizing lower eyelid surgery to fit each individual’s complex situation and obtain natural results. He believes that no two surgeries are identical, because he has never met two people with the same set of eyes. The goal of eyelid surgery is not to make you look like a different person, but to enhance your features through improved details and restoration that brings out your individual best. Dr. Steinsapir’s minimally invasive approach, friendly demeanor, and proven outcomes make him a leader of eyelid surgery in Los Angeles and internationally. Please contact us today to learn more about how his caring practice can lead you to an improved eyelid aesthetic.

March 8, 2010

Is Mesotherapy Good For Lower Eyelid Bags?

Filed under: blepharoplasty,eyelid fat,Eyelid Surgery,lower blepharoplasty,mesotherapy,under eye fat — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 10:14 pm

Two common problems in the undereye area are the absence of fat and the presence of excessive fat.  Too little fat gives the eyes a hollow, sunken appearance, while too much fat makes them look puffy and swollen.  Because the appearance of the eyes makes a big difference in how we read facial expressions, correcting excess fat under your eyes can greatly improve your appearance.  While searching for solutions through cosmetic eye procedures, you may hear about a procedure called mesotherapy, which is being actively marketed by a few less ethical practitioners today.

What Is Mesotherapy?

Mesotherapy is a procedure in which a solution is injected into the body with the hope of reducing fat.  The solution includes chemicals like aminophylline, dimethylethanolamine, glutathione, hyaluronidase, isoproterenol, L-arginine, lidocaine pentoxifylline, yohimbine, and the bile salt deoxycholate and phosphatidylcholine.

Mesotheraphy is marketed under many catchy names like Lipodissolve, LipoShape, and Lipostabil.  Unfortunately, this procedure sounds appealing but is actually untested and unproven, making it a very real danger to those seeking treatment.

Is Mesotherapy FDA-Approved?

Mesotherapy has not been tested enough to demonstrate if it is safe, and we have documented some unpleasant side effects.  Mesotherapy remains an unproven treatment that not only doesn’t live up to its hype, but also presents a serious threat to anyone trying to sort through eyelid surgery options.  Mesotherapy dangers include scarring, damage to blood vessels, and pain.

For these reasons, the FDA has not approved mesotherapy.  The FDA will not endorse mesotherapy for human use unless further research can resolve its side effects and prove it safe and effective.  It is unlikely that mesotherapy will ever receive FDA approval. It can destroy fat cells, but it also causes significant inflammation.

You may be wondering what this means for removal of fat under eyes, since this represents a small yet significant fat deposit.  If mesotherapy someday be approved for under the eyes, then why not use it now?  In answer, you especially shouldn’t use mesotherapy under the eyes now or anytime soon.  The area under the eyes is especially sensitive to aging and treatment.  Because the skin here is so thin and delicate, it’s very hard to disguise problems in this area.  There are a narrower range of treatments that are proven to work here, primarily because the fragile skin here cannot compensate for even small mistakes or irregularities.  You don’t want to damage an already-sensitive area by experimenting with an unapproved and unsafe treatment.  And that’s exactly what someone performing mesotherapy is doing; they are conducting an uncontrolled experiment on you with chemicals not approved by the FDA.  Most doctors will not administer mesotherapy for ethical reasons, but there are a few people hoping to make a quick profit who will try to tell you that mesotherapy is safe.  Here’s the bottom line: if the FDA hasn’t approved it, they don’t have science on their side.

Here’s another word of caution: those who administer mesotherapy do not respect the recommendations of the FDA, so you are at increased risk for infection because these same practitioners may also disregard safe preparation procedures.  The chemicals are concocted in an unlicenced lab, which gives you no assurance that they were mixed under ideal conditions.

Alternative Treatments for Undereye Bags

Overall, mesotherapy is not a suitable alternative to liposuction and it is certainly no alternative to lower eyelid blepharoplasty.  If you are seeking treatment for your undereye bags in particular, a personal consultation may reveal that blepharoplasty or lower eyelid surgery is a much better option for removing fat under eyes.  These are flexible procedures that enable a qualified, experienced oculoplastic surgeon to present different treatment options to you and customize a procedure to help this sensitive area.  The eyelids and surrounding areas are incredibly complex, and our brains are programmed to pick up on very subtle irregularies, assymmetries, and problems in these areas, cuing us in on how a person is feeling and determining how attractive we view them as.  This is why only a proven, time-tested treatment should be administered by a highly experienced doctor who can treat you with the precision necessary to avoid mistakes while improving this area.

Find a Doctor Who Cares

Dr. Steinsapir specializes in cosmetic eye procedures in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles.  His approach is to work with a patient to determine their goals and then customize a minimally-invasive treatment plan that makes sense and, most importantly, works.  Dr. Steinsapir has completed numerous fellowships and teaches at the prestigious Jules Stein Institute at UCLA.  Please contact us today to find out how Dr. Steinsapir can customize your safe treatment program today.