Blepharoplasty is one of the most popular cosmetic facial surgeries in the UK. Dr Ali Ghanem, one of our recommended blepharoplasty specialists, prefers to perform the surgery using a CO2 laser as opposed to the traditional scalpel. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons for this and how this advanced surgical technique can benefit you.
What Is blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty, commonly known as eyelid surgery, is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat around the eyelids. You can get this cosmetic procedure for both aesthetic and functional reasons, as the excess skin can impede the patient’s lateral vision.
There are two types of blepharoplasty procedures: upper blepharoplasty, also known as an eyelid lift, targets the area between the upper eyelashes and the eyebrow; lower blepharoplasty, also known as eye bag removal, targets the area between the lower eyelashes and the cheek.
What Is a CO2 Laser?
A CO2 (Carbon dioxide) laser is a gas laser utilising gases including CO2 to produce infrared light at a wavelength of 10,600 nm. At this wavelength, the laser energy is highly absorbed by water and therefore soft tissue which has a high water content. As a result, this cosmetic procedure can create precise surgical incisions by vaporising the skin tissue.
Doctors also use a CO2 laser to perform laser skin resurfacing treatments in order to treat a multitude of skin concerns.
Benefits Of Performing Blepharoplasty With a CO2 Laser
There are two major benefits associated with opting for a blepharoplasty procedure using a CO2 laser:
- A CO2 laser reduces the risk of scarring. As the laser beam vaporises the skin, it allows the surgeon to achieve a more precise incision in comparison to a scalpel. Therefore, as the eye is the most prominent feature of the face, every mm of precision can make a huge difference to the outcome of the surgery.
- A CO2 laser enables faster healing, and therefore minimises the downtime of the surgery. The incisions made from a CO2 laser produces less bleeding during the surgery, and results in less swelling, pain, and discomfort for the patient after the surgery.
Blepharoplasty Procedure
An upper blepharoplasty is usually performed under a local anaesthetic and in some cases under sedation, depending on the patient’s preference. Afterwards, the surgeon will use the CO2 laser to make an incision along the natural crease of the upper eyelid. This enables the surgeon to remove any excess skin and fat, and restore a lift to the upper eyelids.
A lower blepharoplasty will be performed under sedation. Once sedated, the surgeon will use the CO2 laser to make an incision beneath the lower eyelash line that extends just beyond the corner of the eye. Afterwards, the surgeon will remove and reposition the excess skin and fat causing the appearance of under eye bags in order to restore a smoother appearance to the under eye area.
Blepharoplasty Cost
Dr Ali Ghanem, one of few surgeons performing blepharoplasty with a CO2 laser charges £3,900 for an upper blepharoplasty, £7,900 for a lower blepharoplasty, and £9,900 for both. Dr Ghanem is also highly experienced in performing blepharoplasties with a traditional scalpel, for which he charges £1,000 less. However, the exact cost of the procedure varies depending on the needs of each patient.
For a full breakdown of the costs associated with the surgery from both our recommended blepharoplasty specialists, please visit our blog on blepharoplasty cost UK.