Anita Mandal, M.D.
Question: I am 60 years old and have lost 75 pounds. I have bulging fat in my lower eyelids that makes me look sickly. I still have 25 pounds more to lose. Should I hold off on eyelid surgery until I’ve lost the rest of my weight?
Answer: Eyelid fat is part of the eye socket and supports the eye and surrounding structures. This fat differs from the rest of your body fat and typically does not change with weight gain or weight loss.
Unlike facelift surgery, prior to which one should ideally be within 5 to 7 pounds of their stable weight, eyelid surgery can be done before or during the weight-loss process. In fact, baggy eyelids can sometimes appear relatively worse after weight loss since the face can lose fat, whereas eyelid fat typically remains unchanged.
While losing weight can improve one’s self-confidence, the loss of fat with resulting tissue sag in the face can be a disappointing side effect. In my practice, patients over 40 are encouraged to undergo certain rejuvenation procedures before their weight loss is complete.
Eyelid lifts and the Ulthera non-surgical micro-facelift can help counteract the negative impact that weight loss can have on the aging face.
Which procedures you are a candidate for during the weight-loss process are best determined after thorough consultation with your facial plastic surgeon. It is a good idea to see your surgeon during the early stages of weight loss to enable you to coordinate the rejuvenation process with your weight-loss goals.
Dr. Anita Mandal is a double board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon who has been practicing for 16 years. Her practice is solely dedicated to surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures of the head, face and neck. Dr. Mandal’s unique areas of expertise are facial rejuvenation, hair restoration and rhinoplasty. Not only is she on staff at Jupiter Medical Center, but her Palm Beach Gardens office houses two state-of-the-art surgical suites to assure patient safety, comfort and privacy.
