Located in Beverly Hills, La Peer Health Systems’ Orbital Surgery Center of Excellence specializes in reconstruction of the delicate orbital area, including eyelid surgery, socket reconstruction, and eyelid retraction. Our Beverly Hills surgeons are highly trained and board certified in oculoplastics, which deals especially with the midface bones, muscle, and surrounding tissues.
About Reconstructive Eyelid Surgery
Reconstructive eyelid surgery is a carefully planned procedure preformed by an oculoplastic surgeon with extensive knowledge of the orbital area and eye structure. Eyelid surgery could be needed as a result of a defect caused by trauma to the eye area or the removal of an ocular tumor or small growth. In some cases, eyelid surgery is not necessary after a small growth removal. But for larger growths or defects the effect the entire lid, they may require a more complex type of reconstruction. In these cases, usually your oculoplastic surgeon will use skin grafts and to complete the operation and achieve a natural look. Skin grafts are flaps or tissues or skin from other parts of the eyelid, face, or body that are used on another part of the body where the skin is damaged or missing. Sometimes reconstructive surgery can take more than one operation to fully complete. In these advanced cases, it is called staged eyelid reconstruction.
Causes for Reconstructive Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid reconstruction is most often the surgical response to orbital trauma or skin cancer affecting the eye area. Types of eyelid cancers include:
Basal cell carcinoma: Most malignant eyelid tumors are basal cell carcinoma. Appearance is usually a small, firm and raised nodule with an ulcerated center and fine blood vessels. Although these tumors do not metastasize to lymph nodes or distant organs, they can cause extensive local destruction, especially in the eye area and possibly impair vision.
Squamous cell carcinoma: Less common but more aggressive than basal cell carcinoma is locally invasive, but it can metastasize lymph nodes and even produce systemic metastatic cancer. Treatment includes complete removal and at times radiation therapy as well.
Malignant melanoma : Melanoma is a relatively rare cancer of the eyelid however it requires serious action. After determining tumor thickness, complete surgical removal is recommended.
Sebaceous cell carcinoma: Produced from the meibomian glands, this is a rare type of cancer involving the eyelids’ oil glands.
What to Expect During Reconstructive Eyelid Surgery
It is very important your oculoplastic surgeon has experience in both ophthalmology and plastic surgery, fully understanding the orbital area and structure. At the Orbital Surgery Center of Excellence, we specialize in eyelid and facial surgery and use the latest technology in surgery, including minimal incision techniques, to provide quicker recovery times and natural outcomes.
Mohs Eyelid Reconstruction
When performing any type of eyelid reconstruction our goals are to preserve vision, prevent blindness, and maintain eyelid function. Mohs eyelid reconstruction is currently the most popular and effective procedure for eyelid reconstruction due to cancer. Mohs’ surgery is a procedure developed specifically to remove a cancerous skin lesion, using visualization under microscope to carefully remove the cancerous lesion layer by layer until all margins are free of any cancerous tissue. This technique spares as much of the surrounding healthy tissue as possible.
Depending on the case, reconstructive surgery of the eyelids is usually performed on an outpatient basis with close follow-up after the procedure. It is best to arrange a friend or family member to drop you off and pick you up from your surgery, as well as to be with you the night of.
Reconstructive Eyelid Surgery FAQs
How long does eyelid surgery take?
At La Peer, reconstructive surgery of the eyelids is usually performed on an outpatient basis with close follow-up after the procedure. It is best to arrange a friend or family member to drop you off and pick you up from our Beverly Hills surgical center, as well as to be with you the night of.
Who is best qualified to perform eyelid surgery?
It is very important your oculoplastic surgeon has experience in both ophthalmology and plastic surgery, fully understanding the orbital area and structure. At La Peer in Beverly Hills, our surgeons are highly trained in the latest techniques.
Why do people need reconstructive eyelid surgery?
Usually patients who undergo eyelid reconstruction suffer from some sort of orbital tumor or defect affecting their eyelids.
Contact the Orbital Surgery Center of Excellence
If you are interested in learning more about eyelid reconstruction at the Orbital Surgery Center of Excellence in Beverly Hills, speak with our doctors to learn more about your treatment options at (888) 559-4341.
Next, learn more about Eyelid Retraction.
