Florence Mussat, M.D.
680 N Lake Shore Dr. #1030 Chicago, IL 60611 (312) 751-9000

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Tag: eyelid surgery

Recovery After Eyelid Surgery

Someday, you might look in the mirror and realize droopy eyelids and undereye bags are giving you a perpetually fatigued or unfriendly appearance. That’s when it’s time to consider restoring your youthful appearance with blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery.

Chicago plastic surgeon Dr. Florence Mussat believes her patients should be well-informed before considering cosmetic surgery, including what happens afterward to ensure your recovery is as successful as possible. Review these helpful tips to ensure your eyelids heal appropriately after surgery, so you can get back to looking and feeling your best as soon as possible.

Clear Your Schedule

Most of our patients return to their usual daily routine within 10 days to two weeks after surgery. Take time off from your job and other activities to concentrate on the healing process. One way to prepare is to have your house ready when you return home from the operation, including stocking your pantry with easy-to-make meals and asking friends and family to take care of household chores, including looking after young children. It’s critical to have plenty of time to rest and focus on self-care.

Follow After-Surgery Care Instructions

Dr. Mussat will provide instructions to follow to ensure a successful recovery. These may include how to care for your incisions and when to return for follow-up appointments. To speed healing, eat a balanced diet that includes lots of fresh, unprocessed foods. You should also wear sunglasses when going outdoors to prevent scarring.

On the initial days following surgery, applying cold compresses to reduce swelling, eye drops to avoid dry eyes, and an ointment for lubrication are additional responsibilities.

Patience Is a Virtue

Don’t expect instant results. Post-surgery swelling will create some puffiness, and your incisions may appear red. Some patients experience the equivalent of a black eye because of post-surgical bruising. During this time, it’s easy to become disenchanted. But remember, these are all part of the natural healing process.

The swelling will take about two weeks to go away. Then, the bruising will subside, your eyes will look clearer and more beautiful, and you’ll feel on top of the world.

Get Plenty of Rest

Sleep is the most restorative thing you can do for your body. Healthy adults need seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Keep your sleeping schedule consistent, waking up and going to bed at the same times each day even on days off.

Healing demands a lot of your body’s energy reserves, so you’ll probably feel more fatigued than usual. Plan naps during the day, and don’t rush – it’s not a race to heal as quickly as possible.

Skip Strenuous Activities

During the first two to four weeks after eyelid surgery, avoiding activities that increase blood flow to your eyes is crucial. These include high-impact activities like jogging and interval cardio. You’ll also want to be mindful of everyday activities that increase head pressure and force blood into your eyes, like bending, heavy lifting, and lying on your back. However, you can take gentle walks to improve your circulation.

Learn More About the Best Eyelid Lift in Chicago

Are you ready to have brighter, younger-looking eyes? To schedule your private eyelid lift consultation with Dr. Mussat, contact our Chicago office online or call (312) 751-9000 today.

Fillers vs. Lower Eyelid Surgery: How to Choose Between Them

The delicate skin around your eyes is a telltale indicator of age, especially when undereye hollows create unwelcome shadows and dark circles. To resolve this issue, many people face a decision between surgical and non-surgical remedies – namely, a lower blepharoplasty or dermal fillers. Which one is better to help you meet your goals?

Lower Blepharoplasty Explained

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Florence Mussat can reshape your lower eyelids via a straightforward lifting surgery, using tiny incisions to prevent noticeable scarring.

The operation will reduce any undereye lines or lost volume that may cause darkness and make the area beneath your eyes look hollow. You can also combine a lower blepharoplasty with an upper eyelid lift for a comprehensive improvement to your eye beauty. The procedure takes about an hour, and recovery typically takes two to three weeks.

Dermal Fillers for Undereye Hollows

Another option for voids under your eyes is to add volume with dermal fillers. This non-surgical approach offers immediate, albeit temporary, results. A quick fix is desirable for many of our patients who have little to no free time to devote to recovery and healing. Plus, it can give you a preview of the benefits of lower eyelid surgery before making that commitment.

Which One Is for You?

The decision to get cosmetic procedures is always incredibly personal. Often, younger people who want to proactively address facial aging opt for fillers instead of surgery as a short-term fix. But once they realize what dermal fillers can do for them, many choose longer-lasting results with eyelid surgery.

Our patients over 40 typically choose the surgical route. They understand dermal fillers require touch-ups to maintain their look, and prefer the option of addressing the effects of aging on their eyes without needing follow-up treatments.

The Choice Is Yours

No matter which option you decide is better for you, choose a Chicago board-certified plastic surgeon. Dr. Mussat is a renowned cosmetic surgeon who cares for her patients. She will answer your questions and address your concerns during your initial visit.

If you are currently considering how to improve your facial beauty by addressing undereye bags or hollows, Dr. Mussat will help you choose the right path to achieve your cosmetic goals. She will work with you during your consultation and throughout the process to optimize your facial appearance.

To schedule an eyelid lift or dermal filler consultation with Dr. Mussat, contact our Chicago office online or call (312) 751-9000 today.

Will Eyelid Surgery Smooth Wrinkles?

As the old saying goes, the eyes are the windows to your soul, but if your eyelids are drooping, they can obscure your eyes’ sparkle and affect your confidence.

As we age, our bodies produce less collagen, a natural protein for skin support. The thin, delicate skin around the eyes is often the first place to show signs of aging, including loose upper eyelids and prominent undereye bags. An eyelid lift helps restore youthful eye appearance with smoother, more alert-looking eyes.

What Is Eyelid Surgery?

Also known as blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery helps reduce excess skin and fatty tissue on the upper or lower eyelids. This operation will rejuvenate eye appearance, making them appear wider and more alert.

Eyelid surgery resolves:

  • Sagging skin on the upper eyelid
  • Eyelid puffiness
  • Undereye bags
  • Drooping lower eyelids
  • Fine lines and wrinkles on the lower eyelids
  • Double eyelids

Restore Youthful Appearance With Eyelid Surgery

As your skin ages, it will lose its underlying structural support, leading to laxity in the upper eyelids or undereye puffiness. Combined with the loss of elastin for skin pliability, skin gets loose, and you may develop a tired, worn expression.

Upper eyelid surgery enriches eye appearance. It also may improve vision by lifting or eliminating sagging skin that obscures your eyesight and makes it challenging to read or drive. Lower eyelid surgery aims to remove lax skin, correct undereye puffiness, and smooth eyelid wrinkles, leaving you looking rested and refreshed.

Benefits of Eyelid Surgery

  • Decreased undereye bags
  • Reduced undereye puffiness
  • Softened wrinkles around the eyes
  • A more youthful, brighter eye appearance

Many of our patients opt to combine eyelid surgery with a brow lift to smooth forehead lines and wrinkles and rejuvenate the upper third of your face.

Is Eyelid Surgery Right for You?

The first step to determine whether eyelid surgery is something to consider is to schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Florence Mussat. She will examine your facial anatomy during your consultation to determine if eyelid surgery is best suited for your cosmetic needs.

Overall, candidates for eyelid surgery are in good overall health, do not smoke, and have concerns about drooping upper and lower eyelids and the lack of a natural fold on the upper lid. You may also be looking to correct peripheral vision obscured by eyelid hooding. Finally, you should have reasonable expectations for the results this surgery can help you accomplish. Remember, the goal of plastic surgery is to make you look like a better version of yourself – not to transform you into a different person.

Choose Dr. Mussat for Eyelid Surgery

From consultation to recovery, patient commitment means compassion and outstanding health care from Dr. Florence Mussat. As a trained plastic surgeon, Dr. Mussat understands the challenges of her patients. With unsurpassed education, her dedication to outstanding patient care and exceptional results makes her the optimal choice for eyelid surgery in Chicago.

Get ready to partner with Chicago’s leading female plastic surgeon! Contact us today to learn more!

Get Ready for Valentine’s Day – 10 Ways to Look and Feel Your Best

Valentine’s Day comes at the perfect time of year. The joy and excitement of the Christmas season are but a memory. As we eagerly begin to anticipate the arrival of spring, February brings us Valentine’s Day and, with it, a much-needed dose of fun, romance, and excitement.

With more and more people going the extra mile to look their best for Valentine’s Day, why not schedule a visit with Dr. Florence Mussat at her Chicago plastic surgery office?

Be on your way to a fresh, vibrant look with one of these 10 solutions from Dr. Mussat.

1.     Restore Youthful Fullness to Your Face

Perhaps it’s due to genetics, aging, or simply your facial structure, but parts of your face could be lacking in volume and making you appear gaunt. Well, it is possible to enhance your facial volume and improve the appearance of your face with a facial fat transfer expertly performed by Dr. Mussat.

2.     Fall in Love With Your Skin

Taking care of one’s skin is essential throughout the year, and there’s no better time than now to get back your radiant glow in time for Valentine’s Day with a nonsurgical facial rejuvenation treatment.

With medical-grade, topical retinoids, various conditions, including mild to moderate acne, signs of sun damage, freckles, fine lines, and wrinkles, can be treated.

3.     Refresh Your Eyelids

Your eyes may be the window to your soul, but drooping eyelid skin or undereye bags could be concealing and aging your eyes, making you look tired, sad, or angry. If so, you could be a good candidate for an eyelid lift, also known as blepharoplasty. It could take years off your appearance and give your self-esteem a big boost.

4.     Repair the Sun Damage

Even though summer is long gone, your skin could still be showing signs of too much sun with dryness, new lines, and wrinkles. Dr. Mussat offers a range of treatments to undo the harsh effects of summer, and just two of these are highlighted below.

Chemical Peel: Replaces thickened and damaged skin with fresh, youthful cells, eliminating uneven pigmentation and skin discoloration.

Microdermabrasion: By rubbing fine crystals across the skin with a medically-calibrated wand, the rough outer layer is removed, and new skin stimulated.

Laser Skin Rejuvenation: A concentrated beam of light is used to gently exfoliate the skin’s sun-damaged outer layer.

5.     Reclaim Your Youthful Shape

Becoming a mother can be one of the most rewarding experiences. However, pregnancy and breastfeeding can leave you with unwelcome reminders such as stomach flab and flattened breasts.

While diet and exercise can go a long way towards reclaiming your youthful appeal, a mommy makeover as a Valentine’s gift to yourself could be all you need to restore your youthful figure.

6.     Get Back Those Perky Breasts

Full, perky breasts may be a distant memory of the days before gravity, weight loss, pregnancy, or breastfeeding changed things. To regain confidence in your appearance this Valentine’s Day, a breast lift could be exactly what you need.

7.     Slim Your Jawline

Whether it’s the result of age or weight gain, a double chin can be one of the most frustrating facial flaws to have. Through a facelift, Dr. Mussat can tighten loose skin under your chin and neck area, lift those sagging jowls and restore a youthful appearance.

8.     Tone and Tighten

Are you plagued by problem areas of flab that won’t go away? Regardless of how much you exercise and eat healthily, do you find that lean, sexy stomach continues to elude you?

Well, you might consider a tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, which surgically removes excess skin and flesh from the abdomen and even repairs abdominal muscles damaged during pregnancy or weight gain.

9.     Restore Those Smooth Contours

If you’ve lost a significant amount of weight either through diet, exercise, or bariatric surgery, you could now have excess skin in areas of the body where large amounts of fat used to be. Through one or more body contouring procedures, expertly performed by Dr. Mussat, you could be well on your way to having your body’s contours restored by Valentine’s Day.

10.            Put Your Best Face Forward

Despite taking good care of yourself and trying to age gracefully, age-related changes in your face are still inevitable.

With facelift surgery, Dr. Mussat can tighten and lift the soft tissues of your face, tighten lax, excess skin and surgically reposition sagging facial tissue giving you a more youthful, rejuvenated look.

Regain Your Sexy, Youthful Look in Time for Valentine’s Day!

What better to get a self-confidence boost and bring some excitement back into your love life before Valentine’s Day than a visit to board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Florence Mussat in Chicago, IL?

Too look your absolute best before Valentine’s day, schedule a personal consultation or call (312) 751-9000 today!

Eye Makeup Tips After Eyelid Surgery

You’ve made the decision to have eyelid surgery and are on track for a new look — a brighter-eyed, more alert and attractive you. There are a few things you should know about makeup after the surgery, both in the immediate period of healing and beyond, as your eyelids fully recover and reveal their new form.

When to Use Makeup After Eyelid Surgery

It’s critical that you follow your surgeon’s instructions for post-operative care. Until the incisions from the surgery have healed, your first priority will be to keep the area clean to avoid infection.  Also, you will need to exercise caution when cleaning the surgical site, as you need to avoid any pressure or tension that may damage the healing tissue and interfere with recovery. Because of the need to protect your incisions as they heal, you will be advised to avoid using makeup for the first two weeks after surgery, or roughly a week after the stitches are removed. Applying makeup too soon after eyelid surgery can irritate the skin and slow healing, and even lead to infection. Additionally, if you use makeup while the incisions are still healing, bits of makeup can get into the wound. If this occurs, your skin may heal around the makeup, and it will create a permanent mark in your skin, like a tattoo.

About a week after your stitches have been removed and once your doctor gives you the OK, you can begin to use small amounts of non-irritating makeup, gradually adjusting the application and types of makeup as your eyes finish healing.

What Kinds of Makeup to Use

It’s a good idea to replace your eye makeup after your eyelid surgery, for several reasons. Makeup containers and applicators can collect bacteria over time and provide an ideal place for their growth. We are advised to replace products such as mascara and eyeliner at least every three months, and you especially don’t want to run the risk of infection after your surgery. Also, older products tend to dry out, clump, and flake; they simply don’t give us the best results and can end up leaving bits of makeup in your healing incisions.

When shopping for new makeup, look for non-irritating formulations. Many products claim to be “natural” but that’s a broad claim, and purchasing products that are free from irritating chemicals is an important step that you can take to ensure the best possible results from your surgery. Avoid products that contain alcohol or fragrance for the first few weeks after eyelid surgery, as these can cause skin irritation. Here are some other characteristics to look for as you replace your eye makeup:

  • Makeup labeled as hypoallergenic or for sensitive skin is typically less irritating than other types of makeup.
  • Non-comedogenic or non-occlusive products will not block the skin’s pores and are generally safe for post-surgical use once the incisions have healed. These products typically contain little or no oil, which can irritate sensitive skin. 
  • Mineral makeup generally is free from oils and chemical preservatives and is the least irritating option for many people. When it comes in a loose powder form, rather than pressed, it can be applied with a gentle touch. You should be able to find mineral eye shadow, eyeliner, foundation, concealer, and blush.
  • Water-based cosmetics are likely to be less irritating than oil-based products. They are also easier to wash off.
  • A clear gel can be a non-irritating alternative to mascara and can create a similar lengthening and thickening effect.

Color Tips

To conceal bruising or discoloration, use the rule of complementary colors: Hide purple bruising with yellow concealer. Mask redness with green concealer. Cover yellow discoloration with purple concealer. Avoid black or brown eyeliner at first, as these can emphasize post-operative redness. Instead, you can apply eyeliner with a blue tone along the upper and lower lash lines.

When your eyes have completely recovered, you may want to consult with a beauty specialist for makeup ideas that accentuate your new look. Many patients are able to experiment with new style of eye makeup once they have had eyelid surgery.

Take Care in Applying and Removing Makeup

Use a light touch when using makeup after eyelid surgery — apply as little product as possible and be gentle in how you apply and remove it. Never pull the eyelids and avoid excessive pressure on the skin around your eyes when applying makeup or when washing it off. 

Be extra careful with hygiene when using makeup, at least until your eyes have completely healed from the surgery. Wash your hands with germicidal soap before applying makeup to your eyes, and use disposable applicators to avoid culturing bacteria and spreading it to your eyes. Apply makeup in a well-lit place where your hands can be steady so you can exercise the utmost caution.

When removing makeup, solvents that can irritate your skin, such as alcohol-based removers, can be replaced with gentler cleansers, such as micellar water or coconut oil. Gently clean with soft cloths or cotton swabs and take your time. 

Dr. Florence Mussat is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Chicago. Call our office at (312) 751-9000 today or contact us online to schedule a personal consultation and find out if you are a good candidate for eyelid surgery.