Ok, so eyelid surgery, known to plastic surgeons as blepharoplasty, can’t make you stick to your diet or get you off the couch and into the gym. But what if you felt generally more self-confident than you did last year? What if you looked younger and more alert than you had in some time? Would you be motivated to make other changes?
According to Psychology Today, as many as half of all Americans make New Year’s resolutions, but few of us are successful in keeping them. Losing weight always seems to be the number one goal people set for themselves, with other resolutions such as getting in shape, quitting smoking, living life to the fullest and falling in love also popular.
There are a variety of reasons people fail to keep New Year’s resolutions. Scientists say one factor is that people resolve to change in ways that are out of step with how they view themselves. In other words, many of us make resolutions we don’t really believe we can achieve. Some say that even when we experience some initial success in one area, the fact that other parts of our lives don’t also improve sets us back. Still other researchers note that keeping a resolution invariably involves changing behaviors, which isn’t easy when we all tend to stick with the status quo.
Could eyelid surgery really make a difference?
While we’ll be among the first to acknowledge that plastic surgery should never be viewed as a sweeping fix for what ails you, it can be a tool for feeling better about your looks, for improving your self esteem and putting a little spring back in your step. When patients with the right attitude about their lives and realistic expectations choose a cosmetic procedure, they invariably return for post-op check ups reporting satisfaction with their results and a boost in their general outlook.
This can be especially true for blepharoplasty, be it upper eyelid surgery to open up the eyes and restore a bright, alive look; treatment of the lower lids to banish bags and wrinkles that contribute to a tired, aged appearance — or both. There are additional add-on techniques that can deliver finishing touches, such as fat transfer to fill hollows and chemical peels to lighten dark circles.
The key to a beautiful outcome is to select a board certified plastic surgeon who enjoys rejuvenating the eye area and has hundreds of eyelid surgeries to his or her credit. In the hands of a skilled surgeon, most men and women find that blepharoplasty delivers a big payoff at a modest cost and with a relatively smooth recovery process.
Would blepharoplasty help give you motivation for other changes you’ve been thinking about? That’s hard to say. But if you do some research online, you’ll discover patients reviewing their eyelid surgery using terms like “fabulous,” “excellent,” and “amazing.” It can’t hurt to tackle challenges when you’re already feeling fabulous.
Dr. Elliot Jacobs is an experienced, highly recognized New York plastic surgeon focusing on procedures for men. An innovator in his field. Dr. Jacobs has developed advanced techniques for correcting gynecomastia (enlarged male ‘breasts’) through liposuction, with a focus on comprehensive improvements from the chest to the waist area. He also provides surgical correction for men with overactive sweat glands through a minimally-invasive procedure that significantly reduces sweat production without eliminating it entirely.
A native New Yorker, Dr. Jacobs has served on the US Air Force and is an Honorary Police Surgeon for the New York City police Department. After earning his medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, he completed a General Surgery residency there as well, and received specialized training in plastic surgery techniques before ultimately earning the position of Chief Resident in Plastic Surgery. Dr. Jacobs is board-certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Plastic Surgery; he is also a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and a Fellow of both the American and the International Colleges of Surgeons.
Dr. Jacobs recognizes the challenges that men experience due to problems such as enlarged breast tissue and overactive sweat glands, and he enjoys working with his patients personally to help restore their appearance and help enable them to enjoy a more confident outlook. Dr. Jacobs is committed to the ongoing advancement of plastic surgery techniques, and is a Consultant in Plastic Surgery to the United Nations. A frequent contributor to national and local news sources, Dr. Jacobs is also on the attending staff of several New York area hospitals and is the author of Mantalk: Tips from the Pros for Great Looks, Good Health and Maintaining Your Competitive Edge
