Over the past few years, Minnesota Eye Consultants has emerged as a leader in the medical, laser and cosmetic treatment of areas surrounding the eye. From complex medical procedures to cosmetic eyelid surgery, facial rejuvenation and laser skin resurfacing, these revolutionary procedures and services improve image and appearance.

Dr. William J. Lipham, a board certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained ophthalmic and plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Minnesota Eye Consultants, has introduced a number of treatment options to patients and the referring medical community. The services include:

Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty
In upper eyelid surgery, an incision is made externally in the upper eyelid crease to remove excess eyelid skin and fat. The original incision is then closed with fine, dissolvable sutures. Because the incisions are made in the eyelids’ natural contours, they are barely visible and fade with time. There is a mild amount of bruising and swelling following surgery, but this is usually gone within seven days. Patients can typically resume work within three days after the procedure.

Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty
In lower eyelid surgery, the incision can be made internally (transconjunctival) or externally through the skin. The decision regarding which approach is best for you will be determined by the amount of skin that is present in the lower eyelid. The internal approach leaves no external incision line while the external incision is placed just below the eyelid margin to disguise its appearance. Recovery times are similar to upper eyelid surgery.

Endoscopic Forehead Lift
A forehead lift is an option if you have a sagging brow or deep furrows between the eyes. This procedure is frequently performed in association with an upper eyelid blepharoplasty to elevate the eyebrows and reduce the amount of skin that needs to be removed from the upper eyelids. Several small incisions are made behind the hairline and an endoscope (small camera) is used for visualization to remove the muscles that produce the frown lines and reposition the eyebrows at a higher level.

Contour Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles caused by time and sun exposure as well as acne scars. The laser exerts its effect by vaporizing superficial skin layers and simultaneously tightening deeper skin layers. As new cells form during the healing process, a smoother, tighter, younger-looking skin surface appears. Our Sciton Contour Laser is the most advanced skin-resurfacing laser on the market, allowing Dr. Lipham to obtain the results you want with more rapid recovery times than conventional lasers.

BOTOX
Active wrinkles or creases develop from making the same facial expression thousands of times. These lines are called lines of "facial expression" and are typically located at the outer eyelid area (crow’s feet) and in the forehead (frown lines). BOTOX works by temporarily paralyzing the muscle groups that cause these lines to develop. It is best used to prevent the formation of expression lines before they become present at rest. To minimize treatment discomfort, BOTOX injections are performed with the smallest needle possible. Benefits begin about four days after treatment and last an average of four months.

Dermal Filler Agents:
Hyaluronic Acid gels (Juvederm or Restylane) and human collagen (Cosmoderm or Cosmoplast)
(Restylane, Cosmoderm or Cosmoplast) can be injected just beneath the surface of the skin to flatten out depressed lines or wrinkles that are present at rest. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) fillers last approximately six months while human collagen typically lasts three months.