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Why Do Some Celebrities Look Different After Plastic Surgery?

Jan 14, 2015 | Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Celebrity Plastic Surgery – The Drastic Changes

This is a very topical question; we have all seen celebrities who appear to look very different after undergoing plastic surgery. One of the most common surgeries that can truly alter a person’s appearance is a blepharoplasty or upper eyelid surgery. Good examples of this are Renée Zellweger and Mickey Rourke.

Renée Zellweger Before & After

When Renée was younger she had hooded eyelids, relatively low eyebrows and her upper eyelid could barely be seen. Hooded eyelids can be genetic or acquired with age. Some examples of young celebrities with hooded eyelids are Blake Lively, Jennifer Lawrence and Taylor Swift. Renée Zellweger is one example of a person born with hooded eyes that became even more hooded with age. The effort to restore a youthful look to her eyes was overachieved, as the surgeon overcorrected Renée ’s eyelids, causing them to lose their distinctive hooded feature.

In more recent photographs of Renee, the difference in her upper eyelid can be seen. The eyes look more open and significantly different from the distinctive hooded eyes of her youth.

Mickey Rourke Before & After

Micky Rourke looks very different than he did when he was younger and it is particularly his eyelids that have changed with time and alleged plastic surgery. When we look at people we naturally look at the eyes in communication and changes in this area can make a celebrity look very different if the surgery performed is not conservative and specific measures are not taken.

Mickey had hooded upper eyelids when he was younger. This is a common appearance in men which often makes men’s eyes appear smaller. In more recent photos of Mickey, more of his upper eyelid can be seen and as a result, his eyes appear larger. Having more visible eyelids is common in many men; many other A-list celebrities including George Clooney, Richard Gere and Tom Cruise all have relatively full eyelids and low eyebrows. Eyelid surgery in men needs to take these factors into account.

Dr De Silva specializes in blepharoplasty and eyelid lift surgery, taking these aspects into account is of key importance in giving a natural looking rejuvenation. With good blepharoplasty surgery, a person will look the same after surgery, only refreshed.

Why Has This Happened?

Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty or eyelid lift, can be achallenging cosmetic surgery as it can change a person’s appearance, though when the surgery is performed to a high standard the surgery looks completely natural.

If too much soft tissue is removed, or if the natural shape and creases of the eyelid are not considered or respected, eyelid surgery can completely change a person’s appearance. All of us look at each other’s eyelids in communication whether socially or professionally, and a change in the appearance around the eyelids can really change a person’s appearance.

The results from blepharoplasty are dependent on both technical excellence and artistry by the surgeon. As a specialist in facial cosmetic and plastic surgery, Dr De Silva only performs facial surgery. Blepharoplasty, also known as an eyelid lift, is the most common surgery that he performs. “I have performed surgery for many celebrities, actors, actresses and singers, and no two people need the same surgery. It needs to be tailored to the individual to look natural. It is key with eyelid rejuvenation and blepharoplasty to consider with every celebrity how they looked when they were younger to avoid a change in the person’s appearance and discuss with the individual what they would like to achieve. The surgery can then be tailored to achieve this. I use my own customised techniques to ensure my patients have natural looking results. This does result in the surgery taking more time; however, my philosophy is to do things only once and with a natural looking outcome,” said Dr De Silva.

Can Plastic Surgery Be Reversed?

The upper eyelid is very intricate in terms of anatomy and function. It is challenging to reverse the previous surgery and to restore more volume to the upper eyelid. More than 20% of all eyelid surgeries Dr De Silva performs are revision surgeries on patients who have had primary surgery elsewhere. Once volume is taken away from the upper eyelid it can be difficult to restore it while still maintaining a natural look.

Surgery to restore volume to the eyelids often includes a number of specialized techniques including the use of fat transfer, CO2 laser, canthopexy, 3D telescopes and tissue glue. The surgery is highly intricate and specialized as less than one millimeter of a change can make all the difference. For this reason, it is important that patients seek a facial plastic surgeon to perform eyelid surgery and revision eyelid surgery. A general plastic surgeon that performs surgery on the entire body is accustomed to surgery of centimeters of the breast and body. Eyelid surgery requires fine millimeter precision work for a great result.

“The advice I would give anyone looking to have eyelid surgery is to take your time and research your surgeon. Natural surgery requires a degree of artistry by the surgeon to ensure that your appearance is only a rejuvenation of how your eyes used to look, not a complete overhaul,” said Dr De Silva.

Click here for more information on eyelid surgery.

Dr Julian De Silva is a London facial cosmetic surgeon who

Specialises exclusively in the eyes, nose, face and neck areas. Dr De Silva is recognised as an expert on the latest advances in facial cosmetic surgery, and previously worked in both Beverley Hills and New York before settling in London.