I am a 32 year old male who lives in central NJ(Monmouth County 07733) who has xanthelasma on the lower lids of both eyes. I have had them for about 4 years. I have lowered my choleserol and am keeping it in check, but have a family history of it with my father having large pockets circling his eyes, so this may be the main cause. I am interested in having them removed, but cannot find anyone who specializes in the procedure. I am also not sure the best procedure to have as it doesn't seem to be a popular procedure. I'd like to try the least invasive technique first for I'm afraid of scarring. I've seen acid, laser, knife, shaving techniques but very little info to support any specific procedure nor anyone who seems to be an expert in the procedure and everyone I see seems to focus on cutting. What is the chance of scarring with small lesions? Any Help the moderator can give, as well as any advice others can would be appreciated my main concerns are:

1. What is the best procedure to prevent scarring and does every surgeon know about it.
2. What is the chance of scarring
3. What is the necessity for someone specializing in xanthelasma as opposed to just facial or eyelid surgery and how best to find a doctor for this procedure.
4. Would the cost for this procedure typically be the same as eyelid surgery or less?
5. Would my eye surgeon with plastic surgery training be a good candidate for removing them.

thank you in advance for your time and help.

hello xanthelasmaguy!

Welcome to the forums!

I'll do my best to answer your questions as thoroughly as possible, however speaking with a certified Cosmetic Surgeon who specializes in eye area procedures is going to be your best bet. Many doctors who specialize in Blepharoplasty also do this kind of surgery, so I would suggest that you start out by locating doctors in your area who do this kind of work and then calling them to find out if they can do Xanthelasmata corrections.

Xanthelasmata can be treated with a trichloroacetic acid peel, lasers, cryotherapy or other various surgical options. Removal can cause scarring and pigment changes, however this is unusual after trichloroacetic acid treatments. The chances of scarring and/or pigment changes can vary from person to person, which is why it is important to speak to a licensed professional in regards to the specific treatment that is right for you. The good news is that typically, eyelid surgeries do not create very telling scars, as they tend to blend in with the natural wrinkles and creases on the eyelid. It should also be noted that statistically, Xanthelasmata are more prevalent in your 40's and 50's, so you may want to consider that having them removed does not necessarily mean that you will not develop more of them in the future, as up to 26% of people who choose to have these surgically removed experience a re-occurrence of them within the first year. This is why having a surgery to correct them requires a commitment to a permanent healthy lifestyle in regards to cholesterol intake. As for the cost, each doctor varies depending upon the severity of your condition and the treatment road they take to correct it.

Please let us know if you decide to have the procedure done. We'd love to hear more about your experience and possibly see before and after photos!

Did you decide to get the procedure done? If so, would you mind sharing how your doctors appointment went and what you were advised of?

All The Best,
Audrey

"It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness." www.iEnhance.com

Hi I have had  removed twice. Once was by surgery in london on the NHS which left a tiny scar but it grew back a couple of years later. I then had it removed by laser when i was living in Thailand which was very simple treatment and only took 5 minutes and left no scar unfortunately it came back again. I think it returns in my case because I do have high cholesterol. 
So I now use  up to hide the Xanthelasma which works very well.