Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Our eyes tell a story and are the first thing people notice.  As you age, drooping of the eyebrows, looseness of the eyelid skin and bulging fat can make you appear tired or older than your age.  You may have impaired sight or loss of peripheral vision from the excess skin of the upper eyelid drooping over your eyes.  While blepharoplasty is more commonly performed on patients in the middle to later years, genetics in younger individuals may create similar issues. Correcting the skin above and/or below the eye, opens the eyes creating an aesthetically pleasing more youthful appearing face.

BENEFITS

• Eliminates loose or sagging skin on the upper eyelid
• Restores eyelid contour
• Helps with vision 
• Eliminates fatty areas in the upper and/or lower eyelids
• Corrects droopiness, puffiness, and bags
• Eliminates tired, angry, or sad look
• Diminishes fine wrinkles and crow’s feet around the lower eyelid

This is an outpatient procedure and can be performed on the upper or lower eyelids alone or in conjunction with each other.

Blepharoplasty results are long lasting.  Most people do not need to have this procedure a second time.  However, with the natural aging process, results may be slightly altered with time.

CANDIDATES FOR BLEPHAROPLASTY

Patients wanting rejuvenation of their appearance due to changes in their upper eyelid (loose sagging skin) or lower eye area (bags).

Patients with loss of peripheral vision or impaired sight due to skin laxity may qualify for medical blepharoplasty.

SURGICAL PROCEDURE

UPPER BLEPHAROPLASTY

For treatment of prolapsed fat pockets and/or excessive skin of the eyelids, upper blepharoplasty is performed.  If eyelid ptosis is present, the muscle that controls eyelid movement may be tightened for best results.  Typically, an incision is hidden in the natural eyelid crease allowing the removal of excess skin and/or tightening of the muscles and tissue. 

For some candidates, this procedure may be performed in our office under local anesthesia.

LOWER BLEPHORAPLASTY

Lower blepharoplasty is the surgery of choice to address cosmetic concerns underneath the eyes.  Under eye bagginess and extra skin are surgically addressed for rejuvenation of the eye area.  An incision is created under the lower lash line for redistribution, trimming and/or removal of fat pads that cause puffiness as well as for modification of the muscle and skin of the area.

RECOVERY

Pain is generally minimal with this procedure.  Sleeping with your head elevated for several days will be necessary.  You will not be able to wear contacts for two weeks.  Most patients feel ready to return to work within one week following this procedure.  However, bruising often remains into the second week.

Most of the time there is no visible scarring after healing is complete as the incisions are created in the natural folds and creases of the skin.  If there is any scarring, it is usually not noticeable.