Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

The eyes are often one of the first areas of the face to show signs of facial aging. Sagging skin, drooping eyelids, puffiness, hollowed tear troughs, and “bags” under the eyes can all make a person appear older or more fatigued than they feel. Eyelid surgery is designed to rejuvenate the areas around the eyes for a more youthful, refreshed appearance. With long-lasting results, blepharoplasty could be your solution to revitalizing your eyes and entire facial appearance.

• Eyelid Surgery Overview
• Eyelid Surgery Candidates
• Eyelid Surgery Consultation
• Eyelid Surgery Procedure
• Eyelid Surgery Recovery
• Eyelid Surgery Risks
• Blepharoplasty Results
• Blepharoplasty Cost

What is Blepharoplasty?

This procedure can remove redundant fat and skin, recontour the underlying fatty tissue, restore lost volume to hollowed areas around the eye, and minimize the prominence of fine lines and wrinkles. In some cases, the upper eyelids can droop to such a degree that the patient experiences impaired eyesight. For these patients, blepharoplasty can be used to elevate the lids to a more youthful position, restoring the patients’ full range of vision. In addition, patients who undergo eyelid surgery to address vision impairment may find that their insurance provider covers some of the cost of eyelid surgery.

Eyelid surgery performed at our facial cosmetic surgery facility is often combined with other procedures, including brow lift (to remedy sagging eyebrows), laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels (to smooth crow’s feet and lessen dark circles), and facelift surgery. Our cosmetic surgeons can advise you as to which cosmetic surgery procedures are right for you.

Am I a Good Candidate for Eyelid Surgery?

Eyelid surgery at our facility is a popular procedure among our patients. Many people have unattractive or tired looking eyes caused by excess skin or loose skin in the upper eyelid. This excess skin can impair vision, cause puffy eyelids, and create very fine wrinkles and droopy skin in the lower eyelid. These problems are usually related to general aging or heredity and can be lessened or eliminated with eyelid surgery. Patients who come to us for eyelid surgery will find that they appear more alert and younger looking.

What is the Eyelid Surgery Consultation Like?

As an eyelid surgery patient of the Regional Plastic Surgery Center, you’ll engage in a thorough consultation with your plastic surgeon. During the eyelid surgery consultation, you and your cosmetic surgeon will review your medical history and talk about your surgical expectations. Your cosmetic surgeon will select the eyelid surgery techniques that will come closest to the results that you desire. Based upon how you want your eyes to look after eyelid surgery, your cosmetic surgeon may suggest other cosmetic surgery procedures. These additional procedures can usually be performed at the same time as your eyelid surgery at our plastic surgery center.

What is the Eyelid Surgery Procedure Like?

Eyelid surgery can be performed on the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both. The techniques used during your eyelid surgery are specifically selected to meet your needs. Typically, the cosmetic surgeon makes an incision following the natural crease of the lid to lessen the chance of visible scarring. The cosmetic surgeon removes the excess fat, skin, and muscle that are causing the drooping and puffiness. Then the incisions are closed with very fine stitches. Eyelid surgery is an outpatient procedure that typically takes one to three hours to complete.

Upper Eyelid Surgery

An upper eyelid blepharoplasty is designed to remove loose skin, as well as any accumulated fat deposits. An incision is first made along the natural crease of the upper eyelid. Once the skin is lifted, excess underlying fat can be thinned and sculpted to create a youthful, yet natural, appearance. Our experienced plastic surgeons take great care to avoid an “overdone” look while rejuvenating the areas around the eyes. Any excess skin is then removed, diminishing the prominence of laxity and heavy creases. The incision is finally closed with sutures.

Lower Eyelid Surgery

A lower eyelid blepharoplasty is designed to correct laxity of the lid as well as remove or reposition pockets of excess fat below the eye. An incision is first made just below the lower lash line, which helps conceal any scarring. Excess fat deposits can be contoured once the skin is lifted. For patients who have hollowed areas around the eye, such as the tear trough or cheek, the excess fat can be relocated to restore this lost facial volume. At this time, any structural laxity of the lower lid can be addressed by tightening the underlying tendon and removing excess skin. The incision can then be closed with sutures.

What Can I Expect During Eyelid Surgery Recovery?

Although the healing process for each eyelid surgery patient is unique, our patients will discuss what to expect with their cosmetic surgeon, and there are some general guidelines. After eyelid surgery the patient’s eyes are lubricated with ointment and bandaged. The patient receives a prescription for pain medication to control any discomfort that develops after the eyelid surgery. Our cosmetic surgeons instruct most eyelid surgery patients to elevate their head for several days and prescribe eye drops to help with dryness.

Eyes may be gummy and sensitive to light for the first few weeks after eyelid surgery. Our cosmetic surgeons recommend using cold compresses to lessen bruising and swelling, which peaks during the first week after eyelid surgery and diminishes thereafter. Double or blurred vision may occur and last a few days but will disappear. Whiteheads may appear when the stitches are removed, but the cosmetic surgeon can remove these with a very fine needle. Any scarring usually appears pink for the first six months but will eventually fade to a nearly invisible white line.

Most people can watch television and read a few days after and return to work and light activity within a few weeks after eyelid surgery. Patients who undergo eyelid surgery should avoid activities that are strenuous and raise blood pressure, such as bending and lifting, for a duration determined by the cosmetic surgeon. Eyes should be completely healed after a few months.

Many eyelid surgery patients are extremely happy with their results. We suggest you browse through our collection of eyelid surgery before and after photos so you can see what kinds of results we can achieve.

What are the Risks of Eyelid Surgery?

Eyelid surgery complications are very rare and usually minor when they occur. These complications include infection and a negative reaction to the anesthesia. There may be a slight unevenness in healing, and scarring is possible. Some eyelid surgery patients experience difficulty closing their eyelids when they sleep – and in very rare situations, this is permanent. Another extremely rare complication is ectropion, which is a pulling down of the lower eyelids. Further eyelid surgery at our cosmetic surgery center may be required to correct this condition.

How Long Do the Results of Blepharoplasty Last?

Blepharoplasty is designed with longevity and natural-looking results in mind. The results of your eyelid surgery will ultimately depend on the extent of your treatment. Results will also differ between upper eyelid surgery and lower eyelid surgery. Typically, our patients can expect benefits from upper eyelid surgery to last at least five years and your results from lower eyelid surgery to last much longer. Our team will discuss the full range of benefits with you before your procedure has been scheduled.

How Much Does Eyelid Surgery Cost?

The cost will depend on the individual needs of each patient. However, the average cost of eyelid surgery generally starts at $4,120, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Typically, the extent of the work will greatly impact the price such as having both upper and lower eyelid surgeries or just one of the procedures done. During your initial consultation our team will discuss your cost estimate and financial options with you. A comprehensive plan will be developed based on your goals and expectations following that meeting.

If you believe you could benefit from upper or lower eyelid surgery, contact us today to schedule a consultation or to learn more about the cosmetic procedure!