Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)

Age, sun exposure and hereditary factors all contribute to wrinkles, deep lines and puffiness around the eyes.  This can create a tired or aged appearance.  An eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, is designed to restore a more youthful and rested appearance to your eyes.   It can also improve your scope of vision if you have excessive upper eyelid skin that interferes with peripheral or superior vision.  A blepharoplasty can involve the upper lids, the lower lids, or both.

The surgery can be done under sedation or general anesthesia and can take 1-2 hours depending if just upper lids or upper and lower lids are being addressed.  Incisions are made in the natural creases in the upper and lower lids and are very well hidden once healed.  The surgery typically involves some skin removal and resuspension of the muscles and fat surrounding the lids.  While not a very painful operation, there is a fair amount of bruising and swelling which can last 1-2 weeks.  Sutures are generally removed 4-7 days after surgery and make up can be worn once the stitches are out.  Contact lenses can usually be worn again about 2 weeks after surgery.

Questions about Blepharoplasty

What is blepharoplasty?

Blepharoplasty is a medical term for eyelid surgery and is a procedure that removes excess skin, and sometimes fat, and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. Any resulting scars are naturally concealed by the creases around the eyes.

Who is a good candidate for this surgery?

People of all ages have had this surgery performed, but the best candidates are women and men who are in generally good health without hypertension (high blood pressure), good muscle tone around the eyes, healthy skin, and have realistic expectations about the procedure.

How long do results take to show?

Your eyelid surgery results will be noticeable as soon as any post-operative swelling goes down. For some of our patients, this can be a few weeks. For all patients, eyelid surgery results will be most noticeable if the head is kept elevated, which allows fluids around the eyes to drain.

How long with the results of my surgery last?

This surgery, like many other cosmetic surgeries, does not produce permanent results. But the results can be seen for many years.

What problems can blepharoplasty fix?

• Drooping eyelids
• Sagging eyelids
• Bags
• Narrowed eyes
• Tired appearance
• Poor vision (only in some cases)

Are there risks?

As with any surgery, there are risks involved with this one, too, including risk of infection and bleeding. Also, blurred vision or double-vision may occur for a few days following the procedure. There will also be swelling, but this will eventually go down over time