eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty)

Blepharoplasty Overview

The eyes are one of the most noticeable features of our faces, and when they don’t look their best, they can age an otherwise vibrant and youthful face.

Blepharoplasty , or an “eye lift”, as it’s often called, can improve the appearance of drooping, baggy, tired-looking eyes by reshapng them to make you look fresher, livelier, well-rested, and alert.

A blepharoplasty can involve removing puffiness and tightening the loose or sagging skin on the upper eyelid to reveal its natural contours, removing excess skin and fine wrinkles from the lower eyelid, or smoothing a drooping lower lid. 

This procedure is for you if…

• You’re an adult male or female
• You’re in generally good health and you don’t smoke
• You are realistic about what the procedure can do for you
• You have no serious eye conditions

You can expect these results:

After an eye lift, your eyes will appear brighter, and the skin around them will be smoother and firmer. Depending on the procedure you undergo, your upper lid may be more attractively contoured, with any overhanging folds removed, or your lower lid may be smoothed and tightened to remove any drooping or bagging that was pulling your eyes down unattractively.

The procedure is very long lasting. Your upper lids will retain their uplift anywhere between five years and a lifetime, while lower lids rarely need to be lifted more than once. 

What happens during blepharoplasty?

Depending on your surgeon’s recommendations and your own preference, you will receive either intravenous sedation or a general anesthetic during the procedure.

For an upper eyelid lift, an incision is made in the eyelid at a place where the scars will be well concealed. The surgeon will remove any excess fat from the eyelid, as well as tightening the underlying muscles and tissues. Any excess skin will also be removed.

If the lower lid needs to be smoothed and tightened, the surgeon makes an incision just below the lash line, and removes excess fat that creates the appearance of bagging. The skin may also be tightened to create a smoother, more uplifted appearance.

Finally, the incisions are closed with sutures or surgical tape. Sometimes, a patient will also have a laser chemical peel at the same time to remove dark shadows beneath the eyes, or laser resurfacing to remove wrinkles from the surrounding area.

The recovery process

The recovery process for a blepharoplasty is usually straightforward. You will need someone to bring you home after your surgery, but you are unlikely to experience too much pain or discomfort.

Any stitches will be removed within five or six days, and you will have bruises and swelling around your eyes for as many as four to six weeks. However, most patients are able to return to work within seven to 10 days, using makeup to cover any residual bruising.

To ensure the best long-term results, it’s important to use SPF 30+ sun protection on the surgical areas, and wear dark-tinted glasses until the healing process is complete (at least three months). 

Understanding the risks:

Blepharoplasty is a relatively low-risk procedure: however, no surgical procedure is entirely without risk. For eyelid surgery, risks can include bleeding, infection, dry eyes, skin discoloration, an inability to fully close the eyes, and a possible loss of vision. Your surgeon will discuss the risks of this surgery with you during the consultation process.