Upper/ Lower Eyelid Surgery (Upper & Lower Blepharoplasty)

What is Eyelid Surgery?

Eyelid surgery, technically called blepharoplasty, is a procedure to remove excess fat and skin from the upper and lower eyelids. This surgery can correct drooping upper lids and puffy bags below your eyes, making you look younger and potentially improving your vision.

What Eyelid Surgery Can and Cannot Do

While eyelid surgery can significantly enhance your appearance, it does not remove crow’s feet or other wrinkles, eliminate dark circles under your eyes, or lift sagging eyebrows.

Planning Your Surgery

You and your surgeon should thoroughly discuss your goals and expectations for this surgery. Details of the procedure, such as how much skin and fat to remove and whether to address all four eyelids or just the upper or lower ones, will be discussed. Your other facial features, such as the position of your brow, will also be evaluated. If you have significant brow sagging, a temple lifting procedure may be recommended in conjunction with blepharoplasty.

Surgical Technique

Eyelid surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia, with sedatives provided to keep you comfortable and relaxed. The incision for the upper eyelid is made along the natural lines of your upper eyelids, making it invisible when your eyes are open. The lower eyelid incision is placed just below the lashes and is camouflaged by the lashes once healed. Excess skin and fat are assessed and removed during the surgery. The new fold is set and fixed at the appropriate level, bleeding is meticulously checked and stopped, and the skin is closed with very fine stitches. Blepharoplasty typically lasts one to two hours, depending on the extent of the surgery.

After Your Surgery

After the surgery, ice packs will be applied continuously to the treated area to minimize swelling and bruising. You will be given a solution to clean the wound and allowed to wash your face with tap water after 48 hours. Stitches will be removed within five to seven days after surgery.