Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Beautiful female eyes with long eyelashes, closeup

What is Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)?

The eyes account for a large part of your face’s expression. They project an array of emotions, including happiness, sorrow, and fear. The eyes themselves are virtually expressionless structures. It is the contour of the skin – the tissue, muscle, fat, hair and lashes around the eyes – that conveys expression. Wrinkles and deep lines, as well as puffiness on the lids, begin to develop with the passage of time. These physical changes can make you look old and tired, and produce anxiety and actual visual impairment.

Exposure to the sun and genetic predisposition can be contributing factors to sagging skin around the eyes. If you are experiencing these skin contour changes, you may be a good candidate for eyelid surgery. Today, several remarkable surgical techniques, including blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, have been developed to reduce many of these problems. The blepharoplasty procedure involves the removal of excess skin and fat on upper and lower eyelids and is often done in conjunction with other surgical procedures, including a facelift, eyebrow and forehead lift.

Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery - What To Expect

Before your eyelid surgery, your medical history and general health will be evaluated. A thorough examination of the eyes and face will be made to determine the most effective surgical approach. The amount, distribution, and type of excess skin to be removed is carefully noted. One of our doctors will discuss the procedure, what results might realistically be expected, and possible risks and complications. An examination by an ophthalmologist may be recommended. Antibiotics may be prescribed for a few days before eyelid surgery to prevent infection.

The eyelid surgery procedure can take from one to two hours depending upon the extent of the surgery. It is performed in our on-site surgery facility. It can be done under general anesthesia with the patient asleep, or under local anesthesia in which the area is numbed, and the patient remains awake. Before surgery, premedication to relax the patient is administered.

The doctor, following natural lines and creases, makes very fine incisions from the inner to the outer edge of the eyelid. On the upper eyelid, the incision made in the fold of the lid. On the lower eyelid, the incision is made directly below the eyelash or, in selected cases, inside the lid. Excess fat and skin are then removed from the underlying compartments. The amount of fat excised is determined by the degree of protrusion of fat when pressure is gently applied to the area. Small sutures are used to close the incision, and special ointments and dressings may be applied.