Blepharoplasty

Eyes are a prominent facial feature. It is the surrounding skin, rather than the eyes themselves, that conveys emotion. The tissue, muscle, fat, hair and lashes all contribute to the wide array of expressions. Age, sun exposure and hereditary factors all contribute to wrinkles, deep lines and puffiness around the eyes.

An eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, is designed to restore a more youthful appearance to your eyes.

The aging process can cause unwanted changes in expression, causing us to look permanently fatigued and older than we really are. These changes in appearance can cause emotional distress and sometimes even visual impairment. An eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, is designed to restore a more youthful appearance to your eyes. It may involve the upper lids, the lower lids, or both.

New and Traditional Techniques

Traditional Blepharoplasty: An incision is made in the crease of the upper lid toward the temples. Once healed, it is not noticeable when the eye is open. On the lower lid, the incision is made along the lash line toward the temples, and is hidden by lashes when healed.

The Transconjunctival Approach: This is a newer technique for lid blepharoplasty, involving an incision inside the lower lid. Fat can be removed through this incision, but excess skin cannot be eliminated.

Laser resurfacing and chemical peels of the eyelids are non-surgical alternatives that may delay the need for a surgical blepharoplasty. It results in significant tightening of the skin around the eyes, but will not effect the fat around the eyes and may even accentuate it.

Please ask your doctor if you have any questions about which procedure is right for you.

The Surgery

This procedure is performed on an outpatient basis at a surgical center. It is important to arrange for care after the surgery. Someone must drive you home and be available to care for you for the first 24 hours.

Complications include, but are not limited to: bleeding and swelling, delayed wound healing, infection, drooping of eye upper or lower eyelid, asymmetry, double vision and dry eyes. Less common complications include ectropion (eyelashes turned out), entropion (eyelashes turned in), damage to nerves, scleral show, and blindness.

Recovery: What to Expect

The area surrounding the eyes will remain swollen in the days following the surgery. It should begin to subside after the first day. Some mild vision blurring is normal. If you experience severe pain, visual loss, or a protruding eyeball after suregery, call your doctor immediately.

The stitches will be removed in 4-7 days. Swelling and bruising will persist for about 10 days, but you can begin wearing makeup after the sutures are removed to help conceal these concerns. You may expect to resume normal activity within a week to 10 days, and start enjoying your new look within approximately 10-14 days. It may take about 6 months for the scars to lose their redness.

Deeper wrinkles around the outer eye extended onto the temple are not greatly affected by the eyelid lift. These areas may be treated with laser resurfacing as well as BOTOX®.