Deciding on an Eyelid Lift

An eyelid lift, also known as blepharoplasty, eliminates upper eyelid droop and removes fat from the eyelids. It can help individuals who have bags under the eyes as well as too much skin sagging down over them. Because the incision is made in the folds of the lid, scars are generally unnoticeable after surgery. An eyelid lift procedure results in eyes that look younger and more attractive.

Are you a Good Candidate for Blepharoplasty?

Patients who are best suited for this procedure are those with dark bags under the eyes, excess skin on the upper eyelid (whether impairing vision or just unsightly), baggy or puffy eye skin, or eyes that always look tired.

Blepharoplasty can effectively change your appearance to make you look younger and more awake. It is a minor surgery compared to a facelift, but an eyelid lift can have a major impact on your overall appearance. After all, the eyes are a window to the soul and they are the most common focal point during conversation.

Take a look at our eyelid lift before and after pictures to see how this surgery has changed the faces of our other patients. If you are looking for a more drastic change in the appearance of your face, you may want to consider a facelift or other facial plastic surgery option in conjunction with your eyelid lift.

Preparing for an Eyelid Lift

Your vision will be blurry after the procedure, so you will need to arrange for somebody to drive you home and help you for a few days while you heal. Your vision will correct itself a few days after surgery.

Combination Procedures

You may decide to have other procedures done while you are undergoing eyelid lift surgery. Facelifts and skin resurfacing can be performed along with the eyelid lift, giving a smooth and youthful appearance to the entire face. Another option during your eyelid lift is minor liposuction of the face. Let us know if there are any results you desire in addition to your eyelift and we will provide more details about combining blepharoplasty with other procedures.

Eyelid Lift Risks and Considerations

Like any surgery, an eyelid lift procedure does have some risks including infection, bleeding, and adverse reaction to anesthesia. It is normal for vision to be blurry for a few days after surgery and there may be a slight imbalance between the eyelids as they heal. Eyelids may be temporarily swollen after surgery.

Blepharoplasty Recovery

About a week after the procedure, we will remove your stitches in our office. Swelling is normal after surgery but most patients are back to their normal daily routine in about a week. After two weeks the majority of bruising and swelling will be gone.

For the first few nights after surgery, we advise sleeping in an elevated position to reduce swelling. This can be accomplished by adding a few extra pillow beneath your head and upper body. Applying cold packs to the eyes can greatly reduce bruising and swelling in the days following surgery. Physical activity should be reduced for two weeks after the procedure as swelling heals.