Services & Treatments

Blepharoplasty for Eyelid Rejuvenation

"Eye Lift" Surgery

Blepharoplasty, an operation designed to eliminate excess skin and recontour the eyes by sculpting skin and fatty tissue, is an ideal way to eliminate the puffy, tired look around your eyes. In younger individuals, blepharoplasty usually is performed to remove and sculpt fatty tissue only. In older patients, loss of skin tone may require excision of superfluous skin as well. Occasionally the eyelid itself is lax and needs to be tightened.

Before the Procedure

After your examination, variables that influence the decisions involved in the procedure, such as age, skin condition, health of the eyes, and other physical and medical considerations will be discussed. It is important that ocular problems that impede vision or affect tear duct function are recognized before surgery. If detected, these conditions include eyelid ptosis (drooping condition of the upper eyelid), entropion or ectropion (an eyelid that is rolled inward or outward), epiphora (tearing) and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eyes).

During your initial visit, specific details of your case, including the surgical technique to be used, the anesthesia and where the operation will be performed are covered. Additional factors to consider before electing blepharoplasty, such as risk and cost, are also discussed.

Thousands of blepharoplasties are performed successfully each year. Nevertheless, you should be aware of the potential risks of surgery and specific complications associated with blepharoplasty. Post-operative complications such as infection or blood clots are rare. Bleeding, a serious complication, can be avoided by judicious use of ice in the post-operative period and avoidance of aspirin or products that contain aspirin for two weeks prior to surgery. Poor healing may cause noticeable scars and necessitate further surgery. Risk of complications can be minimized by closely following your surgeon's advice on follow-up care during the healing process.

The Procedure

Blepharoplasty is an outpatient procedure. Intravenous medications are administered to allow relaxation. The local anesthetic numbs the area to be operated. The extent of the procedure depends on your individual concerns and the changes you desire. The exact location of the incisions will be determined at the pre-operative visit and discussed with you in detail.

Upper Eyelid Surgery

Upper blepharoplasty is performed through an incision in the crease of the upper eyelid. These incisions follow natural skin folds and generally extend into the fine wrinkles, or crow's feet, at the outer edge of the eyes. Working through the incision, the skin is separated from the underlying fatty tissue and muscles. Exposed fat and excess skin are trimmed. Adjustments are made in each upper eyelid to establish symmetry. The number and type of sutures to close the incisions vary and depend on multiple factors. Once healed, the hairline scars fade and become invisible within six to eight weeks.

Lower Eyelid Surgery

Unlike the upper eyelid, the fat compartments of the lower eyelid can be approached from a skin incision in the conjunctiva, which is the moist inner lining of the eyelid. A skin incision is used if excess skin is present that requires excision. The advantage of the conjunctival incision is that a scar and the need for sutures is avoided. Other advantages of the conjunctival incision include a shortened surgery, reduced bruising, lower risk of post-operative complications, and speedy wound healing.

In some patients, the conjunctival incision can be made with a carbon dioxide laser, which can shorten the healing process. With either the skin or conjunctival incision, fat is removed to recontour the lower eyelid for the purpose of reducing the pouches that cause the "tired eyelid appearance".

Post-Operative Recovery

After surgery, there may be some soreness and discomfort. If mild pain is experienced, it is easily controlled by medication. Eyelid skin, being the thinnest skin of the body, tends to swell and discolor rapidly after surgery. You will be asked to keep your head slightly elevated and apply ice to your eyelids to help reduce swelling and bleeding. The bruised appearance clears in 10 to 14 days, and shortly after you will begin to see the results of your surgery.