What is eyelid surgery?

Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure to improve the appearance of the eyelids.

Surgery can be performed on the upper lids, lower lids, or both.

Whether you want to improve your appearance or are experiencing functional problems with your eyelids, eyelid surgery can rejuvenate the area surrounding your eyes.

What eyelid surgery can treat

• Loose or sagging skin that creates folds or disturbs the natural contour of the upper eyelid, sometimes impairing vision
• Fatty deposits that appear as puffiness in the eyelids
• Bags under the eyes
• Drooping lower eyelids that reveal white below the iris
• Excess skin and fine wrinkles of the lower eyelid

Who is a good candidate for eyelid surgery?

Good candidates for eyelid surgery include:

• Healthy individuals with no medical conditions that can impair healing
• Nonsmokers
• Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic goals
• Individuals without serious eye conditions

Remember that the eyelids are part of the face. The appearance of a drooping upper lid may also be due to the relaxation of the forehead skin and eyebrow. Sometimes stretching out of the upper eyelid muscle may cause a drooping eyelid. This is called eyelid ptosis and requires a different surgical treatment.

Your plastic surgeon will evaluate your facial anatomy thoroughly and will discuss what procedures might best remedy your concerns.

What are the steps of an eyelid surgery procedure?

An eyelid surgery procedure includes the following steps:

Step 1 – Anesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.

Step 2 – The incision

The incision lines for eyelid surgery are designed so the resultant scars will be well concealed within the natural structures of the eyelid region.

The upper eyelid can be corrected through an incision within the natural crease on the eyelid. This allows for the removal or repositioning of fat deposits, tightening of muscles, and removal of excess skin.

Conditions of the lower eyelid may be corrected with an incision just below the lower lash line. Through this incision, excess skin in the lower eyelid is removed. Again, the excess fat can be repositioned or removed.

A transconjunctival incision, created on the inside of the lower eyelid, is an alternate technique to correct lower eyelid conditions and redistribute or remove excess fat. With this technique, no skin is removed.

Step 3 – Closing the incisions

Eyelid incisions typically are closed with sutures or skin glue. Sutures are removed within one week.

Your surgeon may also suggest the use of a laser or chemical peel to reduce discoloration of the lower eyelids.

Step 4 – See the results

The results of eyelid surgery will appear gradually as swelling and bruising subside to reveal a smooth, better-defined eyelid and the surrounding region, and a more alert and rejuvenated appearance. Get more information about eyelid surgery results.

What should I expect during my eyelid surgery recovery?

During your eyelid surgery recovery, lubricating ointment and cold compresses may be applied, and in some cases, your eyes may be loosely covered with gauze, after your procedure is completed.

You will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for your eyes, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your overall health, and when to follow-up with your plastic surgeon.

Initial healing may include some swelling, bruising, irritation, dry eyes, and discomfort that can be controlled with medication, cold compresses, and ointment. Irritation at the incision sites is also possible.

Eyelid surgery recovery & sun protection

You must practice diligent sun protection and use darkly tinted sunglasses until the healing process is fully complete.

What results should I expect after eyelid surgery?

The results of eyelid surgery will be long-lasting. While there usually is little pain involved in this surgery, there can be swelling or bruising. Most patients are presentable to the public in 10-14 days. However, it may take a few months before the final healing is completed.

While eyelid surgery can be expected to correct certain conditions permanently, you will continue to age naturally. Ongoing sun protection will help to maintain your results.

Although good results are expected from your procedure, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another surgery may be necessary.

Following your post-operative instructions is essential to the success of your surgery. It is important that the surgical incisions not be subjected to excessive force, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing.

Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.