Also called an eye lift or eyelid surgery, blepharoplasty is a plastic surgery technique that removes excess tissue upon which gravity works its ways, pulling skin downward to give you an inadvertent tired and droopy-eyed appearance. It’s not always an aesthetic concern. Saggy eyelids can sometimes block parts of your peripheral vision above and to the sides.
Whether your issues are functional or cosmetic, Jennifer A. Baron, MD, FAAD, FACMS can help. As a blepharoplasty specialist, Dr. Baron is well-versed in the variables of the procedure, so you’re ensured a personalized approach tailored to your needs.
Not everyone’s eyes are the same. In addition, aging advances in unique ways, so every case of saggy eyelids is unique. The skin on your eyelids is some of the thinnest skin on your body, so as you lose collagen with passing time, skin stretches and loses elasticity.
As skin loses tone, fat deposits and muscle can shift out of position, aggravating the amounts of droop. This combination gives your upper eyelids the sagging and droopy appearance that can age you dramatically. Lower eyelids can also collect excess skin and fat deposits, creating bulges and wrinkles. These won’t interfere with your eyesight, but they are aesthetic issues.
An eye lift procedure can accomplish some or all of the following, depending on your needs:
It’s possible to have surgery on your upper lids, lower lids, or both sets at the same time.
When all four eyelids are addressed, your surgery takes about two hours. You may be treated with local anesthetic and sedation or intravenous (IV) sedation, depending on the situation.
Incisions occur along natural folds so that when the wounds heal, they’ll be well-hidden. Lower eyelids are treated along the lash line or on the inside surface, making scars minimal or invisible. There’s little sign you’ve had surgery even just a few weeks after your blepharoplasty.
Dr. Baron discusses your aftercare procedures with you. You’ll need at least five days of downtime, during which swelling and bruising is normal. You’ll combat this with ice packs and cold compresses.
Your procedure will be reviewed in about a week, when stitches are also removed. It’s common by this time that you’ll be ready to resume your normal daily routine. Your appearance continues to improve in the next few weeks as swelling subsides.
Find out more about blepharoplasty and what it can do for you in consultation with Dr. Baron. Contact the office by phone or online to arrange your appointment today.
