Eyelid Surgery

What is eyelid surgery?

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that repairs droopy or saggy eyelids. This type of surgery may involve removing excess skin, fat, or muscle from your eyelids.

Saggy skin around the eyes can block your field of vision and make it difficult to see clearly. Many people choose to have eyelid surgery so they can see more clearly, and also to improve cosmesis.

Why are my eyelids droopy?

As your skin ages, it gradually loses collagen and elastin. When combined with the natural pull of gravity, this thin skin can begin to sag and gather near the upper and lower eyelids. Over time, this excess skin creates large folds and wrinkles which can obstruct your vision.

Not only do these excess folds of skin sag and impair your vision, fat that cushions your eyeballs can also bulge underneath your skin, causing large undereye bags.

How can I benefit from eyelid surgery?

Eyelid surgery treats a wide range of eye and skin problems, including:

• Excess skin around the upper and lower eyelids

• Creases, folds, and eye wrinkles

• Fatty deposits that create undereye bags

• Saggy skin that impairs vision

If droopy eyelids are stopping you from seeing clearly or feeling confident about your appearance, eyelid surgery may be the right treatment for you.

Am I a candidate for eyelid surgery?

Most eyelid surgery candidates are 35 years or older, but you may opt for treatment earlier if droopy eyelids run in your family and are already affecting your vision. Ideal candidates for eyelid surgery are:

• Nonsmokers

• Healthy

• Not on medication that can affect healing

It’s important to be realistic about your expectations before deciding on eyelid surgery. This procedure is not intended to eliminate wrinkles, and the skin around your eyes will still age after the procedure.

However, if you’re looking for a subtle change in your appearance that can also improve your vision, eyelid surgery may be right for you.

How does eyelid surgery work?

Before the day of your surgery, arrange for a trusted friend or relative to drive you home and care for you. You can expect to stay home for the next few days while your eyes heal.

The surgery itself takes one to two hours, during which time your surgeon uses local anesthesia and sedation techniques to help you relax. If you’re treating both your upper and lower eyelids, your upper lids are typically done first. Your surgeon creates an incision in your natural eyelid crease and will remove excess eyelid skin and debulk any protruding fat pads. Internal sutures may be placed in the eyelid muscles to adjust the height of the eyelids. You will have stitches in the eyelid skin after surgery.

Once you return home, it’s important to relax for the next couple of days. Head elevation and frequent icing are critical in the first few days after surgery. Your stitches are typically removed around a week after surgery. Mild swelling and bruising are normal and expected following the procedure, but call Eye Surgeons Associates if these side effects last for more than two weeks.

If droopy eyelids are stopping you from feeling confident, call Eye Surgeons Associates or schedule a visit online.