About Procedure
Before & After
« Eyelid Lift
« Surgical Procedures
Cosmetic eyelid surgery, technically called blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure to improve the appearance
of the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both. Specifically, eyelid surgery can treat:
• Loose or sagging skin that creates folds or hides the natural
contour of the upper eyelid
• Excess skin that hangs down from the upper eyelid, sometimes impairing vision
• Excess fatty deposits that appear as puffiness in the upper eyelids
• Bags under the eyes
• Droopiness of the lower eyelids, showing white below the iris
• Excess skin and fine wrinkles of the lower eyelid
These conditions typically appear as part of the natural aging process, or due to heredity. Where they are the result
of heredity, individuals as young as their 20s and 30s may achieve a marked improvement in the appearance of their
eyes through eyelid surgery. Eyelid surgery removes excess skin, eliminates bags and restores firmness to the area
surrounding the eye, making you look more rested and alert.
Most commonly, eyelid surgery is performed on adult men and women who have healthy facial tissue and muscles and
have realistic goals for improvement of the upper and/or lower eyelids and surrounding area. Good candidates are:
• Healthy individuals who do not have a life-threatening illness or
medical conditions that can impair healing
• Non-smokers
• Individuals with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for
improvement through eyelid surgery
In addition, the following medical conditions are essential to disclose if you are considering eyelid surgery:
• Eye disease such as glaucoma, dry eye or a detached retina
• Thyroid disorders such as Graves’ disease and under or over active thyroid
• Cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure or other
Like any cosmetic procedure, eyelid surgery requires an individualized approach. Your plastic surgeon will evaluate
patient anatomy, the condition you wish to have corrected, what is causing the condition and your realistic goals
for improvement. Eyelid surgery can offer dramatic improvement in the upper and lower eyelids and surrounding
regions. This degree of correction of drooping eyelids, puffiness or bags can only be achieved surgically, by
repositioning muscle, redistributing fat that has settled into contours and when necessary by removing excess skin.
Skin resurfacing techniques may be recommended to further improve the tone and surface appearance of skin surrounding
the eye, and in some cases as a substitute for excision of minimal excess lower eyelid skin. Where a low-positioned
brow or crows’ feet at the outer corner of the eyes contribute to the aging appearance of the eyes, a browlift
may be more appropriate than, or recommended in conjunction with eyelid surgery. In addition, a brow lift can also
smooth a lined or furrowed forehead.
A mid facelift, one that corrects sagging in the cheek region and pronounced nasolabial folds (creases from the
nose to the outer corner of the mouth) may be performed through the same incisions as blepharoplasty. A facelift
and neck lift may also be performed at the same time as eyelid surgery.
