Eye Lid Surgery

Eyelid surgery, or BLEPHAROPLASTY, is a common cosmetic procedure. In this operation, excess skin is trimmed and excess fat removed in an effort to return the eyelids and eye region to a more youthful appearance. The combination of gravity, aging, sun exposure and heredity contribute to the aging process of the eyelids. Baggy eyelids are a common trait passed on from generation to generation, and for this reason, it is sometimes necessary to perform this operation in patients as early as their thirties. The advantage of this operation is that after surgery most people don’t realize that surgery has been performed, but the patient looks much more rested, relaxed and rejuvenated. Bedroom or sleepy eyes that make the patient look tired and inattentive at important meetings are no longer present.

The operation is done in our office usually under local anesthesia with mild sedation. Excess skin of the upper eyelids is trimmed and excess fat is removed. It should be noted that everyone has fat in their eyelids, whether they are thin or heavy. The fat is part of the normal anatomy of the eyelid, and once it is removed, is gone forever and does not return if the patient gains weight. In the lower eyelids, fat is removed through an incision either just below the eyelid or through an incision just within the lower eyelid called the conjunctiva. This is a safe technique that is applied to younger patients who don’t need excess skin removed from the lower eyelids, and replaces the incision from the outer eyelids. In older patients, a skin incision is usually required not only to remove excess skin but to tighten the lower eyelid to prevent the scar from pulling the eyelid down post-operatively. Immediately after surgery, the patient will experience some blurry vision, which is from antibiotic ointment that is placed within the eyes. Recovery time is usually one week, and sutures are removed in 3 to 5 days. Swelling and bruising lasts 7 to 10 days. Many of our patients return to work one week after surgery.

Complications from this operation include infection, hematoma or blood formation under the skin, and, in extreme and rare cases, vision impairment. Generally speaking, this is a safe, tried and true procedure that carries a high level of satisfaction with our patients.