Eyelid Surgery

The eyes are one of your most important features. They display expression and help you connect with the world, and they also contribute significantly to your overall appearance. However, as we age, the eyes can begin to lose their sparkle. Signs of aging such as droopy lids, fine lines, wrinkles, and under-eye bags can distract from the beauty and power of this important feature.

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Plastic surgeons Dr. Andrew Miller and Dr. Elliot Heller have years of experience helping patients achieve a more youthful appearance through their beautifully performed eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). If you’re interested in restoring liveliness and brightness to your eyes, we invite you to call our office to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Eyelid surgery

There’s a reason why the eyelid lift is one of the top three plastic surgeries performed in the U.S. every year. Patients love their new appearance, which is more refreshed and youthful. An eyelid lift actually refers to two different procedures: an upper eyelid lift, and a lower eyelid lift. These can be done either alone or together, but typically the best results are achieved when they are combined.

Upper eyelid surgery

Eyelid surgery for the upper eyelids is designed to remove heavy, excess skin from the upper eyelids that is making your eyes appear aged (and may also be impairing your vision).

Lower eyelid surgery

Eyelid surgery for the lower eyelids is designed to remove unattractive bags (pockets of fat) from under the eyes in order to reduce shadowing and heaviness under the eyes, as well as “pulled down” lower eyelids.

Key benefits

Procedure

In eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, either general anesthesia or local anesthesia with mild sedation is used, and the procedure takes 1 to 2 hours to complete. Eyelid surgery can be performed solely on the upper lids; solely on the lower lids; together, or in conjunction with other procedures.

For upper eyelid surgery, an incision is made in a natural crease of the upper eyelid, which will make any scar well concealed when healed. From this incision, excess skin and fat are removed. The eyelid is then contoured, and the incision closed.

For lower eyelid surgery, a small incision is made just below the lash line in a natural crease, or within the lower lid. From this incision, excess fat, sagging skin, and muscle are removed or re-positioned, and then the incision is closed.

When we perform our eyelid lift procedure, it is not uncommon to combine it with other procedures, such as a facelift, a brow lift, Botox, or dermal fillers for enhanced results.

Recovery

Recovery time following blepharoplasty is minimal, with most of our eyelid surgery patients resuming work within the week. (Recovery might be slightly longer if multiple procedures were performed.) Minor bruising and swelling following surgery is normal, and your eyelids may feel tight at first. Generally, patients do not experience much pain, but there may be some soreness and discomfort. The pain medication prescribed by our facial plastic surgeon should help alleviate these symptoms if they occur.

However, many of our blepharoplasty patients find they do not even need to take the medication. During recovery, we recommend avoiding high intensity exercise, any activity that strains the eyes, and wearing contact lenses. It’s also important to wear dark sunglasses if going outside, and keep your head elevated as much as possible. Eyelid surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning that there’s no need to stay overnight in the hospital. We do recommend making arrangements for someone to drive you home after your surgery, and it may be advisable to have someone on hand to help out around the house for the first day or so while you rest your eyes and recover.

Possible risks

As with any surgery, there are risks associated. If you’re concerned about any of the following risks from eyelid surgery, please bring them up during your consultation in our plastic surgery office. Some of the risks include:

Cost

The cost of eyelid surgery is different for every patient, but in general, it’s between $3,000 and $4,500 for upper eyelid surgery and between $2,500 and $4,500 for lower eyelid surgery. If the two procedures are being combined, or if they are being performed in conjunction with another procedure, this will affect the final cost.

Ideal candidates

Why choose us

The experienced, professional staff at Associates in Plastic Surgery is dedicated to the well-being of each and every patient. Our board-certified cosmetic surgeons and anesthesiologists are focused on providing an exceptional patient experience, and our nurse practitioners and certified registered nurses help you with pre- and post-operative care.

We take great pride in staying up-to-date on the latest surgical techniques in eyelid surgery. Our elite surgeons specialize in revitalization of the eye through eyelid surgery to deliver youthful, natural-looking results, and our state-of-the-art surgical centers offer a modern environment in which you can relax, confident that your procedure is in the best hands.

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