Upper Blepharoplasty

Eyelid surgery can correct drooping upper lids and puffy bags below your eyes - features that make you look older and more tired than you feel, and may even interfere with your vision. However, it won’t remove crow’s feet or other wrinkles, eliminate dark circles under your eyes, or lift sagging eyebrows. While it can add an upper eyelid crease to Asian eyes, it will not erase evidence of your ethnic or racial heritage. Blepharoplasty can be done alone, or in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures such as a facelift or browlift.

What Should I Expect at My Eyelid Surgery Consultation?
Your surgeon will explain the techniques and anesthesia he or she will use, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed, and the risks and costs involved. (Note: Most insurance policies don’t cover eyelid surgery, unless you can prove that drooping upper lids interfere with your vision. Check with your insurer.) Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor any questions you may have, especially those regarding your expectations and concerns about the results.

How Long Does Blepharoplasty Take?
Blepharoplasty usually takes one to three hours, depending on the extent of the surgery. If you’re having all four eyelids done, the surgeon will probably work on the upper lids first, then the lower ones.

What are the Risks of Eyelid Surgery?
When eyelid surgery is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, there is always a possibility of complication, including infection or a reaction to the anesthesia. You can reduce your risk by closely following your surgeon’s instructions both before and after surgery.

The minor complications that occasionally follow blepharoplasty include:
-Double or blurred vision for a few days
-Temporary swelling at the corner of the eyelids
-Slight asymmetry in healing or scarring
-Tiny whiteheads may appear after your stitches are taken out; your surgeon can remove them easily with a very fine needle.

What Does the Recovery Process Look Like After Eyelid Surgery?
Following surgery, some patients may have difficulty closing their eyes when they sleep; in rare cases this condition may be permanent. Another very rare complication is ectropion, a pulling down of the lower lids. In this case, further surgery may be required.