lepharoplasty (or “eyelid lift”) is a common cosmetic procedure designed to enhance the appearance of the eyes. It may be combined with a variety of other procedures such as brow lift or face lift to achieve a balanced facial rejuvenation.
Patients seeking blepharoplasty are dissatisfied by the sagging and puffiness of the skin around their eyes. These features make their eyes and upper face look old, tired or angry. Blepharoplasty is often combined with brow lift in order to achieve a balanced, symmetric upper facial rejuvenation.
Surgery is performed on the upper or lower eyelids or both and lasts 1-2 hours. Excess skin, fat and muscle are removed, and the remaining tissue repositioned to restore the alert, bright and youthful appearance of the eyes and upper face. In some cases Botox, a chemical peel or laser resurfacing is performed for additional improvement.
Side effects may include temporary eye itching and irritation, blurred vision, swelling and bruising. Scarring after blepharoplasty is almost always nearly invisible. Risks include bleeding, temporary difficulty closing the lower lids, pulling of the lateral lids downward (ectropion or scleral show) and dry eyes. Serious problems are very rare.
Recovery is usually quick and patients are usually back to work within about a week. Sometimes dark glasses or camouflage make-up is necessary to cover bruises as they fade. The bruising is usually completely faded after 2 weeks.