The eyes are one of the first places to show signs of aging. Eyelid surgery is an effective way to smooth and lift the appearance of the upper and lower eyelids for a brighter, more awake look.
What is an Eyelid Lift?
Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is a surgical procedure that rejuvenates the upper and lower eyelids (either together or separately). Some patients begin to experience aging signs around their eyes before anywhere else. If you have sagging or heaviness around your eyes, chances are that an eyelid lift procedure can help. An eyelid lift is a quick and easy procedure that can produce transformative, natural results without the need for extensive downtime.
Is an Eyelid Lift Right for Me?
An eyelid lift can be a great option for patients experiencing the following symptoms and aging signs:
- Heavy, hooded eyes
- Undereye bags or troughs
- Deep folds and lines around the eyes
- Upper eyelids that obscure vision
In order to be considered a good candidate for an eyelid lift, you should be in overall good health and have no health concerns that could impact your ability to recover from surgery. You should also have no eye conditions that might be exacerbated by surgery. In some cases, patients are better candidates for a brow lift rather than eyelid surgery. For this reason, it’s important to be assessed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon.
Eyelid surgery is commonly combined with other facial plastic surgery procedures like the facelift, neck lift, or brow lift. Some patients also combine an eyelid lift with BOTOX® to help maintain results and prevent the formation of fine lines around the eyes.
Your Eyelid Lift Procedure
Eyelid surgery can be performed using local anesthesia and sedation. You can undergo upper blepharoplasty, lower blepharoplasty, or both during surgery. During upper eyelid surgery, an incision is made along the natural crease of the eyelid. This allows the underlying fat pads to be repositioned and any excess, sagging skin to be trimmed away. During lower eyelid surgery, an incision can be made inside the lower eyelid so there is no visible scarring. This incision allows the fat pads beneath the eyes to be lifted and smoothed, and any sagging skin to be excised. Once complete, the incisions are closed, and you can return home.
Eyelid Lift Results and Recovery
Eyelid surgery recovery generally takes 1-2 weeks. During this time, it’s normal to experience symptoms like swelling, irritation, dryness, and itchiness. You’ll be prescribed medications to take during this time as well as medicated eye drops to help relieve symptoms. It’s extremely important not to rub, touch, or itch the eyes. It’s also common to experience blurriness or photosensitivity, but only for the first few days. It’s extremely important to keep your head elevated and use ice packs to alleviate swelling. Typically, patients are ready to return to their normal schedule (barring exercise) after 1-2 weeks. You may not feel comfortable returning to public for 2-3 weeks, however. Once fully recovered, you’ll have noticeably brighter, more youthful eyes and can enjoy results for many years with the right preventive skincare regimen.
Schedule a Consultation
Eyelid surgery is a quick and easy way to achieve a more youthful profile. To meet with Dr. Trupiano and learn more about your facial plastic surgery options, contact our Troy, MI office by calling or filling out our online form.
