What Is Blepharoplasty

Medicine surgical repair or reconstruction of an eyelid.

As we grow older, the skin of the upper and lower eyelids tends to sag and droop. Our facial fat redistributes around the eyes,first forming small pockets and, as the redistribution progresses, eventually forming bags. This phenomenon is incredibly common, especially in certain families who are genetically predisposed to the condition. The problem is that the excess skin and fat pockets make the eyes look smaller. One of the most commonly performed invasive procedures, blepharoplasty (or eyelid surgery) rejuvenates the eyes by removing excess eyelid skin and the bulges of fat appearing on the eyelids,occasionally, it also tightens the muscles beneath the eyes.

In some cases, if overhanging upper eyelid skin becomes pronounced enough to interfere with your vision, your health insurance might pay for that part of the procedure.

Blepharoplasty is performed by plastic surgeons,ocular plastic surgeons (those who specialize in the eyelid) and dermatologic surgeons.(the branch of medicine concerned with skin disorders). They start by numbing the skin around the eyes with a local anesthetic, possibly in combination with a light sedative.(You don’t usually have to be put to sleep.) The procedure is divided into two parts: treatment of the upper lids followed by treatment of the lower lids. (Some patients require surgery in one area,whereas others require both).After making a football shape, elliptical incision in the crease above the upper eyelid, the surgeon typically remves excess skin, extracts existing pockets of fat, then stitches the skin together. A similar procedure is performed on the lower lid,where the incision is made either just inside the lid or just below it, so that when the wound heals it is hidden from view.

A skilled surgeon will remove just enough skin and fat to achieve a natural-looking result. If too much skin is removed, the lower lid can be pulled down when you open your eye, and you might not be able to close your eyes easily. If too much fat is removed, the pocket under A face-lift will make my skin tone and texture look younger.

So many of my patients believe this one, and I can’t say I blame them. You’d think that a surgical procedure that involved so much expense and recovery time would not only lift the skin but also restore its quality to its original splendor. This is why many people are disappointed
to see that the brown spots, dullness, and even some of the crinkles they had before the surgery are still there afterward. However,although a face-lift removes excess skin, it does nothing to help the texture,tone, or quality of the skin. That’s why a competent plastic surgeon will either suggest a good skin-care program for you or refer you to a dermatologist, who can use a combination of topical products along with lasers, peels, Botox, and fillers, if you desire to clean up the surface of your skin.


The eye will look hollow, which will make you look older, not younger.Once you’re stitched up, the scars are usually barely visible. Although you’ll almost surely see some bruising and swelling, you’ll most likely be back at work and able to resume your regular activities within a week. One of the best aspects of this procedure can also be one of the scariest: since the eyes are truly the windows of the soul, blepharoplasty can change your appearance dramatically. This can be jarring to you and to your loved ones. This is just one more reason to be certain of your decision beforehand, to choose your surgeon very carefully and to proceed conservatively. You can always have a bit more skin removed if your doctor removes an insufficient amount the first
time around, but if too much is removed, it’s hard to do anything about it.

If your eyes appear tired all the time because of excess skin laxity and puffiness, this is a great way to look more refreshed and years younger in a single treatment. Blepharoplasty is much easier than people think. Side effects are rare, and healing takes only about a week.

The most significant side effects all extremely rare are blindness, difficulty closing the eyes, and asymmetrical results. Be sure you find a very experienced, highly skilled surgeon. Less serious side effects include temporary tightening of the lids, swelling, bruising and eye sensitivity. The biggest myth about blepharoplasty is that it will take care of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. In fact, it does next to nothing for them, so you’ll have to continue using topicals and possibly Botox or a laser rejuvenation procedure to address those. If too much fat is removed,your eye area could end up looking hollowed out, making you look older, not younger. The latest techniques are designed to preserve the volume around the eyes, which helps maintain a youthful fullness.

Blepharoplasty is best for people with excess eyelid skin and drooping and puffiness around the eyes. Although Botox might be able to address some of these issues by erasing crow’s feet, and fillers can help to soften the tear trough, only blepharoplasty takes care of excess skin and fat around the eyes.