Eyelid Surgery

When encountering another person, whether it be someone we are meeting for the first time, or someone we have known forever, the first thing we usually notice are the eyes. Many of the earliest signs of aging typically are seen in the upper third of the face and more specifically, the eyelid and brow complex. Countless numbers of my patients present with basically the same story. “My co-workers and/or my family are constantly asking me if I am tired, ill or angry with them when in fact I have never felt better.” Patients seeking correction of this look are one of the most common problems that I see. In addition, these and other patients may present with a complaint of visual field impairment. They often feel that their peripheral vision is decreased, causing them to raise their eyebrows in order to see better. This constant contraction of the frontalis muscle needed to raise the eyebrows can create tension headaches which typically present towards the end of the workday. In this situation, we obtain visual field studies and if the patient qualifies, insurance will usually cover correction of this problem.

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is most commonly combined with a brow lift for rejuvenation of the aging upper third of the face. Blepharoplasty specifically addresses the excess skin and muscle tissue of the upper and/or lower eyelids enhancing your appearance and creating a more rested, natural and youthful look. As we age, the eyelid stretches, muscles weaken and fat protrudes around the eyes causing “bags” or excess skin and tissues to become prominent. As with any procedure, the best candidates for eyelid surgery are men and women who are physically healthy, psychologically stable and realistic in their expectations. Generally patients for this procedure are in their mid 30s or older, however, premature aging of the eyelids can be seen at an earlier age due to heredity.

Eyelid surgery may be performed under general anesthesia or I.V. sedation. The surgery typically takes one to three hours depending on the number of eyelids involved and the extent of the problem. The upper eyelid incisions are made in the natural crease of your upper lid which makes them remarkably well camouflaged. Lower lid incisions will be either on the inside of the eyelid in younger patients with only findings of excess fat, or just below the eyelashes in a natural crease for those who require skin excision or lid tightening. Either way the incisions are virtually undetectable. Sutures and steristrips (small paper tapes), or in some cases surgical adhesive glue will all be removed within one week at which time make-up can be applied.