Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery, Eyelid Lift)

Eyelid surgery, also called an eyelid lift or blepharoplasty, can rejuvenate puffy, sagging or tired-looking eyes by removing excess fat, skin and muscle from the upper and/or lower eyelids. Eyelid surgery may be performed for cosmetic reasons or to improve sight by lifting droopy eyelids out of the patient's field of vision.

What can eyelid surgery do for me?

• Blepharoplasty is ideal for the correction of:
• Loose, sagging and/or folded upper eyelids that may limit vision
• Puffy fat deposits in the upper eyelids
• Under-eye bags
• Sagging lower eyelids that may show the white of the eyes below the iris
• Excess skin in the lower eyelids
• Fine wrinkles in the lower eyelids

How is a blepharoplasty performed?

Eyelid surgery is usually performed in an office, usually with local anesthesia and IV sedation. The procedure can take less than 45 minutes.

Incisions are made along the eyelids in inconspicuous places: in the natural creases of the upper lids for upper eyelid blepharoplasty and just below the lash line on the lower lids for lower eyelid blepharoplasty. If no skin needs to be removed, the surgeon will likely perform a transconjunctival blepharoplasty, where the incision is made inside the lower eyelid and there are no visible scars.

In all cases, the surgeon then removes excess skin from the eyelids using a scalpel, laser or radiofrequency (RF) tool. Fat may be removed as well. He or she then closes the incisions with fine sutures, tissue glue or surgical tape.

What is recovery from eyelid surgery like?

Bruising, swelling and a sense of tightness in the eyelids are common after eyelid surgery. These should subside within 2-4 weeks. Most patients resume activities in 3-5 days, when non-absorbable stitches are removed, and return to work in about 10 days. By one to two months after surgery, you should see the true results of your eyelid lift: a more awake and cheerful look around the eyes, and greater self-confidence.

Contact lenses may not be worn for two weeks. Eyes can be sensitive to light and wind and may be slightly irritated for a short while; your surgeon may prescribe eye drops and cool compresses to ease any discomfort.

Forehead Lift (Browlift)

Browlifts can revitalize drooping or lined foreheads, helping you to look less angry, sad or tired. Using either traditional or minimally invasive (endoscopic) methods, browlifts involve the removal or alteration of the muscles above the eyes to smooth lines and raise the eyebrows for a more youthful appearance. The procedure is often combined with other operations such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and facelifts to improve the look of the eyes and other areas of the face.

While browlifts are typically performed on patients aged 40-60 to counteract the effects of aging, anyone with lined or inelastic skin on the forehead – whether it’s caused by muscle activity or inherited conditions – are eligible. The procedure is usually performed in an office-based facility or surgery center under local anesthesia and sedation.

What can a browlift do for me? 

Browlifts can revitalize drooping or lined foreheads by tightening skin and muscles above the eyes, smoothing wrinkles and raising the eyebrows, helping you to look less angry, sad or tired.

What will I look like after surgery? 

Try standing in front of a mirror and placing the palms of your hands to the sides of your eyes above the eyebrows. Then pull the skin back from the eyes, raising the forehead. This is approximately how the procedure will make you look.

Can a browlift be combined with other procedures? 

The procedure is often combined with other operations such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and facelifts to improve the look of the eyes and other areas of the face.

What age are patients usually? 

While browlifts are typically performed on patients aged 40-60 to counteract the effects of aging, anyone with lined or inelastic skin on the forehead -- whether it’s caused by muscle activity or inherited conditions -- are eligible.

What’s the difference between traditional and endoscopic methods? 

The main difference lies in the type of incision made. In a traditional browlift the surgeon makes a coronal (headphone-shaped) incision behind the hairline, stretching between the ears and across the top of the forehead. In a minimally invasive endoscopic browlift the surgeon makes three to five short incisions (less than an inch long) behind the hairline. The endoscope -- a slim instrument with a camera on the end -- is placed in one incision so the surgeon can see beneath the skin, while he or she lifts the skin and adjusts muscles through the other incisions.