Our eyes are a major focal point of our face. They convey our emotions and mood, and over time, our age. Patients often seek rejuvenation of the upper and lower eyelids when they feel that their eyelids make them appear sad, tired, or older than they feel. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of patients seeking surgical solutions for the appearance of their upper and lower eyelids.
Upper eyelid surgery, also known as an upper blepharoplasty or upper eyelid lift, is a procedure in which excess upper eyelid skin, and occasionally muscle and fat, are removed to rejuvenate the appearance of the upper eyelids. This procedure can be performed in the office setting with local anesthesia, or in the operating room in combination with other procedures using a deeper level of anesthesia. The incision is carefully designed within the natural crease of the upper eyelid to allow for an ultimately inconspicuous scar once healed. Sutures are removed at one week, and most patients note that any minor swelling or bruising has resolved by 7-10 days after surgery.
Lower eyelid surgery, or lower blepharoplasty, involves the removal of excess fat from within the lower eyelid area. An incision is placed either within the inside of the eyelid or along the outside of the eyelid, depending on the patient’s anatomy. Often this procedure is done in combination with a fat transfer around the lower orbital region, to allow for a smooth transition between the lower eyelid and the upper cheek. This procedure is performed using light sedation in an operating room setting, and social downtime is approximately 7-10 days. No suture removal is necessary if the incision is made on the inside aspect of the lower eyelid, however, if an external incision is used, sutures are removed at one week.
Both upper and lower eyelid surgery yield permanent results with minimal downtime. In addition to this, blepharoplasty surgery can usually be done in the comfort of our office at Hubbell Dermatology & Aesthetics. If you have been searching for a durable, long-lasting solution to your aging eyelids, consider scheduling a consultation with Dr. Kennedy to determine if blepharoplasty surgery is right for you!
