Blepharoplasty is surgery to improve the appearance of the
eyelid. This is usually an outpatient procedure performed under
local anesthesia. The goal of this surgery is to remove excess
eyelid skin and bulging fat pockets and to tighten underlying
muscles.
Blepharoplasty provides both cosmetic and functional
improvement with minimal risk of serious problems. Most
patients can expect to look younger and often have an improved
visual field.
The eyes are usually the first thing people notice about
your face. Over time, the upper or lower eyelids may become
“baggy” because eyelid skin stretches, muscles weaken, and fat
pockets bulge forward from behind the eyes. The eyebrows may
also droop as part of the same aging process.
These may result in a tired or older appearance. When
severe, these processes may also obstruct the upper visual
field and interfere with wearing of glasses.
In the upper eyelid, typically the incision
begins within the natural crease of the eye’s inside corner and
extends slightly beyond the outside corner into the crow’s feet
or laugh lines. Through this incision, excess skin and fatty
tissue are removed. The incision line follows the natural
contour of the upper eyelid, and is camouflaged when healed.
This can also be done using laser technology.
In the lower eyelid, sometimes only the
bulging fat may need to be removed. When skin is removed,
incisions are placed within natural folds so that they are
virtually unnoticeable after healing. When only fat is excised,
the incision can be placed behind the eyelid as a
"transconjunctival blepharoplasty" with no skin incisions at
all.
When the eyebrows are droopy, it is usually
best to repair these in conjunction with a standard
blepharoplasty. This can be achieved through incisions along
the eyebrow hairs, or when the forehead also needs to be
elevated, through various other forehead or scalp
incisions.