The skilled physicians at Duke understand that, more than any other facial feature, your eyes reveal the most about how you feel. When your eye are bright and alert, you appear energized, well-rested, and in control.

But if you have lower-eyelid puffiness, dark circles, or drooping upper lids, others may assume that you are fatigued, angry, or unhappy.

If you believe that your eyes are making you look tired, sad, or older than you really feel, cosmetic eyelid surgery (also called blepharoplasty) may be the right choice for you.

Procedure Details

Upper Eyelids -- 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.

Lower Eyelids -- Usually the incision is concealed inside the lower lid. Through this incision, excess skin, muscle and fat are removed. Your surgeon may also make special adjustments.

For example, the fat beneath the eye can be redistributed to eliminate puffiness or bulges. In some patients, the underlying muscle will be tightened.

This can also be done using laser technology.

The procedure can take one to three hours.

Recovery

You may experience discomfort, tightness of lids, swelling, and bruising, as well as temporary dryness, burning, and itching of the eyes. It is also possible to experience excessive tearing and sensitivity to light for first few weeks.

After two or three days you may resume reading, and you can return to work after a week or so.

If you wear contact lenses, you must wait at least two weeks to resume use.

Risks

Following surgery, some patients may have difficulty closing their eyes when they sleep; in rare cases this condition may be permanent.

Another very rare complication is ectropion, a pulling down of the lower lids. In this case, further surgery may be required.

Physicians

Physicians offering this service include:

• Hollenbeck, Scott T.
  • Surgery / Plastic Max & Oral Surgery
• Levinson, Howard
  • Surgery / Plastic Max & Oral Surgery
  • Pathology
• Richard, Michael J.
  • Ophthalmology / Plastics Ophthalmology
  • Surgery / Plastic Max & Oral Surgery
• Woodard, Charles R.
  • Surgery / Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
• Woodward, Julie Ann
  • Ophthalmology / Plastics Ophthalmology
  • Dermatology
• Zenn, Michael R.
  • Surgery / Plastic Max & Oral Surgery

Locations

This service is available at:

• Duke Aesthetic Center
  3475 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27705