Blepharoplasty (also commonly known as eyelid surgery) is a procedure that uses skin tightening and fat removal/transfer methods to eliminate wrinkles, bags and the dark circles under the eyes. The surgery aims to redefine the shape of the eye and give it a more youthful appearance.

If the eyelids affect your line of sight, corrective procedures may be covered by insurance. Request an appointment with our surgeons to learn more.

What to expect during eyelid surgery

The most frequently performed eyelid procedures are:

• Upper eyelid blepharoplasty – Performed through a cosmetic lid crease incision, upper eyelid blepharoplasty allows the surgeon to remove excess skin and fat to reshape the profile of the upper eyelid. The skin of the upper eyelid is very thin, which means the incision (hidden in the upper eyelid crease) heals with no visible scarring.
• Lower eyelid blepharoplasty – The surgeon will make an incision through the pink tissue on the inside of the lower eyelids, and then remove or transfer the excess fat to the area between the lower eyelid and the cheek. The removal of dark circles and bags under the eyes results in a refreshed, less tired appearance.

Many people opt to have ptosis correction surgery in conjunction with upper blepharoplasty as the same upper eyelid crease incision is used for both procedures and there is no increase in recovery time.

Recovery from eyelid surgery

Both upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty are performed on an outpatient basis. It is generally recommended that patients plan on staying home for 2-3 days after the procedure, and apply ice to the eyelids to reduce bruising and swelling. It typically takes about 3 weeks for the bruising to disappear completely, although this can be effectively covered with makeup or sunglasses.

Request an appointment

Contact us for more information, or request an appointment with one of our doctors.