Our eyes often dictate whether we look awake and alert, or tired, angry or unhappy. Issues such as lower eyelid puffiness, dark circles or drooping upper eyelids can misrepresent our true mood and temperament. For some patients, these features do not improve, even with plenty of sleep and living a healthy lifestyle. If you are unhappy with the appearance of your eyelids, cosmetic eyelid surgery offered by Dallas, TX plastic surgeon, Dr. Steven J. White, may offer you the improvement you seek.  Also known as blepharoplasty, this surgery can remove drooping skin and excess fat of the upper eyelids, reduce under-eye bags and tighten the lower eyelid skin. Blepharoplasty gives patients a new glow and a rejuvenated facial appearance. It can help women and men look and feel younger and refreshed.

Good candidates for eyelid contouring are men or women who demonstrate:

·        Bags or puffy bulges under the eyes (fatty deposits)

·        Fullness of the upper eyelids (fatty deposits)

·        Excess skin diminishing the natural fold of the upper eyelids

·        Excess skin and wrinkling of the eyelids

·        Impaired vision due to hanging skin on the upper eyelid

Blepharoplasty may either be performed on the upper eyelid only or the lower lid, or both. The most common problem with the upper eyelid is drooping excess skin. Not only does this look unappealing, but it can also obstruct vision for a patient. This is corrected with an incision that is placed along the natural fold of the eyelid and extracting any excess fat and skin. For the lower eyelid, treatment will improve any appearance of bulging and sagging below the eye. Incisions may be made just slightly below the lash line, or a transconjunctival incision may be a better option as the cut is made inside the lower eyelid, which eliminates scarring. Through either incision, fatty tissue and excess skin is removed. A lower lid lift does not necessarily improve the dark circles that may occur under the eyes. In this situation, we may recommend a skin rejuvenation procedure such as laser treatment or a chemical peel to assist with discoloration.

Eyelid surgery is performed under general anesthesia or IV sedation. Patients will be sent home and will be advised to keep their heads elevated for the first several days. Bruising and swelling will occur and may last for several weeks. It takes approximately 3-4 weeks for the results to appear. This surgery leads to very minimal scarring due to the location of the incisions. Not only will patients look rejuvenated and refreshed, but also many will have improved vision due to the skin imperfection being removed. 

Blepharoplasty cost vary depending on if both upper and lower eyelids or If only one eyelid is addressed. Because this surgery is considered cosmetic, in most cases, insurance will not apply. However, for some patients where vision was affected, insurance coverage is possible depending on the carrier. 

Blepharoplasty is a common procedure that can make a big difference in someone’s life. For women in particular, putting on makeup can be difficult if hanging skin exists on the upper eyelid, and even with makeup on, the bags and circles under the eyes cannot be improved. Eyelid surgery creates beautiful, soft results that can be long lasting and life changing. For a complete consultation, we encourage you to call our plastic surgery office so that you can visit with our team and learn more.

Blepharoplasty refers to eyelid surgery and is designed to remove the excess fat, along with skin and muscle, from the upper and lower eyelids. It is the second most common aesthetic procedure performed by plastic surgeons.

A properly performed blepharoplasty procedure will brighten the face and restore a more youthful appearance. In some patients the procedure will improve vision by removing the excessive skin of the upper eyelids, which can hang down and interfere with peripheral vision.

Scars are a result of any surgical procedure. The incisions made to accomplish the goals of the procedure are barely visible after several months as they are placed within the normal creases and folds of the upper and lower eyelids. In patients who only need removal of fat from the lower eyelids, the incision can be made on the inside of the eyelid, and will therefore result in an invisible scar.

The blepharoplasty procedure will not eradicate the wrinkles around the eyes (crow’s feet) nor will it elevate droopy eyebrow. There are other procedures designed for these purposes. Dark circles under the eyes may improve a bit if this is related to large bags, but most often the dark appearance of the lower eyelid skin remains.

The best patients are those who are healthy, psychologically stable and well motivated. Some medical conditions may increase the risk of blepharoplasty surgery such as thyroid disease, high blood pressure, and patients who do not make sufficient tears to keep their eyes well lubricated.

Fortunately, when performed by a competent plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and minor. All patients will experience some bruising and swelling for a few days after the surgery. In addition, a temporary problem with closure of the eyelids is usually seen. Some may have temporary blurring of their vision, usually due to the ointments applied to the incisions post operatively. In rare instances, the lower eyelid may be pulled down causing an ectropion. If this does not resolve on its own, further surgery may be necessary. The theoretical complications of any surgical procedure, such as bleeding, infection, wound disruption and heavy scarring are also possible, but rare.