Blepharoplasty Procedure – An Overview

Blepharoplasty surgery is the cosmetic surgery for correcting deformities, asymmetries, and disfigurements of the upper eyelids; as well as for aesthetically transforming the upper eyelid area of the face. The treatment involves reshaping, augmenting, and removing the excess tissue to correct the eye area of a person with an excess of upper or lower eyelashes, drooping eyelids, or an unevenly-shaped upper or lower lid. The procedure is also commonly performed to correct a variety of physical anomalies that may appear during pregnancy, and in adolescence, as well as to enhance a facial feature. Aesthetic changes during the treatment include the reduction or removal of excess skin on the lower eyelid, the reduction of skin and tissue surrounding the eye, or the alteration of the size and shape of a patient’s upper or lower eyelid.

Blepharoplasty, which is sometimes also referred to as blepharoplasty augmentation, reshaping, or tightening, is most often performed to improve the aesthetic appearance of upper eyelid creases, such as those associated with aging, smoking, or the over-production of eyelash shafts. Sometimes it is also performed to alter the upper eyelid contour of someone who has an excess of upper eyelashes, drooping eyelids, or a large or crooked lower lash line. The procedure can also be used to modify the width of an upper eyelid, resulting in a more prominent upper lid appearance. Another common reason to perform a blepharoplasty treatment is to treat patients who have too much lower eyelid muscle, which produces a raised upper lid or drooping lower lid.

Upper eyelid surgery typically removes excess skin around the eye and under the upper eyelid, reducing the visible upper lid fold. In addition to the reduction of skin, excess tissue can be removed by the surgeon during the treatment, including muscle tissue and fat deposits. Additional aesthetic changes may be made, including the addition of eyelid scarring, or by the patient performing a saline fillers, a surgical filler derived from saltwater fish.

Eyelid surgery for cosmetic purposes can also be performed on the lower eyelid to reduce a drooping eyelid, decrease the visibility of wrinkles around the upper eyelid, reduce the appearance of drooping eyelashes, increase the width and length of the lower eyelid, improve eyelid creases, and lower lid creases, enhance the appearance of upper eyelid skin folds, increase the volume of lashes, or eyes, reduce the visible distance between upper and lower eyelid creases, or eyelidicose muscles, or wrinkles, create a more defined upper and lower lid line, reduce the appearance of extra eyelashes. {such as crow’s feet or apron wrinkles, increase the apparent width of eye bags or apron, or bags, or provide a more defined eyelidicose crease, or skin. Other blepharoplasty treatments may be used to alter the appearance of an irregular or unusual shape of upper eyelid corners, such as the shape of an eyelid fold. In the upper eyelid, an increase in the size or thickness of eyelid creases, or a change in the thickness of the eyelid skin can make an eye appear wider.

Blepharoplasty surgery is an outpatient surgical procedure and usually requires one visit to the local anesthetic department of a local hospital. The entire procedure usually takes two hours. Before the procedure, patients should wear a safety pin and eyelid shield to minimize any swelling.

Recovery is typically complete after one to three days, though patients can experience some discomfort for several hours afterward. Patients can return home the same day following a blepharoplasty.