What is Eyelid Surgery (blepharoplasty)?
An eyelid lift, blepharoplasty (BLEF-uh-roe-plas-tee) includes surgery to repair droopy eyelids that may involve removing excess skin, muscle and fat.
As you age, your eyelids stretch, and the muscles supporting them weaken. As a result, excess fat may gather above and below your eyelids, causing sagging eyebrows & droopy upper lids.
Blepharoplasty is usually done on an outpatient basis. To help decide if blepharoplasty is right for you, find out what you can realistically expect and explore the benefits and risks of blepharoplasty.
Why it’s Done
You might consider blepharoplasty if droopy or sagging eyelids keep your eyes from opening completely. Removing excess tissue from your upper eyelids can improve vision and make your eyes appear younger and more alert.
- Baggy or droopy upper eyelids
- Excess skin of the upper eyelids that interferes with your peripheral vision
Insurance coverage may depend on whether the surgery repairs a condition that impairs vision. If you have the surgery only to improve your appearance, the cost probably won’t be covered by insurance.
What you Can Expect
Blepharoplasty is usually done in an outpatient setting. Your surgeon injects numbing medication into your eyelids and administers oral medication to help you relax. This may make you groggy.
During the Procedure
If you have surgery on your upper eyelids. Dr. Webb make s a small incision along the fold of the eyelid, removes some excess skin, muscle and fat, and closes the incision with tiny suture.
Blepharoplasty usually takes less than 1 hour, depending on the amount and location of tissue being removed.
After the Procedure
After surgery you spend time until you are ready to leave and recuperate at home.
After surgery you may temporarily experience:
- Blurred vision from the lubricating ointment applied to your eyes
- Watering eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Double vision
- Redness where the incisions were made
- Puffy, numb eyelids
- Swelling and bruising similar to having “black eyes”
- Some pain