Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, is a surgical procedure to improve the appearance of the eyelid. The skin of theeyelidis thinner than other areas of the face, and it tends to show the first signs of aging. Eyelids that sag or droop can affect peripheral vision and make daily activities more difficult.
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Blepharoplasty removes excess skin and fat and tightens the muscles and tissues of the eyelid. It reduces the skin that droops into the visual field to improve peripheral vision.
Types of Blepharoplasty
There are two types of blepharoplasty: functional and cosmetic.
Functional Blepharoplasty
Cosmetic Blepharoplasty
Cosmetic blepharoplasty can be performed on either the upper or lower eyelid, or both. Depending on the type of lower eyelid blepharoplasty, either excess skin in the lower eyelid is removed, or redistribution or removal of excess fat is performed.
You should have realistic expectations before undergoing a blepharoplasty. While the procedure can improve the appearance of your eyelids, it does not dramatically alter your face.
1:32Click Play to Learn All About Droopy Eyelid Surgery
1:32
Click Play to Learn All About Droopy Eyelid Surgery
Candidates for Blepharoplasty
If you are considering a blepharoplasty, you should be in good overall health and not smoke, not have any serious eye conditions, and not have facial tissue and muscle that are unhealthy.
How to Fix Hooded EyesNot everyone is a good candidate for blepharoplasty, but there are other ways to improve the appearance of hooded eyes:Botox injectionscan help lift the eyebrow, improving the appearance of hooded eyes.Dermal fillerscan help lift the eyebrow and tighten the skin around the eye.Theprescription eye dropsUPNEEQ (oxymetazoline hydrochloride ophthalmic solution) can help lift droopy eyelids.Radiofrequencytreatments use electromagnetic current to tighten the skin and lift the eyebrows.Thread liftsare temporary sutures that slightly lift the eyebrows.
How to Fix Hooded Eyes
Not everyone is a good candidate for blepharoplasty, but there are other ways to improve the appearance of hooded eyes:Botox injectionscan help lift the eyebrow, improving the appearance of hooded eyes.Dermal fillerscan help lift the eyebrow and tighten the skin around the eye.Theprescription eye dropsUPNEEQ (oxymetazoline hydrochloride ophthalmic solution) can help lift droopy eyelids.Radiofrequencytreatments use electromagnetic current to tighten the skin and lift the eyebrows.Thread liftsare temporary sutures that slightly lift the eyebrows.
Not everyone is a good candidate for blepharoplasty, but there are other ways to improve the appearance of hooded eyes:
Procedure
Blepharoplasty usually is performed in an outpatient setting and requires local anesthesia and sedation. The procedure can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on whether you have the procedure on both the upper and lower eyelids.
If your upper eyelids are being operated on, the incision lines are typically made along the natural crease lines of your eyelids. Once the incisions have been made, fat deposits and excess skin are removed. A strip of the orbicularis oculi muscle surrounding the eyelids may also be removed to deepen the lid crease.
If you have surgery for the lower eyelids, an incision may be made either just below the lower lash line or on the inside of the lower eyelid. Depending on the method, excess skin in the lower eyelid is removed or fat is redistributed or removed.
After the procedure, your incisions are closed with either removable sutures, skin adhesives, or surgical tape.
Recovery
After blepharoplasty, you will be given specific instructions, including for the medications you should apply or take orally and a date and time when you should see your surgeon for a follow-up examination. Your healthcare provider will also inform you of any symptoms or signs you should watch for, which would mean you should follow up sooner.
Healing
You may experience some swelling, bruising, irritation, or dry eyes, but if these symptoms occur, they are generally very mild. Most of the swelling subsides within two weeks. You will not be able to wear contact lenses or eye makeup for two weeks after surgery.
Eyelid Surgery: Everything You Need to Know
Potential Risks
Blepharoplasty is usually very well tolerated. After the surgery, there may be swelling and bruising around the surgical site. This will eventually subside on its own.
Complications are not common but may include infection, a granuloma,reaction to anesthesia, and double or blurred vision. Your eyes may experience irritation and dryness due to a temporary change in tear distribution.
Although rare, another potential risk is retrobulbar hematoma, an accumulation of blood behind the eyeball. This condition is considered a medical emergency as it can lead to blindness if not treated.
Your scars from a blepharoplasty will usually be well-concealed and will fade with time. Make sure to talk to your healthcare provider about any concerns related to your specific symptoms and any possible complications that may occur.
Summary
Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure used to improve the appearance of the eyelids. Eyelids that droop into the visual field can be treated using this procedure to improve vision, which can be life-altering.
A Word From Verywell
If your eyelids droop or distort your vision, seek a consultation with your eye doctor to see if blepharoplasty is an option. While every procedure has risks, blepharoplasty is generally well-tolerated and can dramatically improve vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, hooded eyelids—when excess skin sags and folds down from below the brow bone—can be corrected with a surgical procedure known as blepharoplasty. The procedure removes excess skin and fat and tightens the muscles and tissue of the eyelid.
The fee runs around $5,000, depending on where you live. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), in 2020, surgeons charged $4,120 to perform eyelid surgery, on average—but that is just the surgeon’s fee. Other fees can include hospital or surgical facility costs, anesthesiology fees, and postoperative prescription medication.
It depends. If sagging skin on the eyelids obscures your field of vision, your insurance plan may cover all or part of the surgery. This is known as a functional blepharoplasty.
Before having the surgery, talk to your healthcare provider and insurance company to determine if your plan will cover any part of the procedure.
Anyone with fatty deposits under the eyes or sagging and drooping eyelids could consider blepharoplasty. People age 40 to 65 typically undergo this procedure for functional or cosmetic reasons.
The results of surgery typically last many years. Lower eyelid surgery rarely requires revisions, but upper eyelid surgery may need another treatment around seven years later.
Blepharoplasty is not intended to eliminate wrinkles. Lower eyelid blepharoplasty can eliminate some under-eye wrinkles if there is excess skin. The procedure will not remove crow’s feet or any other wrinkles around the face.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Eyelid surgery.Bhattacharjee K, Misra DK, Deori N.Updates on upper eyelid blepharoplasty.Indian J Ophthalmol.2017;65(7):551-558. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_540_17American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Eyelid surgery recovery and results.Stanford Medicine.Blepharoplasty.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.How much does eyelid surgery cost?Additional ReadingDrolet B, Sullivan P.Evidence-based medicine: Blepharoplasty.Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2014. 133(5):1195-205. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000000087Karimnejad K, Walen S.Complications in Eyelid Surgery.Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2016;24(2):193-203. doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2015.12.008
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Eyelid surgery.Bhattacharjee K, Misra DK, Deori N.Updates on upper eyelid blepharoplasty.Indian J Ophthalmol.2017;65(7):551-558. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_540_17American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Eyelid surgery recovery and results.Stanford Medicine.Blepharoplasty.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.How much does eyelid surgery cost?Additional ReadingDrolet B, Sullivan P.Evidence-based medicine: Blepharoplasty.Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2014. 133(5):1195-205. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000000087Karimnejad K, Walen S.Complications in Eyelid Surgery.Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2016;24(2):193-203. doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2015.12.008
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Eyelid surgery.Bhattacharjee K, Misra DK, Deori N.Updates on upper eyelid blepharoplasty.Indian J Ophthalmol.2017;65(7):551-558. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_540_17American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Eyelid surgery recovery and results.Stanford Medicine.Blepharoplasty.American Society of Plastic Surgeons.How much does eyelid surgery cost?
American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Eyelid surgery.
Bhattacharjee K, Misra DK, Deori N.Updates on upper eyelid blepharoplasty.Indian J Ophthalmol.2017;65(7):551-558. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_540_17
American Society of Plastic Surgeons.Eyelid surgery recovery and results.
Stanford Medicine.Blepharoplasty.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons.How much does eyelid surgery cost?
Drolet B, Sullivan P.Evidence-based medicine: Blepharoplasty.Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2014. 133(5):1195-205. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000000087Karimnejad K, Walen S.Complications in Eyelid Surgery.Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2016;24(2):193-203. doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2015.12.008
Drolet B, Sullivan P.Evidence-based medicine: Blepharoplasty.Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2014. 133(5):1195-205. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000000087
Karimnejad K, Walen S.Complications in Eyelid Surgery.Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2016;24(2):193-203. doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2015.12.008
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