An eye lift, AKA blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery, reduces the look and amount of bagginess located on the lower eyelids. An eye lift also removes excess skin that is located on the upper eyelids. Many patients also have upper blepharoplasty performed to improve their sight due to sagging upper eyelids that impair their vision.
As a person ages, the skin starts to lose its elasticity. Due to the loss of elasticity and the effects of gravity that pulls down on the skin, there will start to be some excess skin that collects on both the upper and lower eyelids. The collection of excess skin on the upper eyelid causes skin to hang over the eyelashes and impair the vision while the collection of skin on the lower eyelid results in bulges and wrinkles.
In addition, the fat that cushions the skull from the eyeball can result in bulges appearing in the lower and upper eyelids. The fat can start to move forward into the eyelids as the membrane that keeps the fat in place starts to get weaker as a person becomes older.
Eye lift surgery can be performed on only the upper or lower eyelids or it can be performed on both sets of eyelids at the same time.
Upper blepharoplasty begins with incisions being made along the natural lines of the eyelids. Once the incisions are made, the surgeon will separate the skin from the underlying tissue in order to remove any excess skin and fat from the targeted area. The incisions are closed using small stitches that stay in the upper eyelids for three to six days.
Lower blepharoplasty can be performed using several techniques:
Ideal candidates for an eye lift include:
Patients that undergo eye lift surgery can expect to have bruising and swelling after the surgery. If stitches were placed in the eyelids after the surgery, they will need to stay in place for at least a week. In general the eyelids will start to look normal in appearance within 7-14 days.
Patients will need to miss work for several days after the surgery. They will also need to limit their physical activities, such as exercise, for several days after the surgery.
Some people experience dry eyes after the surgery but this will resolve itself in a week or two.
Patients that are experiencing discomfort after the surgery should not use Advil, Motrin or aspirin after the surgery due to an increased risk of bleeding from their use.
Possible risks of eye lift surgery include:
In general, the cost of an eye lift is anywhere from $2500-$6000. Some of the factors that go into the final cost of blepharoplasty include:
Patients should be aware of the fact that an eye lift is not normally covered by insurance since it is considered to be a cosmetic procedure. If the surgery is being performed for a medical reason, such as the eyelids drooping to the point that they are negatively impacting the vision of the patient, insurance might cover the cost of the eyelid surgery.
The length of the results of eye lift surgery depends on the type of surgery performed. The results of lower eyelid surgery are long lasting and rarely need to be repeated. The results of upper eyelid surgery can last anywhere from seven to ten to fifteen years.
Before making the final decision to undergo upper or lower blepharoplasty, patients should schedule a consultation appointment with a board-certified doctor experienced in performing both types of eye lift techniques. The doctor will examine the eyelids of the patient to determine if the person is an ideal candidate for an eye lift. In addition, the doctor will set realistic expectations so the patient will not be disappointed by the final results. Eye lift surgery can be performed as upper or lower blepharoplasty and an experienced surgeon can determine which technique is the best option to help a person enjoy better vision along with a refreshed and rejuvenated appearance to the eyelids.
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