Eyelids

What is eyelid surgery?

Also known as blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery improves the appearance of the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both. It gives a rejuvenated appearance to the surrounding area of your eyes, making you look more rested and alert.

Treatable conditions:

Upper eyelid surgery can remove excess fatty deposits that appear as puffiness in the upper eyelids.

Loose or sagging skin that creates folds or disturbs the natural contour of the upper eyelid, sometimes impairing vision, can be treated by eyelid lift surgery.

Lower eyelid blepharoplasty can remove excess skin and fine wrinkles of the lower eyelid.

Bags under the eyes can be corrected by blepharoplasty.

Lower eyelid surgery can correct droopiness of the lower eyelids, showing white below the iris (colored portion of the eye).

Excess fat: There may also be excess fat in the eyelids which causes "baggy" eye lids. This is frequently present in both the upper and lower eyelids. Initially the bags are noticeable only on awakening in the morning. As the problem becomes more severe, this puffy look persists throughout the day.

Upper Eyelid Surgery:

Upper eyelid fullness can be caused by brow droop (ptosis), excess skin, excess fat or any combination of the three.

Droopy conditions of the upper eyelid can be corrected through an incision within the natural crease of the upper eyelid allowing repositioning of fat deposits, tightening of muscles and tissue, and/or removal of excess skin.

Lower Eyelid Surgery:

Conditions of the lower eyelid may be corrected with an incision just below the lower lash line. Through this incision, excess skin in the lower eyelids is removed.

A transconjunctival incision, one hidden inside the lower eyelid, is an alternate technique to correct lower eyelid conditions and redistribute or remove excess fat.

Complications:

Excess tear formation may occur for a few days after surgery due to swelling. With this surgery the margin of the lower eyelid can be slightly pulled temporarily, especially in patients with poor muscle tone. If muscle tone is not good, we use additional techniques to tighten the lids to avoid this complication. Rare but possible complications and/or risks are:

• Unfavorable scarring

• Temporarily blurred or impaired vision

• Dry eyes

• Difficulty closing your eyes

• Lid lag, a pulling down of the lower eyelid may occur and is often temporary

• Ectropion, rolling of the eyelid outwards

• Eyelid disorders that involve abnormal position of the upper eyelids (eyelid ptosis), loose eyelid skin, or abnormal laxness of the lower eyelid (ectropion) can coexist with sagging forehead and eyebrow structures; brow lift surgery will not correct these disorders; additional surgery may be required.