EYELID LIFT OR UPPER BLEPHAROPLASTY
The signs of premature aging, such as dark circles under the eyes, sagging upper and lower eyelids, fine lines, and wrinkles, can make you look tired and less engaged. Blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) is the recommended and most often preferred treatment for improving droopy eyelids or removing bags under the eyes. These aging eye conditions can add years to your appearance and even impair your vision. More often than wanting a more “youthful” look, we find that our patients want a more “rested” or “happy” look, which eyelid rejuvenation addresses well. Many patients report feeling more light entering their eyes, and an improvement in peripheral vision that they did not realize they had lost.
Eyelid surgery has a huge impact on not just the “look”, or what is seen by the outside world, but also improves the “mood” that the face conveys. Much of the face to face communication between people is nonverbal, and the eyes play an outsized role in this. As our eyes are drawn to the eyes of the person we look at, they send an unspoken message about the mood, age, and health of individual before a single word is spoken. If your look does not match the mood that you want to convey, then eyelid surgery can help transform this message.
Our patient examples below show results from upper blepharoplasty. Please take your time with the sliders and try to see what they saw in the mirror: faces that looked “unhappy”, “tired”, “old”, or were just a poor match for the energy that they felt. See the difference that the whole face takes when the eyes have a more “engaged” look.
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
How is Eyelid Lift Surgery Performed?
Dr. Kundaria will make well-planned incisions along the natural lines of your eyelids, which results in minimal scarring in the upper eyelid. The procedure involves the removal of excess skin from the upper eyelids, and Dr. Kundaria may remove fat and tighten muscle to help you attain a fresher, more alert—yet completely natural—eye expression. Sometimes the upper eyelid can be weighed down by fat or a tear producing gland that has “fallen”, and if this is the case, then these issues are addressed at the time of surgery.
Where is Eyelid Lift Surgery Performed?
Surgery is typically performed with local anesthesia (numbing injections like a dental procedure) in the office, though it can also be performed in an outpatient surgical facility if the patient prefers that setting. It is preferred to have this procedure done in the office because it is faster, cheaper (going to an outpatient surgical facility costs more), and has a faster recovery than an IV sedation or general anesthesia procedure would. I have also noticed less bruising when this is done under local anesthesia compared to general anesthesia.
How is Recovery After Eyelid Lift Surgery?
Patients leave surgery with stitches in their incisions that have to be removed at 4 and 7 days after the procedure. The first 72 hours are marked by rest, icing, and elevation. This helps minimize chances of bruising, and also helps swelling. Some patients require prescription pain medications, though most take only Tylenol after surgery. I ask that patients refrain from strenuous activity for 2 weeks, though most patients are back to their daily activities within 3 days of surgery.
Eyelid Surgery at Nuance Facial Plastics
If you notice how your drooping eyelids and puffy or hollow under eye areas may be adding years to your age, ask Dr. Kundaria how an upper blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) can help you. We can reassure you by showing you our patients’ before-and-after pictures that Dr. Kundaria will take an artistic approach and will personalize the surgery and any non-surgical services to be right for your unique face.
