What is blepharoplasty or eyelid lift surgery?

When we meet others, the eyes are the first feature of our face that people notice. In men and women, the eyes can also be the first feature to show our age. With time, the upper and lower eyelids can develop excess skin and excess fatty deposits producing a tired, sad countenance.

• Not only can excess skin give a tired, droopy appearance but folds of excess upper lid skin can hang down to impair vision and can make applying makeup more difficult. The excess upper lid skin can also be due to a sagging forehead and eyebrows which should be evaluated before surgery. Brow lift is frequently combined with upper lid surgery to provide the needed lift for a refreshed and revitalized look.
• Protrusion of fat in both upper and lower lids produces a bulging, baggy appearance. This may first be apparent only on awakening, but with age, can extend throughout the day. Sometimes an inherited trait, younger persons, even in their 20s, may have this puffy look.

Eyelid surgery, in men and women, removes the folds of extra skin and fat pads in both the upper and lower lids, to give a more alert and rested appearance. However, blepharoplasty does much reduce the fine wrinkling in the thin skin around the eyes. This is better treated by techniques that address the skin surface, such as laser resurfacing, micro-needling, or chemical peels.