Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)

Blepharoplasty is a series of various operations for reshaping or adjusting the eyelids for both cosmetic and functional problems.

If eyelids look old, a person looks old. As a person ages, the skin wrinkles, sags and looks thicker. Wrinkles can extend past the eyes to become “crows feet,” and skin can hang over the eyelids, blocking vision and making it difficult to open the eyes. As the eyelid muscles and skin age, they sag, creating bulges.

Because eyelids can obscure vision, insurance sometimes pays for the surgery. Talk to a representative at your insurance plan.

Good candidates for surgery are those with realistic expectations who are non-smokers, physically healthy and psychologically stable. Most patients are over 35 years old unless baggy eyelids run in their family. Patients with the following conditions should be carefully examined by their primary care physician and their surgeon before proceeding with eyelid surgery:

• Thyroid problems
• Graves disease
• Dry eye or lack of sufficient tears
• High blood pressure or other circulation disorders
• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Glaucoma
• Detached retina
  
  

Blepharoplasty can be performed for baggy skin under the eyes; for a condition called blepharochalasis, which is a rare combination of protruding skin folds of eyelids, thinning of lid skin and frequent episodes of lid swelling and inflammation; for overgrowth of the eyelid muscle (obicularis hypertrophy); for brow ptosis; or for protrusions of fat around the eye.

Incisions are closed with very fine sutures that leave very narrow scars. Usually these are placed in natural skin folds or creases so that they are difficult to see. The surgery usually takes one to three hours, depending on which procedures are being done.

Eyelids feel tight and sore as the general anesthesia wears off but pain medicine usually works well. You should keep your head elevated for several days and use cool compresses to help the swelling. The swelling, although not as severe as in the first few days, can last up to a month. You also may experience watery eyes, light sensitivity and temporary blurring or changes in your eyesight for the first few weeks. The stitches will come out two to five days after surgery. Patients are unable to wear contact lenses for about two weeks.

Making an Appointment

For a consultation with a Washington University cosmetic surgeon, please call (314) 362-4452.

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Disclaimer: The photos on this website are of models, not actual patients.