Cosmetic Eyelid surgery helps patients achieve a younger and more focused look

Cosmetic eyelid surgery, called blepharoplasty technically, is a surgery performed to remove excess skin, fat and sagging muscle from the eye area.

The surgery can be performed on either the lower or upper eyelids. Both areas can be treated in one surgery, as well. Eyelid surgery can correct droopy eyes and the bags under the eyes. However, it cannot change the color of skin under the eyes.



Cosmetic eyelid surgery usually takes 1 to 3 hours. Surgeons may use either local or general anesthesia. Incisions are made along the natural lines of the eye. On the upper lid, incisions are made in the creases; on the lower lids incisions are made in the lower lids. If both the upper lids and the lower lids are to be worked on during one surgery, usually the upper lids are treated first, followed by the lower lids.

After the incisions the surgeon separates the skin from the muscle and fat tissue. Excess skin and fat tissue is removed. Sagging muscle tissue is also often removed, to give a firmer look. The incisions are closed with small sutures.

After the surgery, patients are followed very closely for healing progress. Sutures are usually removed within a week. Cold compressed are advised to be used to reduce swelling.



Most patients experience blurry vision for a few days following the surgery. Doublevision has also been recorded in some patients. Swelling at the eyes is also present in patients after the surgery. As with other plastic surgeries, white heads may appear after the sutures are taken out. These can be removed by the surgeon.



The average cost for an eyelid plastic surgery is $2500.



Consider other procedures before going on with this surgery. Often, wrinkles around the eye can be helped with a chemical peel or using forehead or eyebrow lifts.