The eyes are often the first part of the face to show significant signs of aging, such as sagging or drooping lids, bagginess, and puffiness. With blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, Dr. Tiffany McCormack and Dr. Nichole Joslyn can address and reverse these signs of aging. When under the care of an experienced plastic surgeon, patients who choose blepharoplasty can enjoy a well-rested, more youthful appearance.
What is Blepharoplasty?
When excess skin and pockets of fat begin to accumulate above or below the eyes, this can cause men and women to appear older or more tired than they feel. Blepharoplasty is a surgery performed on the eyelids that is designed to tighten sagging skin and remove or reposition fat deposits. Sagging or “hooded” upper eyelids can prematurely age a patient or make it difficult to apply eye makeup. In some cases, drooping of the upper eyelids may become so severe that the patient’s vision becomes obstructed. Sagging of the lower eyelids may cause under-eye bags, puffiness, or deep tear troughs. By removing excess fat, repositioning the remaining fat, and removing excess skin, Dr. McCormack can achieve results that look youthful and natural, as well as restore the patient’s full field of vision.
How Can an Eyelid Lift Make Me Look Younger?
Eyelid surgery is capable of smoothing the contours above and/or below the eyelids. The effects of aging can not only inhibit a harmonious, energetic look in the upper face, but a loss of support in the eyelids may also make you appear fatigued and stressed, regardless of what you’re actually feeling. Blepharoplasty can be performed for cosmetic or functional reasons, offering the following improvements:
Upper Eyelids: With an upper eyelid lift, Dr. McCormack or Dr. Joslyn can remove loose, excess skin causing “hooding,” wrinkles, and a puffy or aged appearance. This can widen your field of vision, make it easier to apply makeup, and achieve a brighter and more alert expression overall.
Lower Eyelids: Lower eyelid surgery can remove/reposition bulging fat deposits causing puffiness, eye bags, and dark circles underneath the eyes. After surgery, patients often appear more well-rested and alert.
In some cases, the results of an eyelid lift can be complemented with optional non-surgical treatments to enhance the eyes. If crow’s feet are accumulating in the corners of your eyes, BOTOX® Cosmetic injections can be very effective in relaxing the facial muscles that cause fine lines. To address a sunken or hollow look underneath the eyes, dermal fillers can restore depleted volume in the face and achieve a fuller look.
Is Blepharoplasty Right for Me?
Candidates for blepharoplasty typically share one or more of the following concerns:
- Excess fat accumulated in the upper or lower eyelids
- Excess or lax skin
- Fine lines and creases
- Upper eyelids that droop and obscure a clear line of sight
- Puffiness or bags under the eyes
- Deep tear troughs
Ideal candidates for eyelid surgery will be in good overall health and maintain realistic expectations in regard to the results that can be achieved with the procedure.
Combining Eyelid Surgery with Other Facial Procedures
For more complete rejuvenation of the eyes and face, eyelid surgery is commonly combined with other non-surgical cosmetic treatments and facial plastic surgery procedures. For example, patients who have sagging eyebrows and forehead creases in tandem with drooping upper eyelids may benefit from combining eyelid surgery with either BOTOX® Cosmetic injections or a brow lift for a more renewed overall appearance. It is also important for patients to understand that blepharoplasty on its own is not typically beneficial for correcting dark circles; however, fat grafting or dermal fillers may decrease the shadowing caused by grooves, thereby reducing the appearance of dark circles. Patients often choose to combine blepharoplasty with a dermal filler such as JUVÉDERM® to fill in deep creases or grooves, sometimes known as tear trough deformities.
One of the concerns some patients encounter when they decide on either eyelid surgery or another facial plastic surgery procedure is whether their results will accentuate other aging areas of the face. This is why many patients who desire a facelift frequently choose additional procedures and treatments, such as eyelid surgery, neck lift, and/or facial volume augmentation, to create the most natural-looking results possible. While you may desire a more youthful overall appearance, knowing which procedures can create an optimal result often requires the expertise of an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon. When you come for your consultation, you can rely on Dr. McCormack to complete a full facial evaluation and develop a customized treatment plan suited to your needs and aesthetic goals.
Are There Different Types of Eyelid Surgery?
Each blepharoplasty is custom-tailored to meet the unique needs and goals of the patient. The procedure can be performed on the upper eyelids and/or the lower eyelids.
Upper Eyelid Surgery
Upper eyelid surgery is used to remove excess fat above the eye, tighten any loose skin, and recontour the remaining fat for a smoother, more defined appearance without looking overdone. This type of blepharoplasty can also improve the vision of any patient with upper eyelids obstructing their field of vision.
Lower Eyelid Surgery
Lower eyelid surgery is used to remove pockets of fat below the eye, reposition existing fat to rejuvenate the appearance of tear troughs, and repair any skin laxity that may be causing folds or creases.
Patients who have concerns about their upper and lower eyelids may choose to combine the two procedures to maximize the impact of their results.
Asian Blepharoplasty
Patients who lack a visible upper eyelid fold, which sometimes include individuals of Asian descent, often request a specialized blepharoplasty technique designed to improve the appearance of a low-hanging eyelid crease or heavy upper eyelids. This approach, often referred to as “double eyelid surgery,” aims to create an eyelid fold above the upper lash line, which can make the eyes appear larger and brighter. While not all patients of Asian descent desire this type of cosmetic eyelid enhancement, nor do all Asian patients have a “single-fold” eyelid, Dr. McCormack offers double eyelid surgery as an option in lieu of, or in conjunction with, traditional blepharoplasty.
What Can I Expect During the Blepharoplasty Procedure?
The surgical plan for blepharoplasty will vary depending upon which type of blepharoplasty is performed. In most cases, eyelid surgery is an outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia and takes about one hour to complete. Dr. McCormack takes great care to place incisions along the natural creases of the eye or along the lash line to minimize the appearance of any scarring.
During upper eyelid surgery, an incision is made along the natural crease of the upper eye. Dr. McCormack can then remove any excess fat, contour the remaining fat, and excise any excess skin. Loose muscles can also be tightened at this time to further reduce laxity. During lower eyelid surgery, an incision is made along the lower lash line. Dr. McCormack can then reposition and contour any excess fat to fill hollow-looking tear troughs as well as repair any underlying ligaments that may be contributing to sagging of the lower eyelids. Excess skin will also be removed to create a smoother, more youthful appearance.
Eyelid Surgery Before & After Photographs
If you are interested, we invite you to view our eyelid surgery results gallery, which features many of our Reno patients’ results. If you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. McCormack to discuss your options for facial rejuvenation, please call us at (775) 284-2020 or fill out our online contact form.
What Can I Expect During Eyelid Surgery Recovery?
Patients can expect mild swelling, soreness, and bruising around the eyes immediately following their procedure. Oral pain medication and lubricating drops can be used to manage any discomfort. These side effects typically dissipate within a few days. Most patients return to work within 7-10 days. Residual scarring is usually minimal and fades within a few months of the surgery.
Will I Have Noticeable Blepharoplasty Scars?
One of the most significant benefits of eyelid surgery is the discreet, undetectable nature of blepharoplasty scars. While every cosmetic surgery will leave scarring to some extent, incisions made during an eyelid lift are placed either internally, or along the natural lines and creases of the eye contours. With that in mind, eyelid surgery scars tend to blend in very well with the natural anatomy of the eyes. We invite you to explore our before-and-after photos of blepharoplasty patients to get an idea of what you can expect after the procedure. Dr. McCormack or Dr. Joslyn will also let you know how your scars are likely to appear once your incisions are fully healed.
How Much Does Eyelid Surgery Cost?
The average cost for eyelid surgery at Reno Tahoe Plastic Surgery typically varies depending on whether you undergo lower blepharoplasty, upper blepharoplasty, or both. The range is fairly broad due to the fact that eyelid surgery pricing fluctuates based on each patient’s unique needs and goals. For certain patients, medical insurance may cover all or a portion of blepharoplasty surgery if drooping eyelids are obstructing vision. Our knowledgeable office team can check your insurance benefits and discuss the coverage and out-of-pocket costs you can expect.
Factors that may determine the overall price of eyelid surgery include:
- Whether surgery is performed on the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both
- Complexity of the procedure
- Surgical techniques used
- Costs for any additional treatments, such as dermal fillers, to restore depleted volume beneath the eyes
- Anesthesiology costs
To get an accurate estimate for the cost of your eyelid surgery, it is necessary to schedule a consultation with Dr. McCormack or Dr. Joslyn. When you receive your itemized price quote, you will also be informed about any insurance reimbursement, the payment options we accept, and various financing opportunities. We work with several plastic surgery financing companies that provide qualified applicants with loans and payment plans to make cosmetic enhancements more accessible to a wider range of patients. Our friendly team can answer any questions you may have about pricing, insurance, payments, financing, scheduling, and more.
For more information about eyelid surgery and brow or forehead lift surgery, we invite you to call us at (775) 284-2020 or complete our online contact form and Dr. McCormack or Dr. Joslyn will respond to you personally.