Eyelid Surgery Candidates
Eyelid Surgery Benefits
Blepharoplasty Procedure
Eyelid Surgery Recovery
Eyelid Surgery Results
Eyelid Surgery Scars
Cost of Eyelid Surgery
Non-Surgical Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty Risks
Eyelid Surgery Complements
Choosing a Blepharoplasty Surgeon
Blepharoplasty FAQ

The eyes are the most expressive feature of the face. With that said, the upper and lower eyelids have a large effect on the appearance of the eyes. Blepharoplasty, more commonly referred to as eyelid surgery, is an effective plastic surgery procedure that has the potential to dramatically enhance one’s facial appearance, making you look more youthful and rested. The most common reason why patients undergo blepharoplasty is to treat sagging skin, puffiness, droopy or baggy eyelids, excess skin, and/or wrinkles around the eyes. A board-certified facial plastic surgeon can perform this procedure on the upper and/or lower eyelids, depending on which regions you would like to enhance.

Please contact OC Facial Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation for eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty).

What is Blepharoplasty?

Blepharoplasty is a cosmetic procedure designed to remove excess skin and fat around the upper and lower eyelids while repositioning any lax musculature. This can smooth and brighten the appearance of the eyes, typically making patients look more youthful. Eyelid surgery can also correct upper eyelid “hooding,” which occurs when loose skin and/or musculature rests on the lash line. This “hooding” effect may cause patients to look tired or aged—in some cases, the drooping skin can even interfere with an individual’s line of sight. Blepharoplasty can be a highly effective technique to treat eyelid hooding, as well as to smooth wrinkles, eliminate puffiness, and generally improve the appearance of the eyes.

Am I a Candidate for Eyelid Surgery?

If the eyelids are stretched, wrinkled, or baggy, the eyes can appear tired and aged. This aesthetic prompts many patients to seek out improvement in the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both. In turn, upper and lower blepharoplasty can be performed separately or together, depending on your concerns. These procedures are designed to remove excess skin (wrinkling) and fat (puffiness) to achieve a wider and brighter look around the eyes, which can convey youth and alertness while more accurately reflecting one’s vigor and energy levels. You may be a candidate for eyelid surgery if:

You have excess skin or fat in the upper or lower eyelids
You have vision problems secondary to excessive skin on the upper eyelids
You have laxity of the lower eyelids and desire a tightening procedure

Dr. Sepehr will speak to you about your concerns and overall aesthetic goals to help confirm whether eyelid surgery would be the most beneficial treatment option for you. In general, individuals interested in the procedure should be in good health and have no uncontrolled medical conditions that may affect the healing process. Overall satisfaction is also usually maximized when patients have a positive outlook on surgery and realistic expectations for the final results.

What Can Be Achieved With Blepharoplasty?

The benefits of eyelid surgery often vary depending on your reasons for pursuing the procedure and your expectations for the outcome. That said, blepharoplasty is generally well-known for rejuvenating and revitalizing a patient’s face. Among the key benefits of this facial plastic surgery procedure include:

Smoother upper and lower eyelid contours, allowing a more youthful appearance
Reduced wrinkles and excess skin, producing a brighter expression
A more energized look, as puffiness and dark circles can be improved
Restored range of sight for patients whose vision was obscured by drooping tissue

Maintaining a natural look while working in the delicate region around the eyes typically requires the specialized training of a facial plastic surgeon who has exclusive experience repairing structures of the face and neck. With the expertise of a qualified facial plastic surgeon, blepharoplasty can powerfully reduce signs of aging in the upper face and highlight the beauty of your natural eye shape.

How is Eyelid Surgery Performed?

After discussing your aesthetic goals in a consultation, Dr. Sepehr will create a custom treatment plan tailored to address your needs. Once Dr. Sepehr determines if intravenous sedation or general anesthesia is best for you, he will begin the procedure. In general, excess skin will be removed, fatty tissue may be repositioned, and drooping skin may be tightened or trimmed. Depending on the complexity of your procedure, it may take one to three hours from start to finish. Patients should be able to return home after the procedure. To learn the specifics of upper and lower eyelid surgery, continue reading below.

Upper Blepharoplasty

Upper blepharoplasty typically takes approximately one hour. This procedure can be performed to tighten the excess skin above the eye or correct the look of eyelid “hooding,” wherein lax eyelid tissue begins to obscure one’s field of vision. The surgery involves placing well-hidden incisions in the natural crease of the upper eyelid to make them nearly invisible after healing. Redundant skin and protruding fat are removed, and the incisions are closed with fine sutures to further minimize the visibility of the scar. Healing time is minimized by delicate surgical technique.

Lower Blepharoplasty

Our eyes are surrounded by fat which permit our eyes to move freely. This fat is kept within the eye socket by the “orbital septum,” which acts as a retaining wall. Over time, the orbital septum weakens and allows the fat to protrude, producing puffy lower eyelid bags. These lower eyelid bags often cast a shadow, leading to dark circles under the eyes.

Lower blepharoplasty typically takes one hour. Patients are candidates for one of two approaches, depending on their anatomy and their specific indication for the surgery. Incisions can be placed either inside the eyelid or through the skin on the outer surface of the eyelid. From one of these access points, bulging fat can be removed to minimize lower eyelid puffiness. Excess skin in the lower eyelids can also be treated in a variety of ways, including a little skin pinch excision, laser skin resurfacing, or chemical peels, which all cause tightening of the skin. Dr. Sepehr will carefully evaluate each patient to determine the best technique.

Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty

The transconjunctival approach is usually performed when a patient exhibits little to no excess skin in the lower eyelids and the primary goal is smoothing under-eye bags. This incision is generally suitable when skin removal is not anticipated. The procedure begins with an incision on the inside of the lower eyelid, providing an access point to smooth and remove bulging fat. Since the incision is made internally, transconjunctival blepharoplasty results in no visible scarring.

Read Pre and Post-op Procedure Requirements

Dr. Sepehr is fantastic. He did my both upper and lower eyelids about 6 months ago and it literally took 15 years off of my appearance. And it couldn’t look more natural. He said there may be a little faint scar, but I can’t even find mine. It’s nice to have a surgeon that is very good at what he does. It’s a plus when he is literally one of the nicest docs you will ever meet.

Miaad Hamidsaeidi

June 05, 2014

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Patient Results

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What is Recovery From Blepharoplasty Like?

After you return home from your surgery, Dr. Sepehr recommends prioritizing your recovery process. Most patients find simply resting their eyes after the procedure to be helpful, but you should also elevate your head as much as possible for the first few days following your procedure. If you experience any soreness or tightness in the eye area, don’t worry— these are normal reactions. There may be swelling or bruising in the surgery area, but using a cold compress can often reduce these discomforts. An oral medication may also be prescribed to help manage potential pain. It is best to avoid the use of contact lenses for at least two weeks following your procedure, and strenuous exercise should be postponed for at least three weeks.

There is minimal pain after eyelid surgery. In fact, patients typically only feel tired and want to rest the eyes. Some tightness or pressure is normal and can easily be treated with pain medications. The eyelid tissues are very delicate, so any irritation can cause significant swelling. However, since surgical swelling is generally caused by very little manipulation, it also resolves very quickly. On average it takes ten days for the bruising to fade. It is normal to have some blurry vision as a result of the hydrating ointment.

How Long Will Results From Eyelid Surgery Last?

Results from our blepharoplasty procedures typically last 10 to 15 years, provided you care for the skin around your eyes. This can be done by applying sunscreen daily, avoiding smoking, moisturizing your skin as needed, and a good skin care regimen. It is possible that other lifestyle choices or genetic predispositions may affect your results as well.

Will I Have Visible Scars After Blepharoplasty?

Dr. Sepehr has extensive training and experience and will do what he can to limit residual scarring. The incisions from your surgical procedure may be visible immediately following the operation, but once healed, any scars should be virtually unnoticeable.

How Much Does Blepharoplasty Cost?

The average surgical fee for eyelid surgery usually depends on your geographic location, as well as the expertise of your plastic surgeon. As eyelid surgery is a personalized procedure, a true estimation of your eyelid surgery expenses will be dependent on:

Whether the upper and/or lower eyelids were treated
The extent of aesthetic concerns to be addressed
The surgical techniques used during the procedure

After Dr. Sepehr gains an understanding of your needs and cosmetic goals during a consultation, our office can provide you with a personalized quote of your procedure. To make the cost of blepharoplasty more manageable, our practice works with highly reputable plastic surgery financing companies, such as CareCredit® and Prosper®Healthcare Lending. Once approved through the easy application process, qualified candidates can choose from an array of low interest and interest-free payment plans to select the option that is most ideal for their budgetary concerns. If you are interested in paying for your treatment over time, or have any other questions about the price of eyelid surgery, please contact our practice to speak to a member of our team.

Can I Get an Eyelid Lift Without Surgery?

While there is not currently a minimally invasive procedure that can mirror the quality or longevity of results of eyelid surgery, patients interested in non-surgical blepharoplasty can still achieve effective facial rejuvenation with injectable treatments. For individuals concerned with horizontal brow creases, frown lines, or “crow’s feet” around the corners of the eyes, BOTOX® Cosmetic can be a simple way to refresh the upper face and smooth expression wrinkles for a more youthful aesthetic. Similarly, injectable dermal fillers can be used to restore volume in the under-eye hollows or improve the look of flattened cheeks for a more vibrant appearance in the mid-face. These treatments provide a more temporary outcome than eyelid surgery, but can nonetheless yield exceptional results. During your consultation, Dr. Sepehr will help you determine which non-surgical cosmetic enhancement can fulfill your aesthetic goals without the need for surgery or downtime.

What are the Most Common Blepharoplasty Risks?

Complications from blepharoplasty are extremely rare, but some degree of risk exists with any cosmetic procedure — especially if a plastic surgeon is not experienced in eyelid surgery. General risks involved with any type of surgery include infection, negative reactions to the anesthesia, bleeding, and blood clotting. Potential complications unique to an eye procedure include:

Dryness or irritation in eyes
Injury to eye muscles
Visible scarring
Difficulty closing the eyes
Changes in vision

It’s important to understand every aspect of an eyelid lift prior to making a decision about surgery, so Dr. Sepehr will explain all of the risks, limitations, and benefits of blepharoplasty during your consultation. As a facial plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS), Dr. Sepehr specializes in blepharoplasty and performs countless procedures every year. His before-and-after photos showcase the natural-looking results and rejuvenating outcomes possible with an eyelid lift.

Complementary Treatments to Eyelid Surgery

Blepharoplasty can have a very transformative effect on the face, but the procedure is only designed to treat the region surrounding the upper and lower eyelids. More often than not, patients usually experience indications of aging in the brow and cheek areas as well. If you are bothered by other concerns, such as furrows along the forehead, drooping brows, or nasolabial folds, Dr. Sepehr can perform a facial analysis to determine the most effective combination of treatments to refresh your entire face. Volume loss and creases in the mid-face may be addressed with non-surgical facial fillers and injectables, depending on the severity of your concerns.

If stretched or wrinkled skin around the eyes is the only issue, an upper blepharoplasty alone can yield a great result. On the other hand, eyelid surgery is often performed in conjunction with a brow lift in order to completely refresh the upper-third of the face. During your consultation, Dr. Ali Sepehr can determine the best treatment options for you by lifting your forehead subtly to the appropriate level with his hands. If this has little to no beneficial effect on the upper eyelids, upper blepharoplasty may be enough to achieve your goals. In the event that the redundant skin disappears completely, a brow lift may be indicated. If this motion improves the upper eyelid appearance but redundant skin still remains, a combination of both procedures may be recommended.

Choosing the Best Blepharoplasty Surgeon For Your Needs

Eyelid surgery is a powerful procedure capable of smoothing the contours around the eyelids for a more youthful expression, but the key to achieving effective and natural-looking results is finding an experienced blepharoplasty surgeon to achieve your aesthetic goals. While you are in the midst of the research process, the following tips may be able to help guide you towards the right selection:

Choose a board-certified facial plastic surgeon. Accreditation by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery can not only signify an exclusive focus on aesthetic procedures for the face, but it may also give you the confidence of knowing your surgeon has been vetted for competency in every aspect of facial plastic surgery.
Research training and background. Learn about your prospective surgeon by researching their credentials, such as the professional organizations they belong to and whether they subspecialize in any procedures. This can give you insight into his or her level of experience, as well as how often they usually perform eyelid surgery.
Look at before-and-after photos. Viewing a surgeon’s patient gallery is typically the best way to determine whether the blepharoplasty results you may potentially achieve align with your cosmetic goals. In addition, taking a look at a plastic surgeon’s past work can provide realistic expectations about the benefits and limitations of eyelid surgery.
Review a prospective surgeon’s reputation. Be sure you are selecting a facial plastic surgeon who offers exceptional patient care by reading their online patient reviews. The assessments written on platforms like Google, Facebook, and Yelp can shed light on a surgeon’s ability to achieve high levels of patient satisfaction.

Once you have narrowed down your possible choices, the next step is to schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon who has met your criteria. This will give you the chance to ask about his or her qualifications in person, and allow you to assess how comfortable you feel under a given surgeon’s care.

*Individual Results May Vary

Ali Sepehr, M. D. Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Blepharoplasty

What age is best to have eyelid surgery?

There is no perfect age to have blepharoplasty, but our patients are typically 35 years or older. Every person has unique factors that make them qualified for eyelid surgery, which may include the effects of the natural aging process or inherited genetics. If you think this procedure could help you achieve your cosmetic goals, please contact us to schedule a consultation. Then, we can review your medical history and evaluate your needs to determine if this procedure can benefit you.

Can blepharoplasty help dark circles or under-eye hollows?

When the lower eyelid begins to sag, it can cast a shadow, leading to dark under-eye circles. If fat in the cheek is pushing up towards the eye, Dr. Sepehr can reposition the fat and fill the under-eye area that is lacking volume. A lower eyelid procedure may be right for you if you have noticed any of these signs.

Will my insurance cover this procedure?

Most health insurance will not cover cosmetic surgery. However, when this procedure is performed to remove excess skin that is covering the eyelashes, some costs may be covered by your insurance company. This is most common if the tissue folds over the eye and is causing obstructed vision. It is best to contact your insurance company to obtain a clear understanding of what they will or will not cover.

How long should I wait until I return to work?

Many of our patients return to their jobs within 10 days of their procedure, as that is when the majority of the swelling and bruising have typically diminished. However, everyone heals at different rates, so be sure to listen to your body and to Dr. Sepehr’s recommendations in terms of when may be the best time to resume normal daily routines.

When will I see my results?

Patients can usually see improvement soon after surgery. Full blepharoplasty results are often seen several weeks or months after the procedure was initially performed. By following Dr. Sepehr’s recovery plan, swelling and bruising should gradually decrease. Throughout your recovery, our medical staff can answer any questions you may have about this process.

When can I wear contacts again?

Contact lenses should not be worn for at least 10 days after blepharoplasty, although this timespan may vary depending on the progress of your recovery. The incision site will be very delicate and susceptible to infection immediately after surgery, so it is generally best to avoid touching or disrupting the eyes as much as possible. Patients who rely on contacts should instead wear prescription glasses while making certain that the frames do not touch the eyes.

When can I wear makeup after eyelid surgery?

Like contact lenses, you should not wear makeup for at least 10 days after eyelid surgery—although it is generally safest to wait two to three weeks when incisions are fully healed. Premature makeup application can expose your eyes to harmful bacteria and other impurities, as well as disrupt your incisions from the pulling and tugging of skin. When wearing makeup does become safe again, we recommend replacing your old products with new makeup to further decrease the risk of exposing incisions to bacteria.

What will my eyes feel like after eyelid surgery?

Following blepharoplasty, your eyes will likely feel tight, sore, and/or sensitive to light. For this reason, they may need to be covered for a short time after your procedure. You may also experience blurriness or a temporary loss of some vision, both of which are normal reactions. We understand that this can be disconcerting, but your vision should be fully restored within a few days. One of our nurses will show you how to properly apply a cool compress to help alleviate swelling or soreness after surgery.

How can I reduce swelling after eyelid surgery?

While swelling is normal after eyelid surgery, the healing process can often be accelerated by keeping the head slightly elevated above heart-level whenever possible. A healthy diet consisting of healthy greens, fruits, vegetables, protein, and vitamin-rich foods can also help decrease swelling. Take care to limit consumption of salty foods and alcohol, and do not smoke after surgery until Dr. Sepehr says otherwise. It is not uncommon for swelling to last as long as six weeks after blepharoplasty, but most inflammation should subside within the first two weeks.

What is the difference between blepharoplasty and ptosis repair?

Blepharoplasty is performed to correct signs of aging, while ptosis repair is designed to treat a medical condition in which the levator muscle fails to fully lift the upper lid. The indications for upper eyelid hooding and ptosis repair often look similar and may present as a sleepy appearance, sometimes causing confusion between which procedure is the best treatment for a given condition. Dr. Sepehr can examine your anatomical indicators to conclusively determine which procedure can address your unique concerns.