Upper & Lower Eyelid Lift

A blepharoplasty is a cosmetic procedure that addresses upper and/or lower eyelids.  It can help to reduce droopy upper eyelids that age you and even impair vision depending on the severity.  When correcting the lower eyelids this procedure helps to reduce puffiness and bags that often make you look tired. 

No, this procedure is not meant to correct dark circles that form under the eyes. Reducing the under eye bags can help eliminate shadowing which may reduce the variation in color.

No, the upper blepharoplasty only helps to reduce excess skin. If you have a “heaviness” to your eyelids you might need a brow lift. A brow lift is often paired with an upper blepharoplasty to resolve any multiple issues that may be occurring.

No, the blepharoplasty procedure is focused on excess skin and fat. If you are looking to resolve lines and wrinkles such as areas of the “crows feet” you may be a candidate for botulinum toxin injections (e.g. Dysport or Botox) and/or a skin resurfacing.

There are many facial cosmetic procedures that can be performed at once.  Common procedures related to the area include brow lift, chemical peel, laser resurfacing, fat grafting, and botulinum toxin injections.

The procedure is usually performed under twilight sedation. When performing an upper blepharoplasty, Dr. Vargas will mark the area of incision (located in the crease of the eyelid to minimize the visibility of the scar).  Once the incision is made, excess fat is removed as well as loose muscle and skin.  Once the procedure is complete, Dr. Vargas will place fine sutures to close the incision. 

The procedure is usually performed under twilight sedation.  An incision is made inside the lower eyelid, and then the excess fat is removed.  A suture is usually not needed, only for special cases.  There is no visible scar on a lower blepharoplasty.

Ointment is placed over the upper eyelid sutures to prevent dryness from occurring.  Swelling and bruising is normal post-procedure, in many cases this resolves within 10 days, but can last up to two weeks. Sutures will be removed after one week. It is normal to have numbness and itching during the healing process. Certain activities may be limited until you receive clearance from the doctor.

After the surgery it is best to use cold compresses and lay in an elevated position to reduce swelling and increase comfort. Pain medication is prescribed and can be used to aid in comfort levels post-surgery. You will need to clean the area and reapply ointment until your one week post-op follow-up appointment.

Any procedure that addresses cosmetic needs is not usually covered by insurance. In cases where the upper eyelids are affecting your vision you may be reimbursable in part or whole, an eye exam test will need to be conducted to validate the vision impairment.  It is the patient’s responsibility for pre-approval of coverage and to process the claim for insurance.

A skin pinch is an in-office procedure that addresses excess skin of the upper eyelids.

This is an in-office procedure. Once numbed, the excess skin is gathered and then removed. Once the procedure is complete, Dr. Vargas will place fine sutures to close the incision. 

Ointment is placed over the upper eyelid sutures to prevent dryness from occurring. Swelling and bruising is normal post procedure, in many cases this resolves within 10 days, but can last up to 2 weeks. Sutures will be removed after one week.

After the procedure it is best to use cold compresses to increase comfort.  Tylenol can be used to aid in comfort levels post-procedure. You will need to clean the area and reapply ointment until your one week post-op.

Any procedure that addresses cosmetic needs is not usually covered by insurance. In cases where the upper eyelids are affecting your vision, you may be reimbursable in part or whole, an eye exam test will need to be conducted to validate the vision impairment. It is the patient’s responsibility for pre-approval of coverage and to process the claim for insurance.