Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)
Blepharoplasty is designed to make the eyes look brighter and more youthful by treating signs of aging in the upper and/or lower eyelids. As patients age, the supportive tissue of the eyes can weaken and grow lax, resulting in concerns such as sagging upper lids, puffiness, under-eye bags, and “hooding” — in which the eyelid skin rests below the lash line, obstructing your field of vision. Dr. Scott Miller is a San Diego-based board-certified plastic surgeon who performs upper and lower blepharoplasty to smooth the contours of the eyelids and reduce puffiness, allowing a more rested and refreshed appearance. Incisions are typically disguised within the crease of the upper eyelid or along the lash line to provide a discreet, natural-looking outcome. The eyes and the brow often age together, making brow lift surgery a popular complement to blepharoplasty for complete renewal of the entire upper face.
- Eyelid Surgery Benefits
- Eyelid Surgery Candidates
- Eyelid Surgery Procedure
- Eyelid Surgery Recovery
- Eyelid Surgery Cost
What Concerns Can Eyelid Surgery Improve?
The eyes are not only considered one of the first features people notice about you, but they can also unintentionally convey your emotions. Consequently, wrinkles and puffiness around the eyelids can make you look tired, stressed, or even angry when you’re actually feeling happy and well-rested. This is one of many reasons why patients may turn to blepharoplasty to enhance tired eyes and brighten their appearance. Depending on your goals, eyelid surgery can:
- Treat eyelid hooding, removing obstructions in your vision caused by excess tissue
- Smooth crow’s feet, wrinkles, and excess skin framing the eyes
- Reduce puffiness and dark circles in the lower eyelids
- Achieve a more refreshed and youthful look in the upper face
Blepharoplasty results can look exceptionally natural, as indicated by the before-and-after photos showcased in our patient gallery. If you want to improve the appearance of tired eyes, we encourage you to view the outcomes achieved by previous patients who addressed their concerns with eyelid surgery. For many patients, the procedure is most successful when paired with brow lift surgery to simultaneously address excess skin and frown lines in the forehead.
Is Blepharoplasty Right for Me?
If you’re interested in eyelid surgery, Dr. Miller and our team can discuss your concerns during a consultation to ensure you have a good understanding of the procedure, and to confirm whether blepharoplasty is the best solution to achieve your goals. Patients considering eyelid surgery should generally be:
- Healthy and a non-smoker (or willing to quit smoking before and after surgery)
- Unaffected by eye conditions that may interfere with the healing process
- Able to have realistic expectations for the potential results
- Able to maintain a positive outlook on surgery
Once he gains a sense of your needs, Dr. Miller can develop a treatment plan tailored to reduce signs of aging and renew your eye contours. Either the upper and/or lower eyelids can be treated depending on the nature of your concerns. Eyelid surgery is an outpatient procedure usually performed under general anesthesia.
How is the Blepharoplasty Procedure Performed?
During upper blepharoplasty, an incision is made within the natural crease of the eyelid to help ensure incisions remain discreet once fully healed. Dr. Miller will then remove the excess skin, tighten musculature, and remove or reposition fat in the upper lids to alleviate hooding and smooth the eye contour. Puffiness and bagginess in the lower eyelids can also be corrected through an internal incision made along the lower lash line. As a result, this often reduces shadows in the lower eyelids and improves the appearance of dark circles. The outcome is a more youthful and energetic appearance.
What Can I Expect During the Eyelid Surgery Recovery Period?
Swelling, bruising, tenderness, and potential light sensitivity are normal reactions during the recovery period. These reactions should resolve naturally and over-the-counter medications can help accelerate the healing process. Most patients are up and about approximately two days after their procedure, and return to work after 7 to 10 days. Sutures are usually removed one week after surgery. You will receive detailed post-operative instructions regarding incision care, activity restrictions, and an approximate recovery timeline.
How Much Does Eyelid Surgery Cost?
The cost of blepharoplasty is customized according to the details of each person’s treatment plan, such as whether both the upper and lower eyelids are treated, the techniques utilized, and the extent of surgical work necessary to achieve your goals. Our office can give you a personalized quote after your needs and goals are assessed in a consultation. Our practice accepts plastic surgery financing from CareCredit® for qualified patients who prefer to pay for their procedure in low- to no-interest installments
Dr. Scott Miller prioritizes natural results that simply allow you to look like a more refreshed version of yourself. If you have visible signs of puffiness, hooding, eye bags, or aging eyelids, contact Miller Cosmetic Surgery for more information or to schedule a consultation.