Blepharoplasty, also known as an eyelid lift, is a procedure aimed at correcting heavy or sagging eyelids. It is one of the top five most popular cosmetic surgeries. This surgery can be performed on either the upper or lower eyelids.
Eyelid surgery patients at our Kalispell, MT, plastic surgery practice often want to know how to improve the appearance of their eyelids as it can be an early sign of aging. In very severe cases, extra skin of the upper eyelids can lead to loss of peripheral vision. There are several things to consider when determining if this surgery is right for you.
What is cosmetic blepharoplasty (eyelid lift)?
Both upper and lower blepharoplasties are performed as cosmetic surgery. The procedure addresses many common signs of aging including:
- Sagging or excess upper eyelid skin
- Sagging lower eyelid skin
- Bags under the lower eyelids
An experienced board-certified plastic surgeon will ensure you get a natural result that will concentrate on your specific cosmetic concerns.
What is functional blepharoplasty (eyelid lift)?
An upper blepharoplasty is the only eyelid lift that is considered functional. This procedure can improve the visual field by removing extra skin that is overhanging into the patient’s vision. It typically requires a referral from your eye doctor and specific testing to determine if you are losing vision from overhanging and heavy eyelids.
Am I a good candidate for an eyelid lift?
Men and women with realistic expectations about the procedure and who are physically healthy are usually the best candidates for an eyelid lift. The procedure won’t erase wrinkles or lift your eyebrows, so having reasonable expectations for the surgery is helpful.
On the other hand, we can often combine eyelid lift surgery with other rejuvenating procedures such as a brow lift or facelift to enhance your overall results. We discuss other facial rejuvenation options in a related blog post.
Most of our patients who seek eyelid lifts are in their mid-30s or older, but we also have younger patients who have droopy or baggy eyelids.
How is eyelid lift surgery done?
This surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure under either local or general anesthesia. The incisions are placed in specific areas to make them very discreet and hard to notice. Patients can expect their results to last for at least 10 years.
How long does it take to recover from eyelid surgery?
For the recovery period, patients must be ready for moderate swelling and bruising which will dissipate within 7 to 10 days. Stitches are left in place for a week, and once these are removed, most patients look and feel back to normal.
What do you look like after eyelid surgery?
You can see one of our patient’s results of a bilateral upper blepharoplasty and bilateral brow lift below. You can also see more of our patients’ results in our gallery of upper eyelid lift before-and-after photos.
At Mountain West Plastic Surgery we pride ourselves on giving you a natural result, and our compassionate staff will help make sure your experience is comfortable and personalized. Contact us today to schedule your consultation or call us at (406) 609-0210.
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