An upper blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, or an eyelid lift, is a cosmetic procedure that targets the upper eyelids to address redundant skin, excess fat, and drooping that can develop over time. This treatment is ideal for individuals looking to restore a more vibrant and youthful appearance to their eyes.
What is an Upper Blepharoplasty?
The aging process can take its toll on various facial features, and one of the earliest indicators is often observed in the upper eyelids. Drooping upper eyelids can drastically change a person’s appearance, they may give the impression that you are older, tired, sad, or even angry.
The good news is that addressing these concerns is more attainable than you might think. Upper eyelid surgery is one of the more straightforward solutions among facial cosmetic procedures. Unless you choose to include additional surgical procedures, this is an in-office visit that can be completed in just a few hours. An upper blepharoplasty can leave you looking younger, refreshed, and rested.
Before & After Gallery
Know before you go
Your first step would be scheduling an in-person or phone consultation with Erin, our patient care coordinator specialist. During this consultation she will learn more about you and your areas of concern. She will review your options in detail, including technique, downtime, and costs. Together you will decide if we feel like a good fit, and assuming we do, she will schedule you for a consultation with Dr. Karter.
Your consultation with Dr. Karter will be a deep dive into the facial aging process, facial anatomy, discussion of surgical techniques, and reviewing the post-operative course in detail. Our focus is on tailoring this experience for you while providing all the information necessary so that you can make informed decisions.
Throughout this process, we handle all surgical scheduling and payments so that you don’t have to worry about surprise medical bills. We encourage you to bring your calendar to the in-person consultation and note any potential dates that work well for you. A 20% fully refundable deposit is all that is needed to secure your ideal date.
There will be one additional meeting, in the form of a pre-operative visit, before your scheduled surgery. We go over the post-operative course again in detail. You will be given a post- operative care kit containing everything necessary for your post-surgical care. We will take pre- operative photos and go through all the surgical consents. We utilize this time to make sure you are 100% prepared for your surgical journey and have the chance to ask any remaining questions.
Recovery and Results
Following the procedure, you may experience mild swelling and bruising, which typically subside within 2 weeks. Most patients can resume normal activities shortly after the in-office upper blepharoplasty, with full results becoming apparent as any residual swelling diminishes.
Absolutely, if you decided you would rather have this procedure done at the surgical center, we would be happy to make those arrangements for you. You would just be responsible for the affiliated fees.
The typical downtime is approximately 2 weeks. At the 2 week mark, most patients can put on some makeup and the average person would not be able to tell that they have had something done. Keep in mind you will likely still have a little swelling at that point and your incisions will still be healing, but it is very simple to cover them while they are healing.
This is not a terribly uncomfortable procedure. We aim to create a relaxed environment and provide mild sedatives if requested. After the procedure you may feel some itching and tenderness, but we have all of our patients ice the area once they get home from the procedure. This is predominantly done to help bring down the bruising and swelling, but can also help with any discomfort. For any additional discomfort you can alternate Tylenol and Ibuprofen.
The incisions are placed very carefully in the natural crease of the eyelid. When your eyes are open it will be impossible to see the scars once they have healed completely, and when your eyes are closed they will fade and appear very similar to the crease we already have in that area.
Facial aging is a process that happens in unison throughout the face, therefore most patients find that they are good candidates for complementary procedures. These could include a browlift, lower blepharoplasty, and fat grafting to really rejuvenate the area around the eyes. Each patient's plan will be uniquely tailored to meet their needs.