Eyelid Lift

The eyes are often the area on the face that gives away aging first. Eyes are not only expressive they are frequently the part of the face visualized most by others. Men and women are affected equally. Given their prominent location there are a number of ways to improve the appearance of the eyes.

Excess skin and fatty tissue around the eyes can sag with age creating a tired and listless appearance. A lifetime of exposure to sun or hereditary factors can also contribute to this condition as skin loses its elasticity.

Aging affects both the upper eyelid and the lower eyelid. In some cases, the upper eyelid is affected due to the droopiness of the forehead and eyebrows and as such needs to be addressed utilizing a forehead or browlift. Eyelid surgery will not elevate a droopy eyebrow nor will it address crow's feet.

When the issue is related to the eyelid itself both the upper and lower eyelids can be improved with surgical procedures. In fact, eyelid surgery, called a blepharoplasty, is the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedure in the United States.

With the upper eyelids, a combination of excess skin and fat is removed to restore a toned, more refreshed look. With the lower eyelids, primarily fat and a small amount of excess skin are removed to eliminate "bags" under the eyes. In some cases, these surgical procedures are combined with nonsurgical procedures such as professional skin care or perhaps a chemical peel or skin resurfacing in order to refine the improvement further or to improve the textural changes of the skin or dark circles under the eyes.

While this procedure can be performed by itself on either the upper or lower eyelids or both it is often combined with other procedures to rejuvenate the face. This procedure may be performed under local anesthesia with or without additional sedation on an outpatient basis, and patients normally return home a few hours after surgery. Most people return to their usual activities approximately one week after surgery, and make up can be applied after three to five days. Strenuous activities should be avoided for two weeks.