Upper Eyelid Surgery Blepharoplasty
Heavy upper eyelids can make you look aged and tired. Upper blepharoplasty can help you look younger and more alert, and may even improve your vision.
Upper blepharoplasty goes by many names including upper eyelid surgery, upper eyelid lift, and eyelid lift surgery. The purpose of upper eyelid blepharoplasty is to rejuvenate the upper eyelid complex, or to enhance the functional and cosmetic function of the upper eyelid.
Who should get an upper blepharoplasty?
As we age, our skin loses important structural proteins. These structural proteins allow skin to become lax, loose, and thin. The tissues underneath the skin also lose important structural components and push against the skin, and make the problem worse. The upper and lower eyelids are one location where this is very evident. The result is fullness in the upper eyelid, droopy upper eyelids, or saggy upper eyelids. Heavy eyelid patients often get questions like: “Are you tired?”, “Are you feeling well?,” or “Are you angry?”
Example of droopy upper eyelid secondary to age
The above process of fullness in the upper eyelid can also be genetic and be more prevalent in certain ethnic populations including hispanic patients and Middle Eastern patients.
Example of young patient with heavy eyelids
A blepharoplasty removes the excess skin, removes the excess fat, and creates a softer, more open eyelid. This in turn makes the eyes look more open, and most patients state that others around them tell them that they look more awake, alert, and happy.
How is upper blepharoplasty done?
The Blepharoplasty Surgery
The surgery first starts with marking the natural crease of the upper eyelid.
Marking the upper eyelid crease
Once the crease is marked, the amount of skin to be excised is carefully examined, measured and marked. Click here to see a video of upper eyelid blepharoplasty marking.
Once the markings are complete, the skin and deeper tissues are anesthetized. The anesthesia that is injected serves to numb the tissues, but also causes vasoconstriction to minimize bleeding.
In the surgery, the excess skin is removed and fat that has herniated under the excess skin is also removed. The skin is finally closed with a suture that is carefully placed under the skin to minimize scarring and the formation of milia.
4 days after surgery (upper blepharoplasty) with sutures still intact. The small blue loops are the ends of the suture.
Anesthesia
Almost all upper blepharoplasty procedures are done under local anesthesia. The upper eyelid is actually not a very sensitive area. It is very easy to anesthetize using local anesthesia.
Click here to watch a video of injecting local anesthesia into the eyelid.
If upper blepharoplasty is being done with other procedures such as a brow lift, or a facelift, or lower eyelid blepharoplasty, the anesthesia technique being used for the adjunctive procedure is also used for the upper eyelid. For example, if a patient is undergoing a facelift and an upper blepharoplasty, most likely the patient will be undergoing local anesthesia with oral sedation for the facelift. Therefore, the same (local anesthesia with oral sedation) will be used for the upper blepharoplasty.
Why Dr. Athre?
Dr. Athre’s training and attention to detail makes him uniquely qualified in oculoplastic eye lid surgery. Dr. Athre’s initial background as a reconstructive surgeon allows him to truly understand the finest nuances of your eye with respect to shape, size, natural contour, etc to deliver the most natural results without scarring.
The above photo clearly describes the type of results Dr. Athre achieves for his patients. The end result not only makes the patient’s eye look more open and alert, but still preserves her natural, ethnic shape and the scar is imperceptible.
Special Cases
There are a few special types of upper eyelid surgery including:
- Ptosis surgery – surgery for a droopy or lazy eyelid
- Asian eyelid of double eyelid surgery – special type of upper eyelid surgery to “westernize” the upper eyelid
Click here to learn more about special cases of upper eyelid surgery.
Ancillary cosmetic procedures
The upper blepharoplasty is one of the most versatile plastic surgery procedures that can be combined with other procedures. The most common procedures that are performed together with an upper blepharoplasty are:
The eyes form a complex and normally the upper and lower eyelids are rejuvenated together. This allows rejuvenation of the eyelids as a unit. Lower blepharoplasty addresses excess lower eyelid skin, and the fat bags of the under eye region
Falling of the brow and brow tissues can also cause fullness and hooding in the upper eyelid region.
This patient is a perfect example of how brow lifting can elevate the tissues of the upper eyelid. She initially had an upper eyelid blepharoplasty, and then had a temporal brow lift to further open her upper eyelids. The before picture shows the patient before the brow lift but after an upper blepharoplasty.
Many patients who are ready for a facelift will also have aging of the upper eyelid complex. An upper blepharoplasty is the most common procedure performed along with a facelift in our office.
Upper Eyelid Surgery FAQs
How much does a blepharoplasty cost in Houston?
The average cost of eyelid surgery is $3,339 (Based on American Society of Plastic Surgeons). The cost of a blepharoplasty near you may be different due to geographic factors and the above cost estimates do not include operating room fees and anesthesia fees. The average cost in Texas of eyelid surgery is $2,235-4,475.
Dr. Athre’s upper blepharoplasty cost is approximately $2,850. These fees assume local anesthesia.
What are the cons (risks) of upper blepharoplasty?
The risks are:
- Dry eye
- Lagophthalmos (you cannot close your eyelids all the way)
- Scarring
- Color changes of skin of upper eyelid
- Milia (small epidermal cysts of upper eyelid skin)
- Need for additional surgery
These risks are extremely rare in Dr. Athre’s patients.
Client Testimonial
“Dr. Raghu Athre, MD is simply delightful! He and his wonderful staff make you feel like family! Their friendly dispositions make it easy to forget that you are in a consultation! I would recommend Dr. Raghu Athre, MD to all of my family and friends.”
Schedule a Consultation
Telephone No.281-557-3223