In my opinion, upper eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) gets the most for the least when trying to correct changes in the face due to aging. The procedure is extremely safe with little or no downtime. Many patients can have the procedure performed in the office under local anesthesia often accompanied by oral sedation. The procedure takes about 45 minutes and patients should be able to return to normal everyday activity the very next day.
The most common anatomic problem with aging lids is excess and loose skin. There are also two fat compartments that can contribute to the fullness of the lid if they contain excess fat. This fat will be reduced as part of the operation when necessary. Years ago plastic surgeons aggressively removed fat which could leave the upper lid looking vacant especially when aging reduced even more fat. Fat reduction is now much more conservative.
Upper eyelid surgery is a “once in a lifetime procedure”. Seldom does the operation need to be repeated. Following upper lid blepharoplasty, patients may benefit from skincare, neuromodulators, and occasionally eyelid resurfacing as the years pass.
