Eyelid Surgery Techniques

An eyelid surgical procedure (blepharoplasty) removes excess loose skin and fat from around the eyelids, and reduces the appearance of circles under the eyes. The procedure can also address a hollowed appearance around the eyes by redistributing excess fat. The goal is to reduce puffiness or hollowness around the eyes, leaving them looking more alert and refreshed. The procedure can be performed on either the upper or lower eyelids, and can be combined with another facial procedure, such as a brow lift. Depending on the type and amount of work to be done, there are several surgical techniques that that the surgeons of Jefferson Plastic Surgery may perform, depending upon whether or not there are excess fat deposits, hollowness, or loose skin around the eyelids.

Upper Eyelid Surgical Techniques

For a procedure on the upper eyelids, we will first inject a local anesthetic into the eyelid. He will then make a small incision in the natural crease of the eye, so that it will be barely noticeable once it heals. He will then be able to remove or redistribute any fat deposits in the upper eyelid. If the patient has loose skin in the upper eyelids, he will remove the excess skin, and tighten up the remaining skin with a small stitch through the eyelid crease incision. If the muscles of the upper eyelids have sagged to the point where the patient’s vision has become obscured, we will gently tighten them up as well.

It is important to note that a properly performed eyelid surgical procedure should not interfere with a patient’s ability to open and close their eyes normally. The procedure should also not interfere with a patient’s ability to wear contact lenses or worsen any symptoms of dry eyes, which is more common among older adults.

Lower Eyelid Surgical Techniques

There are two main techniques used for surgery on the lower eyelid. The technique that is performed will depend on whether or not the patient needs excess skin removed from the lower eyelid. If there is excess skin or bagginess under the eyes, an incision is made just below the lower lash line. The surgeons of Jefferson Plastic Surgery will then be able to remove any excess skin and remove or redistribute fat to reduce the appearance of circles under the eyes.

If a patient only has fat to be removed or redistributed from under the eyes, the incision can be made just inside the lower eyelid, which is known as a transconjunctival incision. The advantage to this procedure is that there will be no visible scars. In some cases, this technique can be combined with laser resurfacing to remove wrinkles and fine lines around the lower eyelids.

We believe that each patient who undergoes eyelid surgery is unique in terms of their expected outcomes from the procedure. With a variety of surgical techniques at his fingertips, we can provide patients with this level of individualized care. This type of care will provide patients with the more youthful look they want to their facial features. To learn more, contact Jefferson Plastic Surgery today.