Blepharoplasty

Excess skin and fatty tissue on the eyelid (“dermatochalasis”) can add excess weight that lowers the height of the upper lid. The redundant skin can also obstruct the line of sight and decrease the amount of light entering the eye, causing a reduction in vision.

Blepharoplasty is a procedure where the excess skin of the eyelid is removed. This will reduce the weight imposed by the eyelids and can improve the quality of the patient’s vision. Patients often will like the improved cosmetic appearance of the eyes as well.

Conscious Sedation

Blepharoplasty is an outpatient surgical procedure done under conscious sedation (“twilight”) and local anesthetic. You will not have any significant pain during or after the procedure. After the excess skin is removed, the eyelid is sutured together. The whole procedure takes a little over 30 minutes to perform. Patients typically experience temporary bruising and swelling of the eyelids for several days after surgery. Sutures are removed after 10-14 days.

The scar from this procedure is very faint and it is hidden in the crease of the eyelid and ultimately invisible to the naked eye. Skin may reaccumulate over your lifetime and some patients choose to have the procedure repeated (over time).