The eyes are often the first feature that one notices about a person. The thin skin of the eye area, however, is prone to some of the first signs of aging. Over time, the elasticity of the eyelids is reduced. There seems to be excess skin in the upper eyelid, making it appear droopy and tired. The area below the eye can appear swollen or have obvious bags. The skin may be wrinkled or loose and crepe-like. The eyes will appear tired, even when they are not.

Blepharoplasty, or an eyelid lift can give one an “uplift.” Dr Jennifer Levine can perform many types of eyelifts to restore beautiful, vibrant eyes. The approach is tailored to the individual patient. Some patients require removal of excess skin, muscle and fat and tightening the wall. Sometimes the lower lid procedure may be performed through an invisible incision inside the eyelid. At times the inner eyelid fat pads may need to be repositioned to prevent a hollowed-out appearance. Not one single technique of eyelid surgery is ideal for everyone.

The Surgery

Eyelid lifts can either be done alone or together with face and neck lifts or eyebrow and forehead lifts. If done alone, the operation takes about one and a half hours for all four eyelids. The upper eyelid skin is removed through fine incisions placed in the upper eyelid creases. The fat is trimmed through the same incision. A fine suture is used to close the skin and is removed four days later. The lower eyelid fat is removed through an incision on the inside of the eyelid, so there is no visible scar. Furthermore, this incision is safest as it leaves the supporting muscles of the eyelid undisturbed. If there is extra skin of the lower eyelid, it is removed through a fine incision in a wrinkle just beneath the eyelashes.

The Recovery

Recovery from eyelid surgery is complete within seven to ten days. A small amount of lumpiness is usual at the corners of the eyes. Minimal blurry vision rapidly resolves. Sunglasses allow you to go out in public immediately after Eyelid Plastic surgery, and make-up can be worn within five days. Normal activity and exercise can resume three weeks after surgery.

Other Options

We sometimes combine eyelid lifts with new procedures called endoscopic eyebrow and forehead lifts to improve the height and maintain the contour of the upper eyebrow. We will discuss whether you might benefit from this combined procedure during our consultation.