Eyelid Lift

Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery or eyelid lift, is a surgical procedure that improves the appearance of the upper and lower eyelids by tightening soft tissues or removing excess skin, muscle, and fat from around the eyes.

The Benefits of Eyelid Surgery

Blepharoplasty is now the most popular facial plastic surgery procedure after rhinoplasty (cosmetic surgery of the nose.) The popularity of this procedure reflects the importance of the eyes in optimizing overall facial appearance. In fact, most adults consider the eyes to be the defining feature of the face. If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your eyes, you may want to consider blepharoplasty to improve your look and boost your confidence through a safe procedure with minimal downtime. This procedure can be beneficial to both men and women alike.

What Does Blepharoplasty Improve?

Sagging skin around the eyes
Puffy eyelids
Under eye bags
Fine lines around the eyes
Drooping or excess skin that is blocking vision

How the Eyes Age

Our eyes serve crucial functions for both vision and communication with others. The way our eyes look is very important, as they are a key physical attribute of both aesthetics and displaying emotion. Unfortunately, the area around the eyes is often one of the first to exhibit signs of age, as the skin of the eyelid is extremely thin and delicate and any changes in this area are quickly evident.

The skin and shape of the eyelids give an indication of a person’s age. The eyelids may start to droop and sag as the supporting tissues become thinner. This may be caused by several factors, such sun damage, smoking, obesity, and simply age itself. In addition, eyelids that droop or bulge can cause people to appear much older or fatigued than they actually are.

Fantastic plastic surgeon! I am absolutely thrilled with my entire experience with Dr. Hutchinson and her office staff. I had my upper and lower eyelids done to get rid of the bags under my eyes and my fix my droopy upper lids, so I now look years younger. My results are beautiful and natural, my recovery was a breeze, and I am so happy I had the surgery with her.

NYC Eyelid Lift Patient

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Candidates For Eyelid Surgery

Men and women who would be appropriate candidates for blepharoplasty are those who:

Have primarily cosmetic concerns and no serious ophthalmologic problems
Feel that their eyes make them look old or tired
Have upper eyelids that hang down over their eyes, are hooded due to excess skin, or have an unattractive contour
Have lower eyelids with “bags,” excess lid skin, loose, crepey, wrinkled skin, dark undereye circles, or a visible bony ridge
Are non-smokers in overall good health

It’s also important for patients to have realistic expectations for what eyelid surgery can do. While this procedure can certainly enhance your appearance and may improve self-confidence as a result, it cannot alter your entire facial appearance or change the structure of your face.

Getting Ready for Blepharoplasty

We want you to have the best possible experience during your procedure and recovery. To ensure this happens, Dr. Hutchinson will provide you with precise instructions to be followed before your appointment. These instructions include recommendations for any pre operative evaluation by an ophthalmologist, as well as requirements for medical clearance and bloodwork prior to surgery. She will also talk to you about being an active participant in optimizing your wellness, including maintaining a healthy lifestyle, diet, and weight, avoiding smoking, and not taking medications that can increase your risk of complications.

Blepharoplasty Surgical Details

Dr. Hutchinson performs all surgeries either in her fully AAAASF accredited operating room at her Upper East Side office or at one of her affiliated NYC hospitals.

The blepharoplasty procedure is most often performed under monitored local anesthesia with intravenous sedation.

Patients may choose to have this procedure on either their upper or lower eyelids or on both upper and lower eyelids concurrently.

Depending on these choices, the procedure can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes.

If the upper eyelids are being treated, Dr. Hutchinson will make an incision along the natural crease of the eyelid. Once this incision is made, she may remove fat deposits, excess muscle, and loose skin to create a more youthful, awakened appearance.

For the lower eyelids, Dr. Hutchinson’s scarless procedure uses a transconjunctival approach.

This involves operating from within the inside of the lower lid, which leaves no visible scar. Alternatively, an external incision may be made just below the lash line so that excess skin can be removed.

After the eyelid lift surgery is performed, the incisions are closed with sutures, which will be removed after 5-7 days.

A transconjunctival lower eyelid blepharoplasty does not require any sutures.

What Other Procedures Complement Blepharoplasty?

For even more noticeable results, some patients may benefit from additional facial rejuvenation procedures performed at the same time as their eyelid surgery. These procedures include brow lift, facelift, neck lift, and rhinoplasty.

The skin of the lower eyelid may also be smoothed and tightened with a resurfacing procedure such as microneedling, a chemical peel, or laser treatment, which creates smoother skin with fewer wrinkles. In patients with loose lower eyelids or those whose eyelid shape is suboptimal, additional techniques such as a canthopexy or canthoplasty may be performed to stabilize or reposition the lower lid.

Recovery

After your blepharoplasty, Dr. Hutchinson may recommend applying eye drops, lubricating ointment, and cold compresses to aid the healing process and minimize side effects such as swelling, bruising, irritation, or dry eyes. It is essential that you maintain head elevation during recovery.

Patients can usually return to work within a few days but should avoid exercise and strenuous activities for two weeks.

Swelling and bruising usually subside within a couple of weeks after surgery. Dr. Hutchinson will give you specific and detailed instructions on how to care for your eyes after blepharoplasty surgery.

Results

Eyelid surgery results become apparent as swelling and bruising resolve and will continue to improve for several weeks after surgery. The scars from an eyelid lift are usually imperceptible and will fade with time until they are virtually invisible. The incision is hidden in the crease of the eyelid in an upper blepharoplasty. In a lower blepharoplasty, it is placed inconspicuously just below the lower lashes or completely hidden inside the eyelids.

Blepharoplasty is designed to produce long lasting results, with permanent removal of the skin, fat, and muscle. While surgery cannot prevent your eyes from aging, most patients are extremely satisfied with their results and notice a significant improvement in their appearance.

What are the Risks of Blepharoplasty?

As with any surgical procedure, there are certain risks. Although rare, these include bleeding, infection, dry eyes, eyelid malposition, and an inability to fully close the eyes. Many of these risks can be minimized by choosing an experienced surgeon such as Dr. Hutchinson and closely following proper care instructions after surgery. You can discuss these risks, along with any other concerns you may have, with Dr. Hutchinson during your consultation to better understand and reduce anxiety about your eyelid surgery.

Your Blepharoplasty Consultation

Before your eyelid surgery, you will meet with Dr. Hutchinson for a consultation so that she can formulate a personalized treatment plan for you. She will meet with you within an elegant, quiet, and unhurried ambiance where you can feel relaxed and comfortable asking her anything. Here’s what you can expect during your consultation:

You will have a comprehensive, in-person discussion with Dr. Hutchinson where she will go over your medical history.
You will be given the opportunity to explain what bothers you about your eyelids, as well as the results you want to achieve with the procedure.

Dr. Hutchinson will perform a detailed physical examination of your face so that she can assess your unique physical features.
Dr. Hutchinson will take “before” photographs to provide additional information when discussing your eyelid surgery.
Dr. Hutchinson will discuss your surgical options for blepharoplasty and will then develop the ideal customized surgical plan for you.
You will be provided with detailed information about what to do before and after your eyelid surgery.
You will be given the opportunity to ask any questions you have.
If you decide to proceed with surgery, you will be given the opportunity to schedule your blepharoplasty.

Assessing the Current Appearance of Your Eyes

In order to help you understand what results can be achieved with an eyelid lift and what the right option for you is, Dr. Hutchinson will discuss specific details and physical characteristics of your eyes and eyelids. Factors that may affect your results include the following:

The amount of upper eyelid skin excess you have
Your degree of upper eyelid fat protrusion
Volume and function of muscles around the eyes
Presence of low positioned upper eyelids (“ptosis”)
The eyebrow position
The extent of lower eyelid fat bags
Lower eyelid tone and laxity
The position of the lower eyelids relative to your eyes
The prominence of your eyes
Any asymmetry between eyelids
Any prior scars and surgery

Why Choose Dr. Hutchinson for Eyelid Surgery?

Dr. Olivia Hutchinson seeks to exceed her patients’ expectations and provide the highest level of care for each individual patient. A diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, she has advanced specialized training in aesthetic plastic surgery. Considered one of the top plastic surgeons in New York City, Dr. Hutchinson is frequently sought out due to her outstanding credentials from Harvard and Columbia and excellent results that her patients appreciate. If you’re interested in eyelid surgery with Dr. Hutchinson, contact us online or call us at (212) 452-1400.