Bags under the eyes, drooping eyelids, and sagging skin around the eyes make us look exhausted and tired as we get older. But you don’t have to put up with it. As a specialist in cosmetic surgery, I explain here how blepharoplasty can help you regain a fresh look – and how the correction of the upper and lower eyelid differs.
Lifting the eyes is a good way for women and men of any age to look younger and more alert again. Blepharoplasty, as eyelid correction is also called, is a relatively simple surgical procedure. It smoothes wrinkles around the eyes and removes, or at least reduces, sagging skin and fatty tissue on the upper and lower eyelids.
My patients who opt for blepharoplasty usually suffer from dark circles, bags under the eyes, or drooping eyelids. With eyelid correction, I can help them with these aesthetic problems and give them a fresh look around the eye area. The following article will give you a good overview of exactly what to expect from an eyelid lift, whether it is suitable for you, and when you should opt for an upper or lower blepharoplasty.
When is blepharoplasty useful and for whom?
Blepharoplasty is useful for people who are struggling with sagging skin on the eyelids, bags under the eyes, drooping eyelids, wrinkles, or other age-related changes around the eyes. If you are healthy and have realistic expectations of the result, you can address these cosmetic problems with eyelid correction – and boost your self-confidence in further consequence.
Dr. Kelly’s team will be happy to advise you in detail in advance about the expected result and the possible procedure. Once performed, the results of an eyelid lift last for around ten years on average – regardless of whether the upper or lower eyelid has been lifted.
The upper eyelid lift (upper blepharoplasty) is particularly suitable for:
- drooping eyelids
- sagging skin and wrinkles on the upper eyelid
- crow’s feet on the upper eyelid
The lower eyelid lift (lower blepharoplasty), on the other hand, is suitable for
- bags under the eyes
- sagging skin and wrinkles on the lower eyelid
- dark circles
How exactly do upper and lower blepharoplasty procedures work?
I usually perform each eyelid correction on an outpatient basis and under local anesthesia. It is therefore comparable to a dentist visit. Twilight sleep is also possible – and has the advantage that you will be sleeping through the entire procedure without noticing the operation.
In upper blepharoplasty, I concentrate on correcting problems in the upper eyelid area. During the procedure, I remove excess skin and fatty tissue from the upper eyelid to tighten the sagging skin there. As a result, the drooping eyelids are lifted again and the appearance improves to a great extent.
Lower blepharoplasty, on the other hand, focuses on problems in the lower eyelid area, such as bags under the eyes, dark circles or excess skin. Here too, I remove excess fatty tissue and tighten the skin. Experience has shown that my patients are very satisfied with their smoother and more youthful appearance as a result.
Can upper and lower blepharoplasty be combined?
Indeed, they can. It is perfectly possible to perform both upper and lower blepharoplasty in one surgical session. This allows me to correct all areas of my patients’ eyelids at the same time and achieve a particularly harmonious overall result.
Another nice side effect is that the downtime (healing time) is halved – two birds with one stone, so to speak.
Your healing process after blepharoplasty
The speed of healing after blepharoplasty varies from person to person. However, two weeks is a good guideline. Swelling, bruising, and slight pain often occur in the first few days after the operation. There is also a certain risk of infection, temporary dryness of the eye, and visual disturbances.
However, after a while, all of these symptoms subside on their own. Immediately after the procedure, the eyes should not be strained unnecessarily by watching television or gaming – otherwise, they will react with dryness or irritation. Most of my patients socialize again after a week.
Incidentally, my patients do not have to worry about scarring during blepharoplasty, as the incision is hidden in the eyelid crease and thus remains invisible.
The final result of an eyelid lift can usually only be seen after several weeks to months. I therefore always recommend that my patients take sufficient time for the healing process and give them lots of practical tips and useful instructions to take home with them – such as cooling the eyes immediately with a special cooling solution, cooling pads or cooling goggles, and elevating the head position with a pillow when sleeping. If you follow these aftercare measures, you can expect a good and quick recovery and a beautiful end result.
The advantages and disadvantages of eyelid correction
Without question, the advantage of lower and upper blepharoplasty is the more youthful appearance and the fresh, open look of a smoothed eye area. My patients, whose facial expression was previously impaired by drooping eyelids, dark circles or bags under the eyes, feel more comfortable and self-confident as a result. In some cases, the field of vision even improves.
However, the costs of eyelid correction and eyelid lifts are only very rarely covered by health insurance – namely when natural vision is impaired. In this case, there is a medical necessity from a health insurance perspective. The price of an eyelid lift for the lower eyelid is usually somewhat lower than for the upper eyelid.
