One of the most common procedures I perform is an upper eyelid blepharoplasty or eyelid lift. Often this surgery is performed as an outpatient in my Denver office which takes 30 minutes to an hour and recovery is one to two weeks. Patients have bruising and swelling for a couple weeks. Most patients are extremely happy after getting their surgery.
The upper eyelid lift or blepharoplasty is one of the most transformative procedures that can be done to the face by an eyelid specialist. As a surgeon who performs this procedure extremely regularly I found that patients feel refreshed, feel their eyes are more open and look younger very often. Sometimes the eyelids are more open so the patient feels their vision has improved. A cosmetic upper eyelid blepharoplasty is not covered under insurance unless the skin is actually over the eye and hanging over the lashes.That being said even cosmetic patients feel that their field of vision has increased which is an awesome side effect.
Why are patients so happy with an upper eyelid blepharoplasty ? In my office in Denver when I speak to my patients after they had their surgery they often feel that the sad or tired look of their eyelid has improved. Friends feel they look refreshed or younger. With a lower eyelid blepharoplasty where puffiness of the lower eyelid is also reduced. Some patients combine both of these together . I often find that patients in their 40s and early 50s will really benefit from an upper eyelid blepharoplasty alone. It is truly a transformative procedure for them . They often haven't developed the puffiness of the lower eyelids that an older patient will have. (There are some patients who inherit puffiness the lower eyelids resulting in the need for a lower eyelid blepharoplasty In their 40s). Most often, it is the upper eyelid blepharoplasty that helps refresh these patients looks and gives patients an enhanced appearance.
The question is are you a good candidate for upper eyelid blepharoplasty? You may or may not be to be honest. Do you have loose upper eyelid skin that's resting on your lashes ? Do you have skin those obscuring the platform of your eyelid? The platform of the eyelid is the area of the eyelid where women commonly put eye shadow on. Its the area between the eyelash and the eyelid crease . Patients will notice that it becomes harder and harder to put eye shadow on or when they do put eye shadow or mascara on, the makeup blends all over the upper eyelid and eyelid crease . This may be an indication that upper lid blepharoplasty may be for you.
There are some patients that have drooping of the eyelid which is called ptosis. That is treated with a completely different surgery . I feel that often patients who need ptosis surgery receive a blepharoplasty from nonspecialists resulting in the eyelids appearing still droopy and not refreshed. Is important to see a plastic surgery eyelid specialist in order to determine what is the exact correct procedure for you. There are many unscrupulous doctors who will recommend surgery no matter what your eyelids look like. They'll perform a blepharoplasty when one is not indicated . If that is the case it can sometimes make you age and have a worse appearance. There are cases were nonsurgical filler may be helpful instead of blepharoplasty to refresh the eyelid appearance . I often see patients who come for second opinions from other surgeons. There are occasions where these patients are unhappy through no fault of the surgeon however the most common reason I find patients in my office who are there for a second opinion is unnecessary surgery.
I hope this helps give you an idea of how an upper eyelid blepharoplasty or eyelid lift can be helpful for a patient. If you're interested in considering upper eyelid blepharoplasty I'd recommend having a consultation with me in my office in Denver . If my office is too far and you want to see a local doctor I recommend ordering my book on Amazon called "so you want to get your eyelids done". It can give you the ends and outs of eyelid surgery for patience. Many patients in other states from California to New York to Florida order and read the book before they get eyelid surgery themselves. I hope that this has been helpful and I wish you the best of luck.