Upper Eyelid (Blepharoplasty) Correction Surgery

With aging, a patient may notice the upper lids feel “heavy.” This can be caused by the eyebrow descending, upper eyelid skin excess, or both. Upper blepharoplasty, or eyelid lift or eyelid correction surgery, is distinct from a brow lift, which elevates the eyebrow.

Reasons for undergoing an upper blepharoplasty may be purely cosmetic (to reduce the appearance of aging), functional (to reduce obstruction of vision by overhanging skin), or both.

Upper blepharoplasty involves reduction of the upper eyelid to improve visual obstruction caused by excess or overhanging lid tissue. Patients may seek cosmetic upper blepharoplasty with aesthetic concerns regarding overhanging skin, which may cause a less youthful appearance.

Clinical evaluation and management of both functional and cosmetic concerns is important as well as a clear understanding of risks and downtime as well as limitations. Not everyone who wishes to have eyelid surgery will be suitable and the consultation is designed to address this in the first instance.

The procedure itself may be done under local or general anesthesia; at Skin Essentials we only offer the procedure under local anaesthesia.

The procedure involves identifying and removing enough skin to improve the issue while preserving enough to allow normal eyelid closure. When the procedure is complete, the eyelid is closed with sutures. The incision lies in the eyelid crease, making it less visible after healing.

Typically, patients will have mild bruising or swelling around the eyes for 10 to 14 days. We recommend avoidance of physical exertion and makeup for 2 to 3 weeks. Glasses may be worn immediately, but patients will be instructed to avoid contact lenses for a few weeks.

Complications of blepharoplasty are relatively rare. The main issue to consider is removal of too much upper eyelid skin, resulting in difficulty closing the eye which may cause chronic dry eye issues and pose a risk of injury to the cornea. For this reason, conservative skin excision is recommended. Other complications include ptosis of the eyelid (due to injury of the levator muscles), asymmetry of the eyelids, or blindness, which is exceedingly rare.