There are two types of blepharoplasties. An upper blepharoplasty helps remove excess skin and/or fat in the upper eyelid. A lower blepharoplasty removes excess skin and/or fat in the lower eyelid. These procedures can be done in combination or separately depending on your areas of concern. For more information on treating the upper eyelids, please refer to our upper blepharoplasty page.

The benefits of lower blepharoplasty are unique to each individual. A lower blepharoplasty can:

• Remove the loose skin and remove extra fat that make the eyes appear heavy or tired
• Reduce under-eye “bags”
• Enhance the overall appearance of the face
• Improve self esteem
• Create a more youthful appearance in the eyes

In addition to deciding whether a lower blepharoplasty can meet your personal goals, there are several factors to be considered in determining whether you are a good candidate for a breast lift. Good candidates for a lower blepharoplasty include those who:

• Have excess skin in the lower eyelids
• Have a puffy appearance in the lower eyelids that makes the eyes look tired
• Have fine wrinkles of the lower eyelids

While lower blepharoplasty can address a variety of concerns, it does have limitations. It is important to know these limitations and to understand when you may be a candidate for a different type of surgery. A lower blepharoplasty cannot:

• Address crow’s feet around the outside of the eyes
• Correct skin quality or pigmentation issues; this may require other treatments such as chemical peels or laser resurfacing procedures

A lower blepharoplasty, also known as lower eyelid recontouring surgery, is performed in a surgery center with sedation or general anesthesia. The lower eyelid incision may be hidden inside the eyelid or fall into the natural crease of the lower eyelid, making it barely noticeable once it heals well. The extra skin is removed, and any extra fat is also removed or redistributed to create a smooth contour of the lower eyelid. If the incision is in the crease below the lower eyelid, it is closed using a small stitches, which are removed in the office after a few days.

You will spend a short time recovering after your procedure before a friend or family member takes you home, where you should plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and to stay with you at least the first night. We will advise you on pain medication to ease any discomfort, give you detailed post-operative instructions, and schedule a follow-up appointment to check your progress.

You can expect to have swelling and perhaps some bruising after your eyelid surgery. There is little discomfort, though, and most people need to take pain medication for only a day or two after the surgery. You can return to work quickly, with most people taking off a long weekend. You may need to take off 1-2 weeks if you have a job that requires face-to-face client contact, and you want your appearance to be optimal. You will have some activity restrictions initially, but most people are able to return to full activity by 3-4 weeks after surgery.

Please visit our My Consult page to learn more about what happens during your consult.

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