Upper Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Lift)

“Your eyes are the window to your soul.” Eyes are the most important and noticeable feature of someone’s face in Los Angeles. The eyes and surrounding structures go through changes throughout life. These changes include loss of elasticity, skin stretching, sagging, fat redistribution, and increased or decreased pigmentation. There can be puffy or excess skin in the upper eyelids, causing the eye fold platform (where makeup is placed) to be covered and also creating an older, tired eye appearance.

Upper eyelid blepharoplasty (sometimes referred as an “eyelid lift”) involves removing excess loose skin (and sometimes fat), giving the eyes a more youthful appearance with a more visible eyelid platform. Upper blepharoplasty may be combined with other reconstructive or cosmetic eyelid procedures, such as upper eyelid ptosis surgery (droopy eyelid surgery) and brow lifting, as each can contribute to a “heavy” or “droopy” upper eyelid area. For instance, if the eyebrow has drooped, it causes more skin to be “pushed” down to the upper eyelid area, causing excess skin, hence brow lifting may be necessary for such patients.

Upper Blepharoplasty Technique

Excess loose upper eyelid skin is excised through a hidden incision in the natural upper eyelid crease line. Care is taken to preserve existing fat in this region (except the medial section) as fullness to the upper eyelids is more youthful. In fact, this procedure is sometimes combined with fat or filler injection into the upper eyelid/brow area for those with hollow area. If the eyelid is droopy (ptosis), the muscle that raises the lid can also be tightened (ptosis surgery). Upper blepharoplasty is also often combined with lower aesthetic blepharoplasty (“Quad-blepharoplasty”), brow lifting, and other cosmetic eyelid or facial procedures.

Am I A Good Candidate For Eyelid Lift Surgery?

An upper blepharoplasty is often performed for cosmetic reasons (cosmetic upper blepharoplasty) and essentially give the eyes a more youthful, rested appearance. However, reconstructive upper blepharoplasty is done for those patients with significantly sagging upper eyelids, with skin covering the eyelashes, who want to improve eye comfort and to improve peripheral vision.

It is extremely important to NOT remove too much skin (or fat) from the upper eyelids, as it can lead to a dreaded unnatural, surgical look, or worse, inability to close the eyes (lagophthalmos), dry eyes, etc. Even less skin removal is recommended for male cosmetic upper blepharoplasty to avoid a feminine appearance. Asian upper blepharoplasty also differs from Caucasian blepharoplasty. Please visit the following link on our website for Asian blepharoplasty.

You might be a great candidate for blepharoplasty in Beverly Hills if you have any of the following:

• If you have wrinkled, saggy, loose upper eyelid skin.
• If you have lost (hidden) natural eyelid crease/fold.
• If you have puffy pouches of fat in the eyelids that create a tired, aged appearance.
• If you have excess eyelid skin that interferes with peripheral vision.

Eye Surgery Description

Excess, loose upper eyelid skin is removed through a hidden incision in the natural upper eyelid crease line or eyelid fold. It is critical to preserve the eyelid fat (with few exceptions) as fullness in the upper eyelids is a sign of youth, hence the term youthful. In fact, this procedure is sometimes combined with fat or filler injections into the sunken upper eye and brow area for those with a hollow eyelid area. If the eyelid is also droopy (ptosis), the muscle that raises the upper lid can also be tightened (ptosis surgery) to actually open the eyes, as merely skin removal during upper blepharoplasty will not achieve that. Upper blepharoplasty can be combined with lower aesthetic blepharoplasty (“Quad-blepharoplasty”), brow lifting, canthoplasty and other cosmetic eyelid or facial procedures, if necessary, to give best cosmetic result.

Upper blepharoplasty is performed under local anesthesia with oral sedation (similar procedure as having a dental procedure) in the office or local anesthesia with IV sedation (similar to that used for colonoscopies) in an outpatient surgical center, with quick recovery. With the patient relaxed, the eyelid is numbed. The patient is able to open and close his/her eyes during the procedure, with comfort, which helps the surgeon achieve the best possible result, correct for any eye asymmetry, etc.

For more information on eyelid lift surgery, visit WebMD.com.

Post Operation Recovery

The recovery process after reconstructive or cosmetic upper blepharoplasty is practically painless, with bruising/swelling for about 7-10 days. Vision remains intact since no patch is needed. The sutures are taken out about 1 week after surgery (although absorbable stitches can also be used), at which time the person can resume normal activities.

Who Should Perform Upper Blepharoplasty Surgery?

Natural results are key to any cosmetic procedure, especially when it comes to the eyes. Dr. Taban is an oculoplastic specialist (reconstructive and cosmetic eyelid plastic surgeon), with expertise in cosmetic blepharoplasty and revision blepharoplasty surgery. He is double board-certified by the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS), the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO/AAO), and a diplomat of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS).

During your consultation for blepharoplasty with Dr. Taban in Beverly Hills/Los Angeles or Santa Barbara, he will evaluate your eyes and face, and come up with a detailed surgical plan, customized to each individual patient, depending on their exact anatomy/problem and desired goals. Dr. Taban will discuss any other complimentary cosmetic procedures, such as lower blepharoplasty (eye bags removal), droopy eyelid (ptosis) surgery, canthoplasty, brow lift, and eyelid fat injection, that may be performed at the same time to achieve the best NATURAL looking, youthful cosmetic result.

Before & After Surgical Treatment Photos

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Next, read about the lower blepharoplasty surgery.