Opening Up the Eyes for Better Vision

Posted December 20, 2017 in Eyelid Lift

Blepharoplasty (or eyelid surgery) is commonly requested and performed for strictly aesthetic purposes. Your eyes are responsible for conveying your emotions, and heavy, drooping eyelids typically result in only being able to show a limited range of expressions. Instead of showing happiness and excitement, your sagging eyelids may make you look tired, sad, and older than you are. However, cosmetic purposes aren’t the only reason to undergo eyelid surgery. This extra skin above the eyes also contributes to another, more serious concern: obstructing your vision by limiting your visual field.

How Can Blepharoplasty Help Your Vision?

The skin on your eyelids is among the thinnest skin on your body, and as you age, the skin begins to stretch as the underlying muscles weaken. Skin that has severe sagging can impair and obscure your vision as the added weight of the skin makes it more difficult to open your eyes all of the way. Blepharoplasty removes the extra skin and fat deposits from above the eye, making your eyes appear more youthful and also allowing you to regain your full field of vision. If there is additional sagging above the eyebrow, Dr. Persky may recommend that you also consider combining a brow lift with your blepharoplasty, as the excess skin above the brow can also become a weight on the eyes.

How Is Blepharoplasty Performed?

Upper blepharoplasty is performed under local anesthesia in our office. Dr. Persky makes a small incision in the natural crease of your upper eyelid so that the scar will be inconspicuous. Fatty deposits and a small amount of muscle may be removed, but in most cases today, volume of the eye socket is preserved and only excess skin is trimmed before the incision is closed with sutures. The sutures remain in place for five days. By one week, patients are allowed to use eye makeup to cover any redness or residual bruising. You may experience swelling and bruising for one to two weeks after the procedure. Once the skin incision scar returns to normal skin color after a few weeks, it is very difficult to see the scar hidden in your natural eyelid crease.  

Are You a Candidate?

Blepharoplasty can greatly improve the overall look of the eyes for patients who experience drooping eyelids and excess eyelid skin. Ideal blepharoplasty candidates should be in good general health and have realistic expectations. Schedule your personal consultation with Dr. Persky, and he will evaluate your needs to determine if you are a candidate.