Frequently Asked Questions - Blepharoplasty

Regarding blepharoplasty, what methods are used? What about laser blepharoplasty? What's the difference?

The conventional upper blepharoplasty utilizes a crescent shaped incision located along the upper eyelid fold. Excessive skin and bulging fatty tissue is removed. The results give a rejuvenated appearance by sharpening the upper eyelid crease.

There are multiple options for the lower lid. Most lower lid blepharoplasties are of the skin-muscle type. This means that a very fine incision is made directly under the lash line and excess skin and fatty tissue (“bags”) are removed. The scar is very well hidden and is usually not noticeable at close range once healed. If the patient has a minor skin excess or wrinkles, the laser can also be used to tighten the skin.

Will having blepharoplasty affect how my contact lenses fit?

Blepharoplasty surgery only works on the skin and muscle of the eyelids area -- how your contact lenses fit is based on the shape of your eye itself. Although you won't be able to wear contact for the first few days after surgery (to allow time for the healing process to begin without disturbance) blepharoplasty surgery will not change how your contact lenses fit or function.

Why must brows be evaluated when considering upper blepharoplasty?

The upper eyelid, forehead and the brow must always be evaluated together. This is the key concept when evaluating cosmetic rejuvenation of this area.

Consider someone with descent of the forehead resulting in a low brow. The low brow causes skin to accumulate on the upper lid. This weight causes the person to unconsciously lift the brow until this weight is removed. This causes creasing of the forehead. If skin is removed during an upper blepharoplasty, this weight is reduced. This allows the brow elevators to relax and lower the brow until the skin piles up on the lid again and obscures the result of the upper blepharoplasty. This situation can be avoided by recognition of brow sagging and treating it with a brow lift.

When someone doesn’t have brow drooping, this situation does not occur.