Droopy, puffy lids are such a drag—literally! They can make you look older, angrier, and more tired. But eyelid lift surgery (blepharoplasty) is a safe and effective solution. By removing excess skin, fat, and tissue surrounding the eyes, an upper or lower eyelid lift can take years off your appearance. In some cases, an eyelid lift can even improve your field of vision.
If you’ve been considering upper or lower eyelid lift surgery or are curious about the type of recovery and results you might expect afterward, be sure to keep reading …
Upper Eyelid Lift
As we age, the thin, delicate skin surrounding our eyes loses firmness and gradually wrinkles and bunches. During upper eyelid lift surgery, we make small incisions—usually in the natural crease of the eyelid—to remove excess skin that droops over the eyelid. The remaining skin is lifted and tightened, leaving you looking more youthful and alert. Results generally last 5 to 7 years or more.
Lower Eyelid Lift
Lower eyelid surgery targets under-eye bags, wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness caused by fatty deposits that accumulate as we age. Like upper eyelid surgery, we trim away excess fat, skin, and muscles, if necessary. We may also redistribute the fat under the eye to improve facial volume. The good news is that results can last indefinitely.
Nonsurgical Eyelid Procedures
Perhaps you don’t want to undergo surgery or can’t set aside enough downtime to recover. You may be a good candidate for UPNEEQ® for upper eyelids, an FDA-approved nonsurgical alternative we offer at The SPA. These eye drops are prescribed to lift and tighten sagging eyelids and improve eye functionality without surgery. However, this medication is most effective for men and women with mild or moderate drooping of the upper eyelids.
For patients with more extreme upper eyelid drooping, we recommend a surgical approach to help you achieve optimal results. Depending on your needs and skin condition, we may also recommend pairing eyelid lift surgery with procedures such as dermal fillers, BOTOX® Cosmetic, brow lift surgery, or traditional facelift surgery.
Eyelid Lift Recovery: What To Expect
The eyelid lift recovery process is manageable, especially if you know what to expect. For your reference, here’s an eyelid lift recovery timeline overview:
- Swelling and bruising are most prominent 2 to 4 days after surgery. While you may have some lingering light swelling for several months after surgery, swelling and bruising mainly diminish within 1 to 3 weeks.
- If stitches were used to close your incisions, they’ll be removed 7 to 10 days after surgery.
- You can likely return to work and nonstrenuous activities 7 to 10 days after surgery.
- Resuming workouts after 3 to 4 weeks is OK if your surgeon approves.
- Results are achieved after 2 to 3 months.
Have we opened your eyes to the benefits of eyelid lift surgery? Let’s assess your facial rejuvenation options and determine if upper eyelid or lower eyelid lift surgery is right for you. We encourage you to request a consultation or call us at (850) 219-2000 to schedule an appointment.
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