Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty) – Huntington Beach & Newport Beach
Your eyes are one of the most expressive parts of your face. The widening or narrowing your eyes, which you might do unconsciously, can convey emotions without saying a word. You can even use your eyes to add more sincerity to your smile. However, because you rely so much on your eyes to communicate, the delicate eyelid skin can show signs of aging sooner than other parts of your face.
Many people have discovered the reasons to get an upper or lower eyelid lift to remove excess, drooping skin, resolve undereye bags, and remove years from their appearance. Is blepharoplasty surgery right for you? Reach out to Allure Anti-Aging and Aesthetics at (714) 804-5460 to schedule your consultation with our experienced head and neck surgeon, Dr. Sarah Vakkalanka.
What Is an Eyelid Lift?
An eyelid lift is a relatively straightforward procedure that addresses sagging skin and excess fat that accumulate in the upper or lower eyelids. Depending on the degree of aging you’re experiencing, you can choose to have an upper blepharoplasty, a lower blepharoplasty, or both.
Besides giving you a permanently sad, tired, angry, or unapproachable appearance, laxity in the skin of the eyelids can also impede your vision. You may wish to consider a blepharoplasty if you have:
- Sagging or drooping upper eyelids
- Loose skin that hangs over your eyes, obscuring your vision and making it harder for you to read or drive
- Excess skin on the lower eyelids, leading to prominent undereye bags or pouches
Take the Next Step
Want to learn more about how to achieve your desired aesthetic goals? Schedule a complimentary consultation to meet the friendly team at Allure Anti-Aging and Aesthetics.
Blepharoplasty’s Proven Benefits
An eyelid lift can significantly improve your appearance by making your eyes look naturally more refreshed and vibrant. The procedure has a short recovery period compared with other cosmetic surgeries, and it’s also highly customizable, depending on your aesthetic goals. For example, you can choose to combine your eyelid lift with other procedures, such as Botox or dermal fillers, for a full-face rejuvenation.
How Does Blepharoplasty Work?
In performing this surgery, Dr. Vakkalanka can reposition fat and muscle, remove excess skin, and tighten what remains for a more youthful appearance.
- In doing upper eyelid surgery, Dr. Vakkalanka will begin by making small incisions in the creases above the eyelids. Through these, she will remove excess skin and fat or make slight adjustments to the underlying muscles to achieve the desired appearance.
- The primary goal of lower eyelid surgery is to remove the pocket of excess fat that creates the appearance of heavy undereye bags. This procedure entails making tiny incisions either on the inside of the eyelids or around the lower eyelashes, based on whichever approach Dr. Vakkalanka decides will work better for you. Through these incisions, Dr. Vakkalanka will contour the undereye area by tightening the muscles and either removing or repositioning the fat deposits.
Who Is a Good Candidate for an Eyelid Lift?
The ideal candidate for eyelid surgery is a man or woman in good physical health whose eyelid appearance makes them look old, sad, or fatigued, or who has begun to struggle with upper eyelid skin affecting their vision.
You may consider getting an eyelid lift if you have:
- Droopy upper eyelids
- Eyes that always make you look sleepy or unhappy
- Shapeless upper lids that are obstructing your peripheral vision
- Excess skin and fat on your lower eyelids that create puffy pouches under your eyes
What to Expect During a Blepharoplasty
A blepharoplasty is an outpatient surgery that usually takes about an hour to perform while you are under anesthesia. Be sure to have someone available to drive you home from surgery, since you’ll likely remain groggy from the effects of the medication for several hours. It’s smart to ask that same person to stay with you at least for the first few hours of your recovery.
What to Expect After Getting an Eyelid Lift
incision sites, which you can minimize by applying cold compresses and sleeping with your head elevated. You may also experience dry eyes, excessive tearing, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light.
Plan to spend at least the first few days after your surgery resting comfortably at home. It’s likely your eyes will tire sooner than usual in the early stages of your recovery, so you should learn the signs of eye strain and take frequent naps or breaks to speed the healing process. Your regular leisure activities, such as watching TV or looking at social media, can put undue stress on your eyes and slow your recovery. As an alternative, listen to music, audiobooks, or podcasts with your eyes closed.
Most of Dr. Vakkalanka’s eyelid lift patients feel healed enough to return to work a week or two after their surgery. However, if your work entails heavy use of a computer or tablet, you may decide to take more time off or switch to a part-time work schedule to minimize the risk of prolonged eye strain as you continue to heal.
Maintaining Your Blepharoplasty Results
The best way to maintain a youthful appearance is to eat nutritious food, stay hydrated, get plenty of sleep, and have a skin care routine that includes both moisturizer and sunscreen. Choose a moisturizer that is gentle enough to protect the delicate skin around your eyes.
Eyelid Lift FAQs
What else should you know about blepharoplasty surgery? Keep reading to learn more.
Scarring is part of any surgery, but blepharoplasty surgery involves some of the smallest and most discreet scars of any cosmetic procedure. Dr. Vakkalanka takes great care with placement of incisions, and when they have fully healed, they’ll be virtually unnoticeable.
The primary goal of blepharoplasty surgery is to improve the look of the upper and lower eyelids, not the wrinkles around the eyes. If you’re experiencing those lines, ask about adding Botox to your procedure.
We ask that you refrain from strenuous exercise for three weeks following your procedure.
There is no such thing as a “target age” to get an eyelid lift or any other cosmetic procedure. Instead of the number of birthdays you’ve celebrated, you should consider factors such as your degree of eyelid aging and whether concerns over your appearance are negatively affecting your quality of life.
There may be some instances in which a blepharoplasty is not only cosmetically, but medically, necessary. For example, if your upper eyelid skin has become lax enough to obscure your vision, it could be dangerous for you to drive. In that case, you may be able to use your health insurance to pay for part or all the costs of your eyelid lift surgery. However, we suggest you contact your insurance provider to verify what they will cover. If your blepharoplasty is for purely cosmetic reasons, it’s likely you’ll need to pay for your surgery yourself.
Schedule Your Blepharoplasty Consultation
If this information has opened your eyes to the benefits of blepharoplasty surgery, reach out to us at Allure Anti-Aging and Aesthetics today. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!