What to Know About Blepharoplasty

You might be surprised to learn that blepharoplasty was the fifth most performed plastic surgery in 2023 and the most performed facial procedure for both men and women, surpassing even the facelift. According to the latest American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) “Procedural Statistics” data, the year-over-year number of blepharoplasty surgeries increased by 12% for men and 4% for women between 2022 and 2023.

If you have concerns about eye bags or excess skin around the eyes, the plastic surgeons at Naples Plastic Surgery can consult with you and determine if blepharoplasty is right for you. With extensive success in delivering outstanding aesthetic results for their blepharoplasty patients in Naples, Drs. Paul Gardner, Leo Baccaro, Mark Walsh, and Andrew Bonett, will determine if blepharoplasty surgery is indicated to treat eyebags, sinking eyelids, drooping eyelids, and sagging skin around the upper and lower eyelid areas.

Blepharoplasty is Eyelid Surgery

Blepharoplasty is upper or lower eyelid surgery, an affordable way to subtly refresh the face by reducing droopy lids or erasing unsightly undereye bags to create a more alert, youthful, and rested look. While many people seek eyelid surgery for aesthetic reasons, it is also a corrective procedure that helps improve the vision of those whose sight is impaired by drooping eyelids.

The area around the eyes tends to be among the first to show signs of aging, even in younger people. As we age, our upper and lower eyelids stretch, and their supporting muscles weaken while excess skin and fat accumulate above and below the eyelids. This can cause the eyelids to sag and the formation of unsightly under eye bags and circles, making one look like they’re always fatigued.

When eyelid skin droops and sags to the extent to which it impairs vision, it’s treated as a medical condition known dermatochalasis, which may be covered by insurance.

How Blepharoplasty Surgery Corrects the Condition

Also known as an eyelift, blepharoplasty surgery rejuvenates the eye areas by removing excess skin, fat, and muscle in ways that keep the eyes open and looking bright and refreshed. Patients can opt for an upper eyelift, lower eyelift, or both depending on the degree and location of droopiness, sagging, and related eye-area skin concerns. With an upper eyelift, your surgeon makes a tiny incision in the eyelid fold, removing excess fat and skin and tightening the supporting eyelid area muscle. This alleviates the sagging and drooping to create a fresher, more alert appearance. Your surgeon performs similar actions with a lower eyelift, which they perform via an incision in the eyelash line or along the inside of the lid. By making the incisions in the eyelid creases and lines, your surgeon helps obscure the appearance of visible scarring.

Blepharoplasty surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and often can be completed relatively quickly. Since the surgery is less invasive than many other plastic surgery procedures, many patients opt to add eyelid surgery to be performed simultaneously with other facial rejuvenation procedures like a facelift or brow lift. This helps optimize the youthful-looking results many patients seek from plastic surgery.

Recovering from Blepharoplasty Surgery

Performed under local anesthesia and/or sedation, blepharoplasty surgery is not very painful, the procedure. After the surgery, the patient’s eyes are lubricated and they are sent home with a detailed list of aftercare instructions that include:

• Regular covering of the eye areas with an ice pack for the first 24 hours and a cool compress in the following days.
• Periodic application of eye drops or ointments.
• Sleeping and resting with the head elevated above the chest.
• The use of over-the-counter acetaminophen as needed.
• Wearing sunglasses when outside to protect the eyes from the sun and wind.
• No strenuous exercise or activities for a week.
• No smoking.
• Refraining from rubbing the eyes.

Patients typically experience light sensitivity, double vision, eye-watering, and blurry vision for a day or so after the surgery, but this subsides. The eye area will also experience some bruising and swelling that may last four to seven days. As the bruising and swelling subside, the patient’s refreshed, alert, youthful-looking eyes will become visibly noticeable.

Consult with Naples Plastic Surgery to Learn More About Eyelid Surgery

Our skilled surgeons customize every blepharoplasty surgery in Naples to meet each patient’s distinct functional needs and aesthetic goals. If you are concerned about the aesthetic appearance of your eyes, our skilled surgeons would be glad to discuss how blepharoplasty can easily correct bags, droopiness, excess skin, and other eye-area features. To schedule your blepharoplasty consultation, contact our office at 239.566.2611.