The Russian Doll "Upper Eyelid Surgery"

Upper eyelid surgery can make you look younger – Here’s what you need to know

People consider upper eyelid surgery also called upper blepharoplasty for getting rid of droopy eyelids. This surgery helps in removing and tightening the excess eyelid skin so that your eyes get a younger appearance.

The upper eyelid surgery can remove the excess skin, muscle and sometimes, fat from the upper eyelids. In some cases, only the skin has to be removed and not the muscle. Upper blepharoplasty can also boost your vision as droopy eyes lead to obstruction of the vision.

Note: Upper eyelid surgery should not be confused with upper eyelid ptosis which raises the position of the upper eyelid margin by tightening both the tendon and the muscle.

Functional Blepharoplasty:

Eyelids become droopy and saggy with age too and eyebrows also drop because of the same reason. The eyelid skin stretches, fat pockets become prominent while they bulge, and the muscles weaken as well. Compared to cosmetic blepharoplasty, functional blepharoplasty is performed for medical reasons like for removal of loose skin from the upper eyelid if it droops too low and hinders your vision while driving or other tasks.

Another functional problem could be the difficulty to wear contact lenses or glasses from baggy upper eyelids. Some medical conditions may also require you to get an upper eyelid surgery. Discomfort in the forehead area because of extra strain on the muscles to lift sagging skin in the eyelid area and irritation from the excess folds of the eyelid skin rubbing together.

One thing to remember is that aging is a natural process and it will continue. Like any other cosmetic procedure, eye lift will not last forever you might have to repeat the procedure at some point in the future if you want to improve your appearance. Depending on the health and other factors, an upper blepharoplasty can last for a decade even.

The Surgery:

You can get the eyelid surgery on upper eyelids, lower eyelids or even both. The surgeon makes incisions in the natural folds of the eyelid. These are made in the crease of the upper eyelid, beneath the lashes or behind the lower eyelid. This way, when the healing process completes, the incisions are almost unnoticeable. The surgeon will see how much skin along with muscle and/or fat has to be removed based on the factors like your bone structure, underlying facial muscle structure and the symmetry of the eyebrows.

Patients with dry eye require less tissue removal during the upper eyelid surgery in order to avoid overexposure of the eyes to the air that worsens the dry eye symptoms.

The Cost:

The cost of upper blepharoplasty varies. There is a number of factors such as the country or region you live in, the fees of the surgeon, the subspecialty of the surgeon along with the facility where the surgery is performed along with the extent of surgery you need. The prices for upper eyelid surgery can range from $2000 for a simple procedure or $5000 for a complicated one.