Aging skin tends to lose elasticity especially around the eyes, where excess and drooping flesh can make the face appear older. If the skin around your eyes appears saggy, wrinkled or puffy, blepharoplasty may be a good choice for you. Blepharoplasty is surgery aimed at eliminating excess skin, muscle and/or fat from sagging lower and upper eyelids. Although this procedure is most often performed for cosmetic purposes, it may also be done to correct a condition called ptosis, which causes eyelids to droop due to inadequate muscle tone or damage to the nerves.





How is Surgery Performed?



During the procedure, the surgeon creates incisions along the upper eyelid creases. If he or she needs to eliminate fat tissue instead of skin, the surgeon may also perform a transconjunctival blepharoplasty by cutting a minor incision along the rim of the outer skin of the eye. Once the surgeon makes the necessary incisions, he or she divides the fatty tissue and muscle away from the skin, so the excess fat, skin and/or muscle can be removed.





Surgery is typically performed while patients are sedated, or numbed and awake in a hospital, surgeon's office or outpatient surgery center. In certain situations, general anesthesia may be utilized based on the patient's needs and the surgeon’s policy.





The procedure typically takes up to three hours, with patients normally returning home within a few hours of completion. The patient's eyes are usually lubricated and bandaged post-treatment. Antibiotics and pain killers may be used to prevent infection and help with discomfort. In most cases, patients are discouraged from drinking alcohol, watching television, wearing contact lenses, or using makeup for a specified amount of time.

 

Cost

 

Because each surgery is individualized based on specific patient needs, the cost of eyelid surgery may vary; however, when facility, anesthesia and surgeon fees are totaled, the average cost tends to fall between $2,000 and $5,000. If surgery is intended to correct problems related to ptosis or some other medical need, insurance may provide coverage; however, if the procedure is aimed at improving physical appearance, patients usually are required to pay 100 percent of costs.

Make sure to always consult with a skilled and experienced board certified Florida Plastic Surgeon before undergoing eyelid surgery. There are many surgeons who specialize in Blepharoplasty, so please do your due diligence when electing to have any type of eyelid surgery procedure.