Blepharoplasty, also known as an eye lift, is a procedure to correct the sagging or drooping of the eyelids and the removal of excess fat, skin and muscle. As we age, it is common to see a difference in the eye area — more laxity, bags below and above the eye; sometimes so much that the upper lid seems to disappear underneath the extra fatty area under the brow bone. Even with good skincare and eye care, wrinkles, puffiness and drooping eyelids will catch up to you. Genetic factors and body chemistry can cause these aging effects in younger people. Blepharoplasty can give a more youthful appearance to an otherwise older, more tired looking, face.
Blepharoplasty surgery can also treat a medical condition called ptosis (drooping eyelid), which is caused by poor muscle tone or nerve damage. Ptosis causes the eyelids to hang very low and block vision. Blepharoplasty treats drooping eyelids, but not drooping eyebrows or wrinkles. Blepharoplasty is often performed with another cosmetic surgery such as a brow lift or facelift to improve droopy eyebrows, crow’s feet and facial sagging.
There are two types of blepharoplasty: Upper eyelid blepharoplasty and Lower Eyelid blepharoplasty. The upper lid blepharoplasty removes excess skin, fat and/or muscle from the upper lid. The goal of a lower lid blepharoplasty is to remove excess bags and sometimes trip some skin at the lash line to tighten the under eye skin.
