Eyelid surgery will give you a more youthful appearance.

As we get older, the skin loses its elasticity, and when you add in the effects of gravity, excessive skin begins collecting in the upper eyelids, which causes drooping eyelids. For lower eyelids, age causes loosening of the skin and the underlying muscle.

Good candidates for eyelid surgery are adult men and women who have healthy facial tissue and muscles. In addition, candidates for this procedure should have realistic goals as to what the surgery can accomplish.

Blepharoplasty may be an option if you have:

• Baggy or droopy upper eyelids
• Excess skin of the upper eyelids that interferes with your peripheral vision
• Excess skin on the lower eyelids
• Bags under your eyes

You may undergo blepharoplasty at the same time as another procedure, such as a brow lift, face-lift or skin resurfacing.

Before scheduling blepharoplasty, you will meet with your plastic surgeon to discuss:

• Your medical history. Your surgeon will ask questions about previous surgeries and past or current conditions, such as dry eyes, glaucoma, allergies, circulatory problems, thyroid problems and diabetes. Your doctor will also ask about your use of medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
• Your expectations. An honest discussion of your hopes and motivation for surgery will help set the stage for a satisfactory outcome. Your surgeon will discuss with you whether the procedure is likely to work well for you.

Before your eyelid surgery, you'll undergo:

• A physical examination. Your surgeon will conduct a physical examination, which may include testing your tear production and measuring parts of your eyelids.
• A vision examination. Your eye doctor will examine your eyes and test your vision, including your peripheral vision.
• Eyelid photography. Your eyes will be photographed from different angles. These photos help with planning the surgery, assessing its immediate and long-term effects.

And you'll be asked to:

• Stop taking warfarin, aspirin, ibuprofen and any other medication or herbal supplement associated with increased bleeding. Ask your doctor how long before surgery you need to stop taking these medicines. Take only medications approved by your surgeon.
• Quit smoking several weeks before your surgery. Smoking can reduce your ability to heal after surgery.

If you have surgery on your upper and lower eyelids, the surgeon generally works on your upper lids first. He cuts along the fold of the eyelid, removes some excess skin, muscle and possibly fat, and closes the cut.

On the lower lid, the cut will be just below the eye lashes in your eye's natural crease or inside the lower lid. The excess fat will be removed or redistributed, loose muscle and sagging skin will be corrected, and closes the cut.

If your upper eyelid droops close to your pupil, your surgeon may do blepharoplasty with a procedure called ptosis that provides additional support to the eyebrow muscle.

With most blepharoplasty procedures, patients experience fast and uncomplicated recoveries. Immediately after the surgery, you will have an ointment and paper tape strips applied to your eyelids to reduce swelling and discomfort. Cold compresses, icing and rest are also encouraged.

We recommend that patients use moisturizing eye drops during the first few days after surgery in order to reduce swelling.

Some bruising and swelling around the eyes is common and to be expected following the procedure, and will last anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks.

To expedite recovery, patients should:

1. Keep their head elevated while sleeping
2. Use ice or cold compresses to reduce swelling – especially during the first two days following surgery
3. Drink plenty of water
4. Avoid exertion and get plenty of rest
5. Avoid wearing contact lenses for at least 72 hours

Most patients will take a week or so off of work following the procedure.

Many people express satisfaction with the results of blepharoplasty, such as a more rested and youthful appearance and more self-confidence. For some people, results of surgery may last a lifetime. For others, droopy eyelids may recur.

Scars from the surgical cuts may take months to fade. Take care to protect your delicate eyelid skin from too much sun exposure.