Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty

Quintessence Plastic Surgery is proud to serve Austin, West Lake Hills, Davenport, Rob Roy, Steiner Ranch, Northwest Hills, and surrounding areas.

Eyelid surgery (also known as blepharoplasty, an eye lift, an eyelid lift, or undereye bag surgery) is a relatively quick and minimal surgical solution to help correct either a “tired” appearance or a visual obstruction. Dr. Aisha White routinely performs eyelid surgery in Austin as an outpatient procedure.

Eyelids often begin to look puffy or droopy over time. If your upper eyelids sag and block your visual field, upper eyelid surgery may improve how much you can see. This can also address fine wrinkles. Lower eyelid surgery can help reduce the appearance of puffy eyes or drooping lower lids.

What Is Eyelid Surgery?

In upper and lower blepharoplasty, excess skin and fat in the upper and lower eyelids are removed surgically. Eyelid surgeries may be performed in conjunction with other non-surgical procedures (chemical peel, botulinum toxin) to rejuvenate the appearance of the tissues around the eyes and make a tremendous difference in your appearance.

The blepharoplasty procedure can make you look younger and refreshed. It is derived from two Greek words: Blepharon, which means “eyelid,” and plassein, which means “to form.”

When Should You Get Eyelid Surgery Done?

• Excess fat, skin, and sagging muscle tissue on your upper eyelid: This can cause eyes to look puffy, heavy, and aged. It can cause droopiness, which can affect your appearance and sometimes even your vision.
• Excess fat, skin, and sagging muscle tissue on your lower eyelid: This makes you look perpetually tired and haggard. Just a little bit of tissue alteration can completely take away the tiredness, making you look younger and rejuvenated. No more puffy bags!

How an Eye Lift Rejuvenates Your Eyelids

Eyelid surgery addresses bagginess. The constant tired look on your face could be due to the bags formed under your eyes. Sometimes, it’s simply genetics. Once those appear, they’re there to stay.

Bags under the eyes usually form due to lack of sleep and stress. Even if you are able to get back your sleep and be stress-free, the bags remain. To take care of these bags, you need a lower eyelid lift. It removes the excess tissue and fat that causes the bags.

Blepharoplasty can also take away several years from your face. Bright, energetic eyes can immediately make you look younger. Removing the extra skin that has started to droop gives a lift to your upper and lower eyelids. It can smooth out fine lines on the eyelids and can do wonders for your appearance.

The best way to get a sense of what an eyelid lift can accomplish is by viewing the eyelid surgery before and after photos in our gallery. Having realistic expectations for this procedure is key.

Upper Blepharoplasty

The upper blepharoplasty procedure is specifically used to address one or both of the upper eyelids. It reduces fine wrinkles and tightens sagging upper eyelids that cause a tired appearance or obstruct a patient’s vision. When drooping upper eyelids interfere with peripheral vision, upper blepharoplasty is considered a functional procedure.

Upper eyelid surgery is recommended for people who have excess skin on their upper eyelids due to aging or genetics. Heavy upper lids can also be caused by descending eyebrows, which can be addressed during a different procedure called a brow lift. A brow lift may be paired with upper blepharoplasty to improve one’s appearance and reduce vision obstruction.

During an upper blepharoplasty procedure, excess skin and sagging muscle tissues are removed from the upper eyelid region. Skin and muscle tissues are also tightened.

Lower Blepharoplasty

Lower eyelid surgery is a way of surgically recontouring and tightening one or both lower eyelids. This cosmetic procedure addresses eyelid sag and puffy bags under the eyes.

During a lower blepharoplasty procedure, excess fat is removed and/or repositioned to give the lower lid a smoother appearance. Sagging skin is also removed.

View Blepharoplasty Gallery

The Eye Lift Procedure

Many people choose to get both upper and lower eyelid surgery performed. In these cases, upper blepharoplasty is typically performed first.

The operation typically lasts for a couple of hours. After administration of anesthesia, fine surgical incisions are made. For upper eyelid blepharoplasty, the incision is made in the natural crease at the top of the eyelid. For lower eyelid blepharoplasty, the incision is made right beneath the lash line.

Another option for the lower eyelids is transconjunctival blepharoplasty. For this method, the incision is made on the inner side of the lid. It is the best method for fat and tissue removal, but the technique may not be the best approach if you also want to remove excess skin.

Preparation and Recovery

Before the operation, a consultation is held with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Aisha White. During this session, you will be given a thorough examination and the chance to discuss the procedure and the healing period. During this session, ask anything at all!

You will learn what to expect in terms of recovery so that you can be prepared with artificial tears, cold compresses, gauze, and anything else you may require once you’re home after the surgery. The better you follow the post-surgical care directions, the better your chance of a speedy and complication-free recovery.

You will need to arrange for a ride home after the procedure, since you will not be able to drive immediately following blepharoplasty. The post-surgical swelling in the area takes about two weeks to fully subside. Within a week to 10 days, you should be able to get back to your normal everyday schedule. Avoid heavy lifting for a week after the surgery.

Eyelid Surgery Cost

Factors like the number of eyelids being corrected (unilateral, bilateral, or quadrilateral blepharoplasty), the techniques being used, and the total time the surgery takes all help to determine the price of an eyelid lift. In cases where blepharoplasty is being performed to correct a functional issue, eyelid surgery cost may be partially or fully covered by the patient’s health insurance provider.

Schedule a Consultation to Find Out More About Blepharoplasty Surgery

To learn more about eyelid surgery in Austin and what it can do for your eyes, contact the office of Dr. Aisha White for a consultation. Dr. White is an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon with years of experience who can help you reach your aesthetic goals.