The eyes are often said to be the first feature that others will notice. However, unfortunately the eyes are also one of the first areas to show signs of aging. Sagging, puffiness, and drooping tissue around the eyes can give an unhappy, disinterested, and unhealthy look. To rejuvenate and refresh the appearance, Dr. Leonard Miller and the Boston Center for Facial Rejuvenation will often need to perform a blepharoplasty. This procedure can meticulously lift the lax tissue of the upper lids and reduce puffy bags below the eyes. The blepharoplasty not only improves one’s overall appearance of the eyes, the procedure can actually improve vision when impaired by drooping upper lids.
Although there is no way to turn back the clock, Dr. Miller’s blepharoplasty can dramatically restore a more youthful look. Providing excellent results on its own, the blepharoplasty can also be paired with Botox Cosmetic or a brow lift to eliminate stubborn facial lines around the eyes and across the brow.
About the Blepharoplasty in Boston
The blepharoplasty, sometimes referred to as an eyelid lift, is a surgical technique designed to lift and smooth the fragile tissue around the eye. As we age, the thin skin along the upper lid can begin to sag. This wrinkled, lax tissue can age one’s appearance, make applying makeup difficult, and in extreme cases, impair the vision. At the same time, the fat pads below the eyes may begin to push their way outward, causing under eye ‘bags’.
Dr. Miller’s innovative blepharoplasty technique can improve the lax skin and puffiness of the upper and lower eyelid through a simple, outpatient procedure, without a long or difficult recovery. Each area may be treated on its own, or the upper and lower lid blepharoplasty may be combined in one procedure.
Upper Lid Blepharoplasty:
- Lifts lax skin of the upper lid
- Removes puffiness inner corner of eye
- Creates brighter, more ‘open’ eyes
- Incision placed at the eyelid crease
- Scarring hidden in natural skin folds
Lower Lid Blepharoplasty:
- Reduces puffiness underneath the eye
- Removes excess crepey skin
- Incision placed under the lower lash line
- Scarring is well-concealed
The Ideal Blepharoplasty Patient
The ideal candidate for an eyelid lift will be someone who is in overall good health, yet is frustrated with thin, sagging eyelid tissue. Before moving forward, potential patients should understand the blepharoplasty procedure, the recovery requirements, and hold realistic expectations for their results. Although this surgical procedure will improve some degree of wrinkling around the eyes, the technique is not designed totally for this purpose. For those looking to smooth Crow’s Feet or ease fine lines around the eyes, Dr. Miller can recommend an additional technique(s).
To determine if a blepharoplasty is right for your needs, a private consultation with Dr. Miller will be scheduled at the Boston Center for Facial Rejuvenation. At this time, the surgeon will perform an exam of the facial tissues. He will review your medical history and discuss, at length, your aesthetic goals. After explaining the blepharoplasty procedure, along with the recovery requirements, it will be determined if the eyelid lift is the best treatment to achieve your desired look. If so, Dr. Miller will then outline a custom-tailored, blepharoplasty treatment plan.
The Blepharoplasty Procedure
Dr. Miller’s blepharoplasty procedure is performed at his fully accredited, state-of-the-art surgical suite in the Brookline office. IV or oral sedation techniques are commonly used. Depending on the individual patient, the procedure can take from one to two hours for either the upper and lower lids or both.
To address the upper eyelid, Dr. Miller will first place a thin incision along the natural eyelid crease. From here, the skin is separated from the subcutaneous layers. Dr. Miller can then remove the excess fat and excise sagging skin. Finally, Dr. Miller will place fine sutures along the incisions for proper healing. While scarring may occur with an upper eyelid lift, utilizing fine sutures means the incisions are well-hidden in the natural contours of the skin and remain inconspicuous.
The Transconjuctival approach is used during the lower lid eyelid lift. This technique is perfect for patients looking to eliminate the bulging fat pads and puffiness below the eyes. The lower eyelid surgery involves a small incision just below the bottom lashes inside the lid, meaning no visible scarring. From here, Dr. Miller can precisely remove the protruding fatty tissue, smoothing the contour of the lower lids.
What to Expect of Blepharoplasty
Patients should expect their blepharoplasty recovery to take from one to two weeks. Some swelling and bruising is common, although pain is usually minimal. For the first week after surgery, patients will need to avoid strenuous activities, such as vigorous exercise and heavy lifting. However, light daily tasks are not restricted.
Many people will be feeling good enough to return to work in five to ten days. A follow-up appointment will be scheduled with Dr. Miller about a week after surgery, to check on your healing progress and remove any remaining sutures. After these final sutures are removed, swelling and discoloration will quickly subside. Contact lens wear can be resumed after the first week post-op.
Dr. Miller’s state-of-the-art blepharoplasty techniques ensure that most patients are extremely happy with their results. The benefits of an eyelid lift will last for years to come. However, the skin will continue to change with age. For this reason, it is important to consistently follow a good skincare routine. Dr. Miller can suggest the best set of additional surgical or noninvasive services for maintaining your results.
Dr. Miller and his staff are truly top-notch! His staff are so kind and accommodating, and Dr. Miller is always very careful about creating natural-looking results. I’ve seen him for injectibles for a couple years now and am always pleased with the results. I recently had upper and lower eyelid surgery, and I couldn’t be happier! The pain was only a 1 out of 10 — much less than I was expecting — and after a week I was back to work looking refreshed.
The Cost of a Blepharoplasty
The exact cost of your blepharoplasty will depend on the extent of your surgery and if any additional procedures need to be performed. During the consultation appointment, Dr. Miller will determine the cost of your procedure. Although the eyelid lift is not covered by insurance, the Boston Center for Facial Plastic Surgery offers a variety of payment choices, including cash, all major credit cards, and healthcare financing through Care Credit. For more information on the eyelid life, or to schedule your consultation appointment, call the Boston Center for Facial Rejuvenation at 617.735.8735 or fill out our online Contact Us form.
Eyelid Lift FAQ
The blepharoplasty, also known as an eyelid lift, is an outpatient surgical technique, designed to lift the sagging, delicate tissue of the upper and/or lower eyelid and remove puffiness. The outpatient procedure brightens the eyes, reversing the signs of early aging. The results of a blepharoplasty will last for many years to come.
The ideal blepharoplasty candidate will be in overall good health, yet uncomfortable with the appearance of sagging, lax tissue around upper or lower eyelid. Patients should understand the procedure and have realistic expectations for their results. The blepharoplasty cannot eliminate fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes; a separate procedure may be recommended to improve Crow’s Feet or facial creases.
IV or oral sedation is generally used during an eyelid lift, keeping the patent comfortable during the surgery.
The recovery from a blepharoplasty procedure will take from one to two weeks. While minor swelling or bruising may occur, most patients are feeling well enough to head back to work five to ten days.
Dr. Miller’s expert blepharoplasty techniques are considered safe, with all scarring well-hidden within the natural folds of the skin and lash line.
