Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty

What is Blepharoplasty?

Blepharoplasty is the most common cosmetic procedure Dr. Braunstein performs. Blepharoplasty restores a youthful and rejuvenated look to the eyes and the face, improves the sensation of โ€œheavinessโ€, and when severe, improves peripheral vision. It is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that is most commonly performed in her Morristown, New Jersey office with local injections of anesthesia. Upper eyelid blepharoplasty is a common procedure performed by many surgeons. However, it is a delicate surgery, which requires a unique understanding of the eyelid anatomy and a specialist to attain the desired results. Excessive removal of skin, fat or muscle can result in an unnatural appearance and cause complications. An experienced eyelid surgeon, like Dr. Braunstein, understands what a youthful beautiful eyelid looks like and can assess the individual needs of each patient. During your consultation, Dr. Braunstein will explain which procedure is best for you to get the most natural, long-lasting results.

Upper Blepharoplasty Procedure

  • Incisions are made in inconspicuous places in the creases of the upper eyelids.
  • For the first 48 hours after surgery the patients are instructed to apply ice to the eyelids for 20 minutes every hour while awake, rest, and keep the head elevated.
  • Early recovery may include swelling, bruising, mild discomfort, and eye irritation or dryness.
  • Patients return to the office 5-7 days after surgery for examination and suture removal.
  • Patients can usually return to regular daily activities 2-3 days after surgery but exercise and strenuous activity should be avoided until after the first post-operative visit.
  • During your appointment, you will receive more detailed instructions from our office. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call and ask.

What is an Upper Blepharoplasty?

Many people complain of droopy or heavy upper eyelids when there is excess eyelid skin. A true eyelid droop, called ptosis (pronounced โ€˜to-sisโ€™), is when the upper eyelid descends below its original or normal position and covers the iris (colored part of the eye) or the pupil. In many patients, there is no ptosis but rather excess upper eyelid skin that is sagging over and obscuring the platform above the eyelashes (limiting the use of eyeshadow or eyeliner). There may also be a component of droopy eyebrows, which further pushes the eyelid skin down. This results in an overall tired and aged appearance, compelling many to consider eyelid surgery.

To select the best procedure for a specific patient, the surgeon must assess whether there is an element of true ptosis as well as the position of the eyebrows. In addition, patients with severe dry eye may be poor candidates for eyelid surgery, as this condition can be made worse when the eyelid is lifted.

What Is The Blepharoplasty Procedure Like?

The surgical procedure to remove the excess eyelid skin and restore a more youthful eyelid (and overall facial) appearance, is called a blepharoplasty. Blepharoplasty is an in-office procedure done under local anesthesia. Light sedation can be used for patients who are anxious. The amount of skin to be removed is carefully marked in an upright position and then rechecks with the patient reclined to ensure that the eyes will close without difficulty after surgery. That amount may be slightly different on the two sides as most peopleโ€™s right and left sides of the face are not perfectly symmetric.

A local anesthetic is injected under the skin that has been marked. The incisions are placed in the eyelid crease to hide the scar. The patientโ€™s eyes remain closed during the surgery, which generally takes 30-60 minutes. The fat pads that are normally present in the eyelids can be trimmed or repositioned to contour the eyelid for a youthful appearance, which is concave closer to the nose and fuller at the tail of the brow. Non-dissolvable sutures are placed under the skin to minimize scarring and bandages may be placed to secure the sutures in place. These sutures will be removed after 5-6 days.

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