Upper Eyelid Surgery

Upper eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty is performed when there is excess skin to the upper eyelid that may cause hooding and a heavy appearance to the upper eyelid leading to a tired or unrested appearance. With upper blepharoplasty, this loose skin is removed and sewn back up. Occassionaly, excess fat in the corner of the eye close to the nose is excised.  

Some of my Houston eyelid surgery patients will ask if they will have trouble closing their eyes after upper eyelid surgery. If the proper measurements are taken prior to upper blepharoplasty, poor closure of the eye should not occur. Initially, complete eye closure may be delayed due to swelling, but this should resolve after about one week. Dry eye after upper eyelid surgery is not uncommon as the blink reflex may be slightly delayed during the first few weeks.

The cost of eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) varies with each plastic surgeon along with the complexity of the patient’s eyelids. Typically upper eyelid surgery is a straightforward procedure and less in price unless there is ptosis, commonly referred to as a lazy eye. However, revision upper blepharoplasty can be more costly as there is increased scar tissue and complexity of the eyelid.

There is typically a mild amount of bruising with an eyelid surgery. Blepharoplasty patients recover around 1 to 2 weeks after their surgery and can return to work and social activities.

Eyelid assymetry commonly occurs in the upper eyelids in many individuals. Concomitant eyebrow assymetry frequently occurs with this. Blepharoplasty or upper eyelid surgery or eyelid lift can makes these eyelids more symmetric while at the same time more youthful, vibrant, and alert. 

Upper eyelid assymetry can be corrected with blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery. The crease in the upper eyelid is created by a muscle and by changing where that crease is located and the amount of skin that is excised, eyelids can be made more symmetric with eyelid surgery.

The shape of your eyelid should not change after surgery aside from removing the excess skin surrounding the eyelid. The same almond shape will be retained.

The goal with eyelid rejuvenation is to have a refreshed, vibrant, and enlivened appearance. Once again, the objective is to provide an unoperated appearance and not to change the shape of the eye itself, but only reorient and shape the surrounding tissues.

Many older patients who have sagging upper eyelids or heavy eyelids wonder if eyelid surgery is covered by Medicare. Although you may feel you have some trouble with peripheral vision, this has to be proven by an ophthalmologist documenting peripheral visual fields loss and approved by your insurance company or Medicare in order to proceed with upper eyelid surgery.

At Funk Facial Plastic Surgery, we do not accept insurance for upper eyelid surgery as we do not measure peripheral visual fields and feel that upper eyelid surgery is a cosmetic procedure predominantly to improve the appearance of the eyes and provide a more rested, refreshed look.