Eyelid Lift in Atlanta, GA

Blepharoplasty is the term used to describe a surgical procedure to remove excess tissue and puffiness from the eyelids. It is also commonly called an eyelid lift.

The eyelid skin is the thinnest skin on the body. This causes the eyelids to be one of the first areas to show noticeable and often troubling signs of aging. The skin begins to sag, muscles start to weaken, and skin tissue droops around the eyes, giving a hooded and tired appearance. Shadowy hollows appear below the eyes, while bags and excess fat appear more prominent. Loss of elasticity in the upper eyelid causes the lid to descend downward and rest on the eyelashes, negatively affecting appearance and vision. This visual change in the upper eyelids is why most insurance companies will cover this medically necessary procedure.

Blepharoplasty surgery – cosmetic surgery of the eyes or an eyelid lift – is performed to correct these problems and restore a more youthful, refreshed, and vital appearance to the eyes.

In the upper eyelids, for an upper eyelid lift, a hidden incision is made in the natural crease of the eyelid and the excess skin and muscle is removed. Any excess fatty tissue is also removed at the same time, and sutures are used to gently close the incision.

In the lower eyelids, for a lower eyelid lift, if puffiness is the only problem without much excess skin, an incision can be made inside the lower eyelid to remove or reposition the bulging fatty pads. This avoids the traditional skin incision and is called transconjunctival blepharoplasty (internal incision). If, however, there is significant excess skin in addition to puffiness on the lower eyelid, the traditional incision just below the eyelashes is used to allow for removal of that excess skin and is called external blepharoplasty (slightly visible external incision). The modern approach is to laser recondition the skin, thus avoiding the external scar and improving the actual quality of the skin surface.

Most patients are back to their normal routine within a few days, although complete recovery may take 2 to 3 weeks. Swelling, bruising, and some discomfort are part of the recovery process and can usually be alleviated with cold compresses and a mild pain reliever.