What Is Blepharoplasty Eyelid Surgery?

The eyes are the first part of the face that people tend to notice.

But because they are so delicate, they are also one of the first places that show the visible signs of ageing.

If you see excess skin, droopy eyelids, or eye bags when you look in the mirror, you might be looking at the best way to refresh your appearance.

A good skincare routine alone will not fix them, so that leads most people to looking at eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty surgery.

But what is blepharoplasty eyelid surgery? And how can it help you look and feel younger again?

In short, blepharoplasty is an effective surgical procedure that helps to give you a more rested look. It does this by targeting excess eyelid skin and fat on the upper and lower eyelids.

Want to know more? Our experts at Doctors Tatiana + Rishi Advanced Aesthetics will talk you through the what, why, and how of upper and lower eyelid surgery.

Or, if you want to speak to Dr Rishi in-person, you can also book an initial consultation at our central London clinic.

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Blepharoplasty surgery or eyelid surgery is a popular surgical procedure that can open up and brighten the eye area.

It is designed to target and remove excess skin and excess fat from the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both. It also helps to tighten any loose skin around the eyes.

As we age, the delicate eye area starts to develop excess skin fat, drooping eyelids, and bags underneath the eyes. Not only does this impact your appearance, but it can also affect your visual field too.

There are two main types of eyelid surgery:

Upper eyelid surgery (upper blepharoplasty) – this treats sagging upper eyelids and excess eyelid skin

Lower eyelid surgery (lower blepharoplasty) – this treats puffy eye bags which are the result of excess fat or sagging skin.

You may opt for upper eyelids surgery, lower eyelids surgery, or both. The goal of any eyelid surgery is to provide a subtle, natural-looking rejuvenation to the eyes.

What concerns does blepharoplasty surgery treat?

We can use blepharoplasty to address the following concerns:

Dropping skin on the upper and lower eyelids
Eyebags that are the result of excess fat
Excess skin that affects the eye contour
A tired or heavy appearance around the eyes

While most patients choose eyelid surgery for cosmetic reasons, for others it can be a form of reconstructive surgery.

Eyelid surgery can correct functional issues such as sagging skin on the upper lids that is causing blurred vision.

Upper and lower blepharoplasty in more detail

Upper blepharoplasty

This form of surgery focusses on the upper eyelids. It is a good option for patients who have sagging skin or excess skin that makes them look older than they are, or even impacts their vision.

For this procedure, the surgeon will cut along the natural fold or crease of the upper lid. This helps them to remove excess skin and fat pads.

Lower blepharoplasty

A lower blepharoplasty targets excess fat on the lower eyelid and helps to reduce bags under the eyes.

The surgeon will make incisions at either side of the lower eyelids to remove excess fat and sagging skin.

Lower eyelid surgery can minimise puffy eyes and create a smooth natural contour under the eyes.

Upper and lower blepharoplasty combined

If you are looking for full eye rejuvenation, you may benefit from pairing upper and lower eyelid surgery in one procedure.

It helps to create a more balanced and harmonious look by treating sagging upper eyelids and reducing puffy bags under the eyes.

Can blepharoplasty improve blurred vision or just my appearance?

The good news is that blepharoplasty surgery can do both.

However, it will only work if the cause of your double vision is excess eyelid skin or droopy eyelids. In this instance, upper eyelid surgery can help by lifting the eyelids to improve your visual field.

Eyelid surgery opens up your eyes for a more youthful appearance. But it can also help improve issues such as watery eyes, dry eyes, and make wearing contact lenses more comfortable.

What happens during blepharoplasty surgery?

At Doctors Tatiana + Rishi Advanced Aesthetics, most blepharoplasty surgery is performed as a day case. This means you will not require an overnight stay in hospital and can return home the same day.

We typically perform eyelid surgery under local anaesthetic. However, depending on the extent of your surgery or your preference, we can also use a general anaesthetic.

During the procedure:

Dr Rishi will mark the treatment area where he will make the incisions
He will remove excess skin and excess fat where needed
He will close the incisions with fine stitches
An eye pad or light dressing will be applied to protect the eye area

The procedure can take between 1-3 hours, depending on what type of eyelid surgery will give you optimal results.

Are there any possible complications from a blepharoplasty procedure?

Any type of surgical procedure can come with risks and complications.

Potential risks can include:

Bruising and swelling around the eyes
Dry eyes or watery eyes
Temporary blurred vision
Excessive bleeding or infection
Blood clots (very rare)

If your procedure is performed by experienced facial plastic surgeons, the risk of complications are more rare.

At Doctors Tatiana + Rishi Advanced Aesthetics, you will have eyelid surgery with Dr Rishi. He is an experienced aesthetic surgeon who always puts patient safety and care at the heart of everything he does.

During your consultation, Dr Rishi will review your medical history, assess your skin condition, and skin concerns. This will help him develop a tailored treatment plan that will minimise any risks and give you the outcome you want.

We will also monitor you throughout the healing process, which will include a follow up appointment to check everything is progressing nicely.

What does blepharoplasty recovery look like?

The recovery process for blepharoplasty surgery is quite straightforward.

Most patients go back to their normal activities within 7 days. This is when bruising and swelling starts to settle down. It can take up to 14 days for it to fully settle.

To support the healing process, you should:

Use a cold compress to help manage bruising and swelling for the first 48 hours
Wear dark sun glasses to protect the eyes from sunlight in the first few weeks
Apply any prescribed eye drops or antibiotic ointment to keep eyes moist and reduce irritation
Wait two weeks before wearing contact lenses or applying make up
Avoid strenuous activity, including heavy lifting

How long do blepharoplasty results last?

Blepharoplasty results are long-lasting. For some they can last for around 10 years.

Any fat pads that we remove will not return, but the normal ageing process will continue and can lead to sagging or loose skin further down the line.

To help maintain your results for as long as possible, we advise you to:

Always wear high factor sun protection
Avoid smoking and maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle
Follow a good anti-ageing skincare routine

Some patients may also consider non-surgical treatments or further surgery later in life. This can help keep the eye area looking refreshed and younger for longer.

Book a consultation to find out more about blepharoplasty eyelid surgery

If you are thinking about eyelid surgery, the best thing you can do is get some expert advice.

The team at Doctors Tatiana + Rishi Advanced Aesthetics is here to help guide you through the procedure and what you can expect from the results.

Book a consultation at our London clinic to find out if blepharoplasty is the right option for you.

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