To “rejuvenate’ means to restore something to a state when it was fresher, younger, or more lively. Thus, eyelid rejuvenation refers to making your eyelids appear younger. In order to rejuvenate your eyelids, a series of procedures may be performed such as an eye-lift also known as blepharoplasty (a surgical, procedure used to remove skin and remove or add fat to the eyelids to reduce bagginess from lower eyelids and excess skin from the upper eyelids). This procedure is typically performed for cosmetic reasons, but may also be used to improve vision in older adults whose sagging upper eyelids interfere with their vision. In most cases where your upper eyelids interfere with your vision, your insurance company may pay for your surgery.
Since an eye-lift alone will not eliminate dark circles under the eyes, wrinkles, or crow’s feet, it is often performed in conjunction with other eyelid rejuvenation procedures. Filler injections of Restylane®, laser skin resurfacing, chemical peel, or other non-laser technology techniques may be used to obtain the desired appearance.
Reasons for Eyelid Surgery
- Bags under the eyes
- Fine wrinkles and excess skin on the lower eyelid
- Folds that disturb the natural contour of the upper eyelid that may lead to vision impairment from loose or sagging skin
- Puffiness in the eyelids due to excess fatty deposits
- Drooping of the lower eyelids that reveal white below the iris
Most eyelid rejuvenation procedures can be performed under local anesthesia as an outpatient. However, you may elect to be put to sleep. Whether your procedure involves your upper or lower eyelids, your surgery will typically take no more than two hours to complete; if there are no complications, you may be discharged within an hour.
Recovery usually consists of using ointment and cool compresses to reduce bruising and swelling during the first 48 hours following surgery. Bandages, placed over the incision site or sites, will be removed in several days, Stiches, if any, can remain in the skin for about a week – self-absorbing stitches do not require removal. Normal activities can usually be resumed within 7 to 10 days; and by two weeks, most bruising and swelling will resolve.
FLEI’s Dr. Gil Epstein is an active member of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and is a fellowship-trained surgeon in ocular plastic surgery with over 35 years of experience performing eyelid surgery and eyelid rejuvenation techniques. If you’d like to make an appointment to find out if you’re a candidate for eyelid rejuvenation, call (954) 741-5555.
