Home/Facial Surgery/Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty, is a procedure to help you battle the signs of aging, and more specifically, the signs of aging around the eyes. The upper eyelids often begin to droop as we age, and the undereyes can develop a puffy look that is often associated with exhaustion. Eyelid surgery works by tightening the delicate skin surrounding the eyes and diminishing the puffiness by removing excess fatty tissue. This leaves your eyes looking more open, giving you a more youthful, alert appearance.

Our Greensboro plastic surgeon, Mary Ann Contogiannis, MD, has extensive experience performing eyelid surgery. To learn more about the procedure, please explore the informative sections below. If you are ready to schedule a consultation, contact us today!

Who Is a Good Candidate For Eyelid Surgery?

Ideal blepharoplasty candidates are healthy adults who have reasonable expectations regarding what the procedure can accomplish. Though the procedure is most commonly performed as a purely cosmetic intervention, it can sometimes yield benefits for patients with minor vision impairment caused by loose, overhanging skin. Dr. Contogiannis will assess your eyelids, go over your ocular history, and listen to your goals during your consultation. From there, she can further determine whether eyelid surgery is ideally suited to your cosmetic goals.

“A very helpful professional for me… in more than 10 years now..a very good doctor.”

Deborah Luper

What Are the Benefits of Eyelid Surgery?

Eyelid surgery can have a range of positive impacts on both the appearance and function of your eyelids, and most patients are delighted with their results. Some of the possible benefits include:

  • A rejuvenated and well-rested appearance
  • Elevated confidence and self-image
  • Improved vision following skin removal from a droopy upper lid
  • Less need for makeup or concealer to hide wrinkles
  • Long-lasting results that can help you look younger, longer

Eyelid surgery is also often combined with facelift or brow lift procedures for more comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

bna-sample Before
bna-sample After
Gallery
bna-sample Before
bna-sample After
View Gallery

What Types of Eyelid Surgery Are Available?

Upper Blepharoplasty

Upper blepharoplasty is designed to address loose, sagging skin and excess fat concentrated in the upper eyelids. While often purely cosmetic, this type of blepharoplasty can potentially help improve some patients’ field of vision by removing redundant tissues that may fall in their line of sight.

Lower Blepharoplasty

Lower blepharoplasty is designed to help address undereye bags, discoloration, and sagging, with excess skin and fat being removed for a smoother, more youthful appearance. Lower eyelid surgery is often combined with upper eyelid surgery for more comprehensive aesthetic improvement.

Double Eyelid Surgery

Double eyelid surgery, sometimes also called “Asian blepharoplasty,” is designed to create a crease along upper eyelids that do not naturally have one, thus transforming a monolid into a double eyelid. 

How Is the Blepharoplasty Procedure Performed?

Dr. Contogiannis performs eyelid surgery in our outpatient surgical center using general anesthesia, so you will remain asleep throughout the operation. Small incisions are made following the natural lines of your eyelids to ensure they’re concealed as discreetly as possible.

Excess fatty tissue is removed along with excess skin, and Dr. Contogiannis may even remove some muscle when necessary. Fat is sometimes redistributed to smooth out any bulging or puffiness around the eyes. In cases where patients are worried about a hollow or sunken undereye appearance, Dr. Contogiannis can often perform facial fat transfer to help restore youthful volume to the area. 

What Is Recovery From Eyelid Surgery Like?

Recovery following eyelid surgery is typically relatively short. Stitches will be removed seven to ten following surgery, and full recovery is usually accomplished within a few weeks.

Pain is minimal for most patients and can usually be easily managed with medications or cool compresses. It will be important to keep your head elevated for several days. Activities that require some degree of eye strain—such as reading and TV watching—can be resumed within two or three days after surgery. In the meantime, we often recommend patients listen to music or download an audiobook to give their eyes as much rest as possible.

Dr. Contogiannis will give you personalized post-op instructions following your surgery. For the best possible recovery results, read and follow them as closely as possible.

Will I Have Eyelid Surgery Scars?

As with any surgical procedure, some scarring is always a possibility. That said, the incisions used during eyelid surgery are very fine, and Dr. Contogiannis has extensive experience placing them with optimal discretion in mind. For lower blepharoplasty, the incisions are typically hidden along the lower lash line, with most patients reporting that they are nearly invisible. During upper blepharoplasty, any potential scarring is carefully concealed within the natural creases and contours of the upper eyelids. 

How Much Does Eyelid Surgery Cost?

Eyelid surgery cost varies, since sometimes surgery is only done on the upper lids, sometimes on just the lower ones, and sometimes on both. Other variables will also be considered that may impact your final cost.

Costs for your specific case will be discussed during your initial consultation, and we can give you a personalized price quote at that time.

Some eyelid operations are done purely for cosmetic reasons, and most insurance companies will not cover them. If yours is done for functional reasons, insurance may cover some portion of the cost. You’ll need to check with your provider to find out their policy on eyelid surgery.

We strive to keep patient procedures as affordable as possible, so we’re pleased to be able to offer financing as an option for your eyelid surgery through Alphaeon® or CareCredit®.

Interested in learning more about blepharoplasty? Ready to schedule a consultation? Contact us today and a member of our team will be happy to assist you!