Eyelid Surgery

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.

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?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the average cost of cosmetic eyelid surgery is $3,359 for an upper blepharoplasty and $3,876 for a lower blepharoplasty. That said, eyelid surgery costs can vary, and the ASPS average represents just the surgeon’s fee. The total price will also be influenced by associated facility costs, anesthesia fees, and other considerations.

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^®.

Is Non-Surgical Blepharoplasty Possible?

While upper and lower blepharoplasty are the only treatments capable of addressing eyelid hooding, excess skin, and under-eye puffiness, there are certain non-surgical treatments available at our Greensboro medical spa that can still improve the appearance of your eyes. These options may include:

• Laser skin resurfacing: Laser and light treatments can be performed to tighten crepey eyelid skin and improve the overall tone and texture of the skin.
• Forma RF skin tightening: Radiofrequency skin tightening treatments can improve mild laxity and stimulate collagen production, helping smooth wrinkles and enhancing skin elasticity.
• Injectable fillers: Products like Juvéderm^® and Restylane^® can help fill under-eye hollows and smooth the transition between the eyes and cheeks.
• Neurotoxins: If you would like to soften crow’s feet and other dynamic wrinkles that form due to repetitive facial expressions, BOTOX^® Cosmetic offers a quick, convenient treatment to temporarily relax the muscles causing fine lines.

That said, non-surgical interventions cannot remove excess skin or significantly reposition fat pads, which are the main issues blepharoplasty is designed to address. For patients with substantial sagging, puffiness, or visual-field obstructions, non-surgical methods provide only mild improvement and are not considered true substitutes for surgical correction.

Are There Alternatives to Eyelid Surgery?

While eyelid surgery can help brighten and refresh the eyelid contours, the procedure may not be the best option for every patient — particularly individuals who feel they have a heavy or aging brow. For these patients, a brow lift can be particularly effective if upper facial aging is actually caused by a sagging brow rather than excess eyelid skin.

By elevating the brow to a more youthful positioning, the procedure can lift descended tissues, reduce forehead creases, and create a more refreshed appearance. Non-surgical treatments, such as BOTOX^® Cosmetic, can also achieve a subtle and temporary improvement in the brow, while minimally invasive skin tightening may improve mild laxity. Still, these alternatives primarily help patients with mild to moderate concerns. When significant excess skin or prominent fat protrusion is present, surgical blepharoplasty remains the most definitive and comprehensive solution.

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!