BALTIMORE, MD

What is Blepharoplasty?

Excessive eyelid skin or bags under your eyes can give you a tired or aged appearance. Blepharoplasty, or “Eyelid Lift,” can be performed to restore a youthful, refreshed look by treating excess or baggy tissue.

Facial plastic surgeon Dr. Samuel Hahn of the Maryland Center for Facial Plastic Surgery performs eyelid lifts for patients throughout Baltimore, Towson, Columbia, and surrounding communities looking to restore a refreshed, youthful appearance.

Blepharoplasty, often referred to as eyelid surgery or an eyelid lift, is a surgical procedure performed to rejuvenate the eyes by removing or repositioning excess eyelid skin and soft tissue. This can be performed for functional (e.g. vision impairment) and aesthetic reasons.

What are the Benefits of an Eyelid Lift?

Blepharoplasty can be performed to rejuvenate the eyes. Eyelid surgery can offer the following benefits:

Restore a more youthful and refreshed appearance of the eyes

Remove bags under the eyes

Alleviate impaired vision due to excessive eyelid skin

Asian eyelid surgery or “double eyelid surgery” is a common procedure performed on the upper eyelid crease to create the supratarsal crease in the upper eyelid.

During the surgery, excess eyelid skin and fatty deposits may be removed, and the eyelid muscles are repositioned.

By heightening the natural crease, this cosmetic surgery can make the eyes appear more open, make it easier to apply eyeshadow, and give droopy eyelids a refreshed look.

Many patients would like to treat their tired-looking eyes but would like to proceed with a conservative approach to correct these concerns. With the advent of Botox and dermal fillers like Juvéderm and Restylane, there are many options to help reduce wrinkles, fill in hollows, improve dark circles, or redistribute volume to provide an alert, awake, youthful appearance to the eye region.

These types of treatments offer an alternative to cosmetic eyelid surgery when treating your eyes.

How is a Blepharoplasty Performed?

In upper lid blepharoplasty, excess skin along the upper lids is carefully marked and removed through meticulous incisions involving the natural upper lid crease line. Through the incision, additional sculpting of excess fat can be performed.

Lower lid blepharoplasty is performed through an incision hidden inside the lower lid. This technique helps minimize potential retraction and scarring of the lower lid compared to an external incision.

Through this incision, excess fat can be removed or transposed to fill in and smoothen any hollowness along the tear trough or lid-cheek junction. In cases of excess lower lid skin, a small amount of skin may be excised to better contour the lower lids.

Downtime & Recovery

Following an eyelid lift, downtime and recovery vary depending on individual healing processes, the extent of the procedure, and surgical technique. You will feel some discomfort the day of surgery, however, any mild pain will subside within a few days after surgery. Typically, patients can expect some swelling and bruising around the eyes, which usually subsides within the first week or two.

During this time, it’s essential to follow post-operative care instructions, including using cold compresses and ice packs to reduce swelling and avoiding strenuous activities that may strain the eyes to avoid the risk of complications.

Most patients can resume normal activities within a week or two, although it may take several weeks for swelling and bruising to completely disappear.