What to Expect with an Eye Lift

Your eyes are one of the first areas to show signs of aging. The unique characteristics of the delicate skin around the eyes make it more prone to wrinkles and sagging. For many men and women, genetics and aging can cause drooping eyelid skin and puffy under-eye bags that create a constantly sad, tired or grumpy appearance. For some people, excess eyelid skin can actually sag over the eyes and begin to impair vision, lowering their quality of life while also diminishing their appearance.

If you, like many patients, are unhappy with how aging skin has affected the area around your eyes, you may be a good candidate for blepharoplasty. Also known as cosmetic eyelid surgery or an eye lift, blepharoplasty is usually a minimally invasive procedure that tightens eyelid skin and eliminates under-eyes bags. At Daines Plastic Surgery, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Daines helps his patients look and feel younger with blepharoplasty. If you are considering an eyelid lift or have already scheduled a procedure, make sure you understand every step of the process before moving forward.

Learn About Blepharoplasty During Your Consultation

The first step to eliminating your bothersome eyelid skin is scheduling a consultation with a board-certified facial plastic surgeon. During a consultation, your surgeon will discuss every aspect of blepharoplasty to ensure you have all of the facts before choosing to undergo surgery. If you have any questions about the procedure, recovery, cost or results, your surgeon will be able to answer them in-person. They will also perform a thorough evaluation to accurately determine if and how you can benefit from eyelid rejuvenation.

Blepharoplasty can be performed on either the upper or lower eyelids, depending on your needs. Many patients also opt for a comprehensive procedure that addresses both sets of eyelids for total rejuvenation. Every step of your surgery will be outlined during your consultation, and your surgeon will help you decide which method is best for your needs. Once you have determined the specifics of your procedure, you and your surgeon can schedule a date for your surgery.

Recovering from Your Procedure

After your blepharoplasty procedure, you are free to return home and begin your recovery. Depending on which type of anesthesia you and your surgeon decided on, you may still feel groggy immediately following surgery. You will be advised to rest as soon as you get home and minimize any activity so your body can focus exclusively on healing. You may notice some side effects, including blurred or double vision, dry eyes, watery eyes and sensitivity to light. These temporary side effects usually last for 24 to 48 hours.

Other surgery-related side effects will be evident as well, including swelling, bruising and tenderness around your eyes. Make sure you don’t touch your eyelids or do anything that could harm your stitches while they heal. If you wear contacts or eyeglasses, your surgeon will provide you with instructions on when to resume usage without harming your eyelids. Sunglasses are often helpful while recovering to protect your vulnerable eyes from wind and sunlight while they are sensitive.

After a few days of rest, you should be able to gradually resume normal activities. Most patients find themselves back at work after about a week and resume more strenuous activities in two to three weeks.

What You Can Expect from Your Results

Just a few days after blepharoplasty, your rejuvenated appearance will start to become visible. Your eyelids will be trimmed and tightened, eliminating sagging and loose skin that affected your appearance and may have impaired your vision. If you underwent a combined upper and lower blepharoplasty, your upper and lower eyelids will look smooth and youthful, and any unsightly under-eye bags will be eliminated. Exactly what your results will look like depends on your treatment goals, and your surgeon will help you visualize your final appearance ahead of your surgery so you know exactly what to expect.

Once your swelling subsides and any bruising heals, you can start enjoying your final results. While the gradual effects of aging will continue to affect the skin around your eyes, your eyelids should never sag as much as they did prior to surgery. The removed skin and under-eye bags will not return; blepharoplasty results are lifelong.

What About Scarring?

Scarring is often one of the first questions on patients’ minds when considering any type of cosmetic surgery. Prominent scarring would distract from your results, forcing you to trade bothersome wrinkles and loose skin for unsightly scarring. Fortunately, the incisions used during blepharoplasty are minimal and hidden out of sight. All incisions are placed in inconspicuous locations, such as within the creases of the eyelids, along lower lash lines, or inside the lower eyelid. Once the incisions heal, any resulting scars are usually not visible.

Scars usually take up to 12 months to mature fully. Your sutures will be removed in about five to seven days, after which your incisions will start to fade. After about one year, your scars will look like thin white lines, if they are noticeable at all. Makeup can easily be used to conceal them, although the majority of patients find no need to worry about their minimal scarring.

Will Insurance Cover Your Blepharoplasty Procedure?

Insurance companies tend to treat blepharoplasty as a cosmetic procedure and do not consider it medically necessary. As a result, blepharoplasty is not commonly covered by health insurance plans. In some instances, insurance companies may cover the procedure on the upper eyelids if the sagging skin has significantly impaired the patient’s vision. In these cases, patients may need to complete a vision assessment and send photographs to their insurance to receive coverage. Lower eyelid blepharoplasty is rarely covered by insurance.

At Daines Plastic Surgery, we offer financing for qualified patients through Care Credit and Alphaeon Credit. If your insurance has decided not to cover your procedure or you are interested in financing plan options, we would be happy to assist you with the application process.

Schedule Your Blepharoplasty Consultation at Daines Plastic Surgery Today

Patients in Orange County and Newport Beach can enjoy life-changing results with a blepharoplasty from renown facial plastic surgeon Dr. Daines. With a background in both otolaryngology and facial plastic surgery, Dr. Daines is uniquely qualified to perform blepharoplasty with precision and skill. Dr. Daines and his team are committed to exceptional patient care. To learn more about blepharoplasty and find out if it’s right for your needs, call Daines Plastic Surgery today at 949-209-1622 and schedule a consultation.