HomeFacial RejuvenationEyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty)

What Are the Benefits of Eyelid Lift Surgery?

Blepharoplasty, also known as cosmetic eyelid surgery, can create a more youthful look by removing, lifting, and smoothing excess skin and fat from the upper and lower eyelids. Experience and award-winning board-certified plastic surgeon Christine Petti, MD can perform this procedure on the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both, depending upon your unique needs and cosmetic goals. Eyelid lift surgery offers many aesthetic improvements and advantages for patients with concerns about the appearance of aging eyes, including:

Eyelid lift surgery can be performed on its own or in conjunction with other facial procedures, if more extensive rejuvenation is desired. Dr. Petti commonly performs eyelid lift as a complement to brow lift and facelift surgeries. Application of injectable dermal fillers and wrinkle relaxers can also help create smoother, more youthful-looking eyes for patients with crow’s feet, vertical creases between the brows, and under-eye hollows.

Am I a Candidate for Eyelid Lift Surgery?

Men and women who have noticed visible signs of aging around the eyes may potentially be good candidates for eyelid lift surgery. Patients bothered by loose skin above the eyes, hooded upper eyelids, loss of upper eyelid contour, and bags beneath the eyes may be good candidates and experience the aesthetic benefits of blepharoplasty.

If eyelid surgery is not a viable option, Dr. Petti may suggest alternative treatments that can accomplish your goals. Only a personal consultation with Dr. Petti can assess if you are a good candidate for eyelid lift. During your customized consultation, she will perform a thorough exam and medical history review to determine whether an eyelid lift is right for you.

Patient Before-And-After Photos
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What Happens During the Eyelid Lift Procedure?

Dr. Petti’s surgical skill and keen aesthetic instincts allow her to perform this delicate procedure with exacting precision. Typically, when combined in one operation, upper and lower blepharoplasty can be performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia.

Upper eyelift can be performed alone or combined with a direct eyebrow lift through the natural upper eyelid skin fold under local anesthesia as an office procedure with oral medications and lidocaine anesthesia.

If you are having an upper eyelid lift, the procedure begins with an incision along the natural eyelid crease. Through this incision, Dr. Petti can remove fat deposits, recontour fat, and tighten the skin. Next, she removes the appropriate amount of excess skin to achieve a smooth, natural-looking result that is not overly tight. Finally, she closes the incisions with tiny sutures. For the lower eyelids, Dr. Petti hides the incision in the lower conjunctiva (pink mucosal inner lining) of the lower eyelid. Without the use of a visible external scar, she can access, remove, and relocate fat deposits through this incision. No sutures are used for closure of the transconjuctival lower eyelid incision.

Following the eyelid surgery, the eyelid skin is tightened with laser resurfacing and/or RF microneedling, as indicated. Cool iced gauze and small bags of frozen peas are applied to the eyelids to complete the procedure.

“Dr. Petti and her staff are wonderful! Her ability to listen to what areas I want to focus on and putting together a plan of action to get the results I want are exactly what I need.”
- Jennifer L.

What About Recovery After an Eyelid Lift?

The precise length of your recovery after an eyelid lift will depend on the extent of your procedure and your natural healing capabilities; however, typically Dr. Petti’s patients require about one to two weeks of rest before returning to work and other regular activities. Mild bruising and swelling are common and tend to dissipate quickly as you heal. Before your surgery, Dr. Petti will thoroughly discuss proper post-operative care and what you can expect to experience following your procedure.

How Noticeable Are the Results of Eyelid Lift Surgery?

Over the course of her career, Dr. Petti’s patients are thrilled with their results—brighter, energized, smoother, and naturally vibrant eyes as the result of her eyelid lift surgical techniques. Her careful and customized approach to eyelid lift helps create soft, natural-looking results that appear symmetrical and balanced. 

Many patients feel that they look years younger and often receive compliments from friends and family about how refreshed and rejuvenated they look. For those interested in examining actual results, we encourage you to explore eyelid lift before-and-after photos featuring Dr. Petti’s patients.

How Long Do Eyelid Lift Results Last?

When performed by an experienced plastic surgeon like Dr. Petti, blepharoplasty results can be long-lasting, with many patients enjoying a refreshed appearance for 10 years or more. Upper eyelid surgery often yields especially enduring results, though natural aging will continue over time. Lower eyelid surgery, which targets puffiness and under-eye bags, can also provide lasting improvement, but factors such as sun exposure, stress, and skin care can influence how smooth the lower eyelid skin remains as time progresses. 

While this procedure doesn’t stop the aging process, it can create a rejuvenating transformation. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, routine use of sun protection, and consistent medical skin care regimens can help extend your results. In the majority of Dr. Petti’s patients, her non-surgical treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic, Sculptra Aesthetic® biostimulant/volumizer, dermal fillers, such as Restylane® HA gel, Eyelight, CO2 laser resurfacing with CoolPeel®, Tetra Peel, and Vivace Ultra RF microneedling, may be recommended later to maintain a more youthful look without additional surgery.

Additional Eyelid Lift Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions about eyelid lift surgery or other facial rejuvenation procedures we offer, we invite you to contact our practice to schedule a consultation with Dr. Petti.

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