Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty)

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is a cosmetic surgery that corrects sagging or drooping eyelids as well as bags and bulges around the eyes. These conditions develop as a result of laxity of the eyelid skin and protrusion of fat around the eyes. It is not limited to older patients, as many individuals inherit a predisposition toward the development of fat pouches at an early age. Excess skin is treated by excision. If excess fat is present, it can be removed simultaneously. Care must be taken to not remove excessive amounts of fat to avoid a hollowing appearance with increasing age of the patient.

Most patients seeking eyelid surgery want a rejuvenated appearance that requires reestablishing the normal architecture around the eyes that was present when they were younger. Surgical correction is appropriate for all age groups. In some cases, the condition will be caused by other medical problems such as allergy or thyroid disorders. In these patients, the proper treatment may be medical rather than surgical.