Cosmetic eyelid surgery, called blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure to improve the appearance of the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both, and give a rejuvenated appearance to the surrounding area of your eyes, making you look more rested and alert.

Specifically, eyelid surgery can treat:

		Loose or sagging skin that creates folds or disturbs the natural contour of the upper eyelid, sometimes impairing vision
		Excess fatty deposits that appear as puffiness in the upper eyelids
		Bags under the eyes
		Droopiness of the lower eyelids, showing white below the iris (colored portion of the eye)
		Excess skin and fine wrinkles of the lower eyelid

Eyelid surgery is usually performed on adult men and women who have healthy facial tissue and muscles and have realistic goals for improvement of the upper and/or lower eyelids and surrounding area.

You should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else’s desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image. Good candidates are:

		Healthy individuals who do not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing
		Non-smokers
		Individuals with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for blepharoplasty
		Individuals without serious eye conditions

What to expect during your consultation

Be prepared to discuss:

Dr. Vartany will also:

Preparing for surgery

Prior to surgery, you may be asked to:

		What to do on the night before and the morning of surgery
		The use of anesthesia during your procedure
		Post-operative care and follow-up

Dr. Vartany will also discuss where your procedure will be performed. Blepharoplasty may be performed in an outpatient or ambulatory surgical center, the office or a hospital.

Procedural Steps:

What happens during eyelid surgery?

Step 1 - Anesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Dr. Vartany will recommend the best choice for you.

Step 2 – The incisions

The incision lines for eyelid surgery are designed for scars to be well concealed within the natural structures of the eyelid region.

Droopy conditions of the upper eyelid can be corrected through an incision within the natural crease of the upper eyelid allowing repositioning of fat deposits, tightening of muscles and tissue, and/or removal of excess skin.

Conditions of the lower eyelid may be corrected with an incision just below the lower lash line. Through this incision, excess skin in the lower eyelids is removed.

A transconjunctival incision, one hidden inside the lower eyelid, is an alternate technique to correct lower eyelid conditions and redistribute or remove excess fat.

Step 3 –Closing the incisions

Eyelid incisions typically are closed with sutures that are removed 3 to 5 days after the surgery.

The decision to have eyelid surgery is extremely personal and you’ll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable.

Possible risks of eyelid surgery include:

If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heart beats, call Dr. Vartany immediately. Should any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment.

The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure. Another surgery may be necessary.