How to Get an Eyelid Lift

Eyelid lifts, or blepharoplasties, are one of the most common cosmetic surgeries in the United States. An eyelid lift can improve a person's appearance dramatically. Over time, upper eyelid skin tends to become baggy and can cover the eyelid and its crease. The lower eyelids can become puffy and have baggy skin because of fat behind the eye that pushes forward. During the procedure, a surgeon excises excess upper eyelid skin and stitches the skin closed. He removes lower eyelid fat and tightens the skin. Most patients have both eyes done at the same time but may choose to undergo only upper eyelid or lower eyelid surgery.

Things You'll Need

• Old photos of yourself

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Instructions

• 1

  Interview surgeons in your area who perform blepharoplasties. Are they specialists in the eyes? Do they do a large number of these procedures? Ask to see before and after photos of patients. Bring old photos of yourself as a guide for the surgeons.

• 2

  Discuss with the selected surgeon what risks the procedure may entail. These may include dry eyes, abnormal healing, bleeding, scarring, infection, need for more surgery or in some cases vision loss.

• 3

  Schedule the surgery. Pay a deposit if the surgeon requires it. The deposit is intended to reduce the chance that a patient will cancel the surgery for trivial reasons and cost the surgeon money he spent on resources such as an anesthesiologist and facility for the surgery.

• 4

  Get medical clearance from your primary care doctor, who will check to make sure you are a good surgical candidate in terms of general health and ability to undergo anesthesia and heal well. Stop taking blood thinners such as aspirin for 10 days to two weeks before surgery, and Plavix and Coumadin a few days before. Your doctor can advise you on doing this safely. Stop taking any herbal remedies unless the surgeon says otherwise. Some herbal remedies promote bleeding.

• 5

  Wear loose and comfortable clothing to the surgery facility for easy changing into a surgical gown, or to give the anesthesiologist easy access to place an IV or surgical grounding pad. Undergo the procedure. You'll get a local injection of numbing medicine; other anesthesia may be an oral anti-anxiety medicine so you'll relax or an IV sedation that induces a twilight sleep similar to what you'd get during a colonoscopy. The procedure uses a CO2 laser, electrocautery unit with needle, or a surgical blade. It takes 20 to 30 minutes for upper eyelids and 35 minutes to an hour for lower eyelids, plus time in recovery.

• 6

  Follow your surgeon's recommendations after the procedure, including icing, elevating the head, reduction in exertion and application of antibiotic ointment. Most surgeons have patients ice for the first 48 to 72 hours. Elevate your head when you lie down to keep the blood away from the head and reduce pressure. Get your surgeon's contact information and call him if you have any reduction in vision, excessive sudden new pain in the eyes or sudden change in appearance after surgery. Some light bleeding and discomfort are normal; the surgeon may prescribe a pain medicine or just instruct you to use Tylenol.

• 7

  Return in one week for suture removal, at which time you'll still have bruising. Return in three months for a final check; by then most healing is complete, though small changes will occur over the next year. Undergo any small touch-ups at this time or pose for final photos.