What Is Blepharoplasty?
Eyelid surgery improves a tired appearance by correcting excess skin, sagging and fat pockets on the upper lid, and puffiness, fat herniation and laxity on the lower lid.
Upper eyelid blepharoplasty
- Correcting a sagging appearance
- To remove the skin that narrows the field of vision
- Reducing signs of aging and making makeup application easier
Lower eyelid blepharoplasty
- To reduce under-eye bags
- Removing excess skin, improving a tired appearance
- Maintaining valve position
Upper eyelid: approximately 30 minutes, sedation/general; lower eyelid: approximately 1.5 hours, usually general anaesthesia. No overnight stay is required.
Swelling/bruising is normal in the first week; sutures on the upper lid are removed on day 7, and for the lower lid you can return to social life within 7–10 days.
The incisions are hidden in the eyelid crease/at the base of the lashes and become less noticeable over time.
In the first week swelling and bruising are normal; upper-lid stitches are usually removed on day 7, and the lower lid returns to social life in 7–10 days. Full resolution of the fine swelling can take a few weeks.
The incisions are hidden in the natural crease of the upper lid and at the lash line of the lower lid and become indistinct over time. When a skin incision is not needed on the lower lid, it can be done from the inside of the lid (transconjunctival) with no external scar.
The results are long-lasting; the removed skin and fat do not come back. However, since the ageing process continues, new laxity can develop over time.
If the excess skin in the upper lid demonstrably blocks the field of vision, the procedure can be considered functional (medical) rather than aesthetic and may be evaluated under social security in certain conditions. Coverage varies according to the person, the hospital and current legislation.
For eye-area make-up and contact lenses, it is usually recommended to wait until the stitches are removed and healing progresses (about 1–2 weeks); your surgeon determines the exact timing.