Do your eyes look tired or angry?

• Do you have fat or excess skin on your upper or lower eyelids?
• Are sagging upper eyelids obscuring your field of vision?
• Do you have deep “tear troughs” under your eyes?

An eyelid lift can correct these conditions, giving you a younger, more vibrant look.

What is an eyelid lift?

An eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, is a plastic surgery procedure to remove excess fat and skin and reshape the upper or lower eyelids—or both. Age and heredity can play a role in the shape and appearance of your eyelids. If yours are making you look tired—or even obstructing your vision—an eyelid lift could be worth considering.

Dr. Rappaport answers questions about eyelid lifts

How do you perform an upper eyelid lift?

“In an upper eyelid lift, I remove excess skin and fatty tissue through an incision in the natural crease of the eye. I can also reduce frown lines through the same incision.”

How is a lower eyelid lift done?

“I use a combination of approaches for lower eyelid lifts:

• If I can achieve the results you want by simply removing fatty tissue, I will make an incision inside the lower eyelid.
• If both fatty tissue and excess skin need to be removed, I will make a small incision close to the lower lashes, and extend it into a natural wrinkle line to hide the scar. I can then reduce, redistribute or add fat to produce the results you desire.

How can a lower eyelid lift correct ‘sad eyes’?

“Surgery to correct ‘sad eyes’ may also involve a procedure called a canthopexy. I use this procedure to reposition and reinforce the tendons at the outer corner of the eye to support your lower eyelid. Although a canthopexy doesn't require a separate incision, it leaves little room for error and demands a high level of surgical precision.”

Will I also need a brow lift or other procedures?

“The perceived shape of your eyes is sometimes associated with drooping or ptosis (pronounced TOE sis) of the eyelids and/or eyebrows. During your personal consultation, I will evaluate your eyes and explain the procedure or combination of procedures I recommend to give you the results you want.

“You might also want to consider a brow lift if you want to raise the position of your eyebrows or if your brows have descended over time.”

Will an eyelid lift treat wrinkling, extra skin and puffiness under my eyes?

“Eyelid skin wrinkling can be smoothed to some extent by eyelid lift surgery. A chemical peel or laser treatment can usually enhance this smoothing effect. An eyelid lift can correct puffiness by surgically removing or redistributing fat. This surgery can also get rid of extra skin and tighten the eyelids.”

Can an eyelid lift also be combined with other facial procedures?

“Yes. I often perform eyelid lifts in combination with facelifts and other facial plastic surgery procedures such as nose reshaping or chin implants.

What determines whether I'm a candidate for internal or external incisions?

“A lot depends on your age. In younger patients, I can use an internal incision through the lower eyelid to approach the prominent fat. Older patients may need a more comprehensive approach to remove excess eyelid skin and tighten the area. Although I do this through an external incision, it is nicely hidden close to the eyelashes.”

How soon after an eyelid lift can I wear my contacts?

“Unless there are any complications, you can usually wear your contacts again within 10 to 14 days after surgery. Dryness of the eyes can temporarily result from eyelid surgery and make wearing your contacts any sooner uncomfortable. Wetting agents may be needed when you resume contact use.”

What results can I expect from an eyelid lift?

“After eyelid surgery, you'll look more youthful and refreshed—like you've just been away on vacation. No one will know your secret but you.”

What can help improve the look of “hollow” upper eyelids?

“I can help give your upper eyelids a more youthful appearance by injecting a hyaluronic acid facial filler such as Juvéderm at the brow level. Other procedures such as fat grafting can also help you achieve the look you desire.”