Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid surgery offers both cosmetic and functional improvements with minimal risk of serious problems.

Cosmetic blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, can help turn back the effects of time by removing or tightening sagging skin and muscle and by sculpting baggy fat pockets. If your eyes always look tired or older than their years, or if your vision is obstructed by drooping eyelids, you may benefit from this eye lift procedure. Most patients are quite pleased with the results of their eyelid surgery.

Consultation for eyelid surgery

A consultation with one of our experienced, board-certified ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgeons is your first step in determining if cosmetic blepharoplasty is right for you. The consultation is thorough and takes about 45 minutes. Your Henry Ford eye surgeon will:

• Take your medical history
• Do a complete eye examination
• Discuss the findings with you

If you are a candidate for eyelid surgery, your eye surgeon will review in detail the procedure, its potential benefits and risks, and your postoperative care. Photographs will be taken to help plan the eye lift surgery.

Dr. Swapna Vemuri discusses the benefits of eyelid surgery

The blepharoplasty procedure

Eyelid surgery is an outpatient procedure that usually takes two to three hours. Local anesthesia is used, along with sedation if needed, to keep you comfortable. During eyelid surgery, incisions are made in the natural folds of the eyelids and excess tissue is removed. The incisions are then closed with fine sutures.

Brow or forehead lift

In cases where the eyebrows are also droopy, a procedure to elevate the eyebrows may be appropriate. This procedure, known as a brow or forehead lift, may be done directly above the eyebrows, within the forehead creases, or by approaching the brows from the hairline or just behind the hairline as a “coronal brow lift.”

Postoperative eyelid surgery care

Your postoperative blepharoplasty care will include:

• Immediately following eyelid surgery: Cold compresses are applied to the eyelids to reduce swelling and bruising. These are later followed by warm compresses to improve blood flow to the area and aid in the healing. The eyes do not need to be patched shut.
• During the first week: Antibiotic eye ointment may be prescribed and strenuous activity should be avoided. Typically, the bruising and swelling decrease significantly after the first week and most patients are able to return to work within one week.

You may temporarily experience:

• Minor discomfort
• Tightness of the eyelids
• Swelling, bruising and dryness of the eyes

These symptoms usually will subside as the wounds heal. Excessive pain, bleeding, infection or loss of vision in the period following eye lift surgery is very rare. In the unlikely event that such a problem should occur, you should notify your physician immediately.

Other complications of eye lift surgery that may occur include a slightly unequal eyelid appearance or eyelid position. These problems occur infrequently and may require additional surgery to correct.

At Henry Ford, patients come first.

The Henry Ford Department of Ophthalmology is committed to providing our patients with compassionate, personalized care. We feature the most advanced treatments in eye care and are dedicated to vision research – always staying at the forefront of innovation. A leader in Michigan, as well as one of the largest ophthalmology practices in the United States, we treat more than 55,000 patients per year at 12 locations throughout southeast Michigan. In addition, our team works closely with Henry Ford Medical Group physicians in other departments, providing multidisciplinary, coordinated care for those patients who need it.