Reconstructive Eyelid Surgery: What to Expect

You can cover up dark circles with concealer, hide a sagging stomach with baggy clothes, and even change your hairstyle to hide forehead wrinkles. However, when the skin around your eyes starts to droop, there’s little you can do to draw attention away from it. 

Extra skin around the eyes doesn’t just change your appearance. It can also affect your vision. That’s why blepharoplasty, or reconstructive eyelid surgery, is so popular. This effective procedure tightens the skin near your eyes to improve your vision while restoring a youthful look. 

Whether you want to drop the droopy upper eyelids, banish under-eye bags, or revitalize your appearance, board-certified surgeon, Christopher Brooks, MD, and the team at Brooks Plastic Surgery in Hollywood, Florida, can help.

Your eyes are one of your most important facial features, so take a moment to learn more about blepharoplasty and what you can expect from the procedure. 

What is reconstructive eyelid surgery?

Reconstructive eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, lifts and tightens loose eyelid structures, removes fatty deposits, and reduces excess skin to restore vision and your appearance. Dr. Brooks can perform this surgery on the upper and/or lower eyelids. 

Some of the benefits of blepharoplasty include:

• Restoration of the full field of vision
• Reversal of the signs of aging
• Bag-free lower lids
• Smoother forehead
• Brighter-looking eyes

Research also suggests that blepharoplasty may offer some relief to migraine sufferers.

The best part? Blepharoplasty is a safe surgery with minimal risks and virtually no visible scarring. Serious complications aren’t common, but may include a reaction to the anesthesia and infection. 

What should I expect with blepharoplasty?

Anesthesia keeps you comfortable during the procedure. Once you’re resting, Dr. Brooks makes tiny incisions in discreet locations, depending on the specific procedure you’re having done. Most of the time, these occur:

• Along the natural crease of your upper eyelids
• Just below the lower lash line of your lower eyelids    
• Along the inside of your lower eyelids

After removing any skin and fatty deposits, Dr. Brooks closes the incisions. You return home the same day as your procedure and should expect to rest at home for several days and take it easy (no exercise or strenuous activities) for two weeks. 

You may have gauze on your eyes immediately after the procedure, but you can take it off at home as directed by your provider. You may notice some lubricating ointment, which will wash away when you clean the site. 

Some swelling, bruising, and discomfort are normal, and Dr. Brooks tells you which pain medications to take to help ease your symptoms. He may also recommend using cold packs several times a day for the first week or so.

You can also expect some blurry vision and sensitivity to light in the first day or so after your surgery. If you wear contact lenses, you’ll need to switch to glasses for at least two weeks after your blepharoplasty. 

Be sure to wear dark sunglasses until you’re completely healed to protect your eyes and the delicate skin around them. 

You’ll need to return to the office for a post-procedure check-in and to have any stitches removed. This usually takes place three to five days after your surgery.   

Learn more about reconstructive eyelid surgery and whether it could be right for you by scheduling a consultation at Brooks Plastic Surgery in Hollywood, Florida.