Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid surgery (technically called Blepharoplasty) is a procedure that makes eyes appear more youthful and “wide-awake.” This popular procedure removes fat, usually along with excess skin, from the upper and lower eyelids. Eyelid surgery can correct drooping upper lids and puffy bags below your eyes - features that not only make you look older and more tired than you feel, but may even interfere with your vision. Blepharoplasty can be performed alone, or in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures such as a facelift or browlift.

About blepharoplasty surgery

Blepharoplasty usually takes one to two hours, depending on the extent of the surgery. In a typical procedure, Dr. Grenley makes incisions following the natural lines of your eyelids; in the creases of your upper lids, and just below the lashes in the lower lids. The incisions may extend slightly into the crow's feet or laugh lines at the outer corners of your eyes. Working through these incisions, he separates the skin from underlying fatty tissue and muscle, removes excess fat, and often trims sagging skin and muscle. The incisions are then closed with very fine sutures.

If you have a pocket of fat beneath your lower eyelids but don't need to have any skin removed, Dr. Grenley may perform a Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty. In this procedure the incision is made inside your lower eyelid, leaving no visible scar. It is usually performed on younger patients with thicker, more elastic skin.

Recovery following eyelid surgery

For the first few days, you may experience mild irritations, tearing, sensitivity to light, and occasionally mild, temporary changes in your eyesight, such as blurring or double vision. Dr. Grenley will follow your progress very closely for the first week or two. The stitches will be removed approximately one week after surgery. Once they're out, the swelling and discoloration around your eyes will gradually subside, and you'll start to look and feel much better. You should be able to read or watch television after two or three days.

Most people feel ready to go out in public (and back to work) in a week to 10 days, earlier if wearing sunglasses. By then, depending on your rate of healing and the doctor's instructions, you'll probably be able to wear makeup to hide the bruising that remains. It is wise to keep your activities to a minimum for three to five days, and to avoid more strenuous activities or exercise for about two weeks. Healing is a gradual process, and your scars may remain slightly pink for several weeks or more after surgery. Eventually, though, they'll fade to a thin, nearly invisible white line.