An eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, is one of the most rewarding cosmetic surgery procedures, because the eyes communicate so much about us. When the eyes are affected by excess skin, unsightly bags, or dark circles, the entire face can suffer: you can look tired or worried when you are not. An eyelid lift can address the upper lids, the lower lids, or both, rejuvenating the entire face and making you look years younger.
As dramatic as the changes from an eyelid lift might be, the surgery can’t resolve every issue with your eyes. Let’s examine what an eyelid can—and can’t—do, including removing dark circles under the eyes.
An eyelid lift can:
- Remove loose, sagging skin. Excess skin hanging over the eyes can make you look older and more tired than you actually are. An eyelid lift improves sagging eyelids by removing all the loose skin, opening up your eyes. Your peripheral vision can sometimes be improved from a blepharoplasty, too.
- Remove bags under the eyes. As we age, fat can accumulate and create unappealing bags under the eyes. Puffy bags can be eliminated in an eyelid lift, smoothing and refreshing the upper face; fat can also be redistributed to address under-eye bags.
- Remove excess fat. If your upper lids are also puffy, fat can be removed during your surgery. Excess muscle may also be removed.
- Improve droopiness. The lower eyelids can sometimes droop below the iris, showing white under the colored portion of the eye. A blepharoplasty can correct this issue.
- Restore definition to the eyelids. When sagging skin, loose muscles, and excess fat have impacted the shape of the upper eyelids, an eyelid lift can restore the youthful contour you once had.
An eyelid lift can’t:
- Remove dark circles. Because true dark circles under the eyes aren’t generally caused by the aging process, an eyelid lift can’t make a significant improvement in their appearance. One exception: sometimes what is perceived as a dark circle is actually a shadow cast by a puffy eyelid or a hollow formed under the eye from fat migration; this can be addressed through a blepharoplasty.
- Remove crow’s feet. Crow’s feet—the wrinkles at the corners of the eyes—are best treated by non-surgical methods. BOTOX® is now FDA approved for relaxing and smoothing crow’s feet, and skin resurfacing technologies are also successful for addressing these areas outside the scope of an eyelid lift.
- Address sagging eyebrows. While an eyelid lift surgery can brighten the eyes, a sagging brow must be approached with a different surgical procedure, a brow (or forehead) lift. This surgery elevates the brow and smooths wrinkles and creases in the forehead. Because a drooping brow can also adversely affect the appearance of the eyes, an experienced plastic surgeon should be consulted to help guide you toward the appropriate procedure for your aesthetic concerns.
Although the natural aging process will continue, an eyelid lift can restore a youthful twinkle to the eyes and refresh your entire appearance. Come visit us to discuss what an eyelid lift can do for you.
