Turn Back the Clock on Aging Eyes with Blepharoplasty

We prepare for some parts of aging more than others. We expect some wrinkles on our forehead, for example. Very few people expect for their eyelids to change over the years, but they do. Your upper eyelids might get saggy, drooping into your field of vision, and your lower lids can gather fat, making you look tired. 

At Sterling Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Mark Mathieson offers blepharoplasties as part of his portfolio of facial procedures. With this eyelid surgery, he can rejuvenate your eyes and improve your field of vision. But is this procedure right for you? 

To help you find out, here’s a look at how you can turn back the clock on aging eyes with a blepharoplasty.

Why eyelids age

As our skin — including the skin around our eyes — gets older, it loses collagen, the protein responsible for the structural support in our tissue. In fact, this loss can be especially pronounced in the skin surrounding your eyes, which is already thin to begin with. 

Your eyelids begin to sag as your collagen production naturally winds down with age because this thin tissue loses what little support it had. In severe cases, the tissue can even fold over the edge of your lid and into your line of vision.

While the loss of collagen is a primary driver of drooping eyelids, genetics could also be to blame. You may have also inherited naturally puffy eyelids, which means they’re more prone to sagging.

Whatever the reason for your aging eyes, you’re not alone. Blepharoplasty is one of the top-five cosmetic surgical procedures in the United States, with more than 115,000 performed in 2018 alone.

What happens during a blepharoplasty

Dr. Mathieson performs your blepharoplasty on an outpatient basis. Once we ensure your comfort with anesthesia, Dr. Mathieson creates an incision in the natural fold of your upper eyelid and performs one or more of the following, depending upon your goals:

• Removes or repositions fat deposits
• Tightens the muscles in your eyelids
• Removes excess tissue

Additionally, if you want to address drooping lower lids, Dr. Mathieson makes an incision along your lash line and redistributes or removes fat deposits. He also removes excess skin, if necessary.

Once he has completed the proper steps to move you toward your eye goals, Dr. Mathieson sutures the area(s) closed. You’re free to return home the same day, once we give you the green light.

Recovering from blepharoplasty

Over the course of the week following your blepharoplasty, plan to rest and tend to your eyes. Cold compresses can help to minimize bruising and swelling. Follow our aftercare instructions for any ointments or dressings.

About two weeks after your surgery, you should be able to debut your more youthful eyes. It may take a month or more for the bruising and swelling to fully dissipate, though, and that is completely normal. Everyone heals at their own pace, so it’s important that you remain patient while your body recovers and your eyelids resettle themselves into their new shapes.

If you’re interested in learning more about blepharoplasty and talking with Dr. Mathieson about whether or not this procedure is right for you, call our office at (941) 208-6696 today.