Surgeons at the Buckingham Center for Facial Plastic Surgery offer blepharoplasty in Austin and the surrounding area.
Commonly referred to as eyelid lift surgery, upper and lower blepharoplasty procedures are performed by a facial plastic surgeon to address extraneous tissue around the eyes that detracts from a person’s appearance. This surgery can reshape the eye area through the manipulation of underlying muscles and fat and the removal of extra skin. Blepharoplasty successfully addresses hooded eyelids, under-eye bags, and local wrinkles to restore vitality to a patient’s appearance. There are surgeons at the Buckingham Center for Facial Plastic Surgery in Austin, Texas, who specialize in the blepharoplasty procedure.
*Each patient is unique, and individual results may vary.
Adhering to the doctor’s postoperative plan minimizes potential post-blepharoplasty complications and creates a more comfortable healing process. The surgeon may prescribe the patient an antibiotic cream to apply topically to the affected area, anti-inflammatory medications, and the use of a cold compress for 2 or 3 days. Both pain and swelling are expected to subside within a few days following your blepharoplasty in Austin, but it can take a few months for the final results to present. Patients can return to their regular schedules within 10-14 days following blepharoplasty.
What Can I Expect During a Consultation for Blepharoplasty?
Where Is the Blepharoplasty Procedure Performed?
Are There Scars After a Blepharoplasty?
Is the Blepharoplasty Procedure Painful?
When Are the Stitches Removed After the Blepharoplasty Procedure?
What Type of Anesthesia Is Used for a Blepharoplasty?
How Is the Actual Blepharoplasty Procedure Performed?
How Long Does the Actual Blepharoplasty Procedure Last?
Where Are the Incisions Made During a Blepharoplasty Procedure?
What Is the Recovery Like After a Blepharoplasty?
How Much Time Will I Need to Take Off From Work After Blepharoplasty Surgery?
How Soon After My Blepharoplasty Surgery Can I Exercise?
Would Eyelid Surgery Help the Full Appearance Under My Eyes?
Is It Possible to Have an Eyelid Lift for Just One Eye to Make Them More Even?
Will an Eyelid Surgery Get Rid of Crow’s Feet?
Will Blepharoplasty Change the Shape of My Eye?
What Are the Temporary Side Effects Following a Blepharoplasty?
Are the Results Achieved During Eyelid Surgery Permanent?
What Are Possible Risks and Potential Complications Associated With the Blepharoplasty Procedure?
How Much Will Eyelid Surgery Cost?
During your consultation for a blepharoplasty, one of our doctors will meet with you and perform a complete facial analysis to determine the best procedure to achieve your desired results. They will also be sure to answer any and all questions that you may have. The doctor may utilize photographic results of previous patients to enhance the experience.
Isolated upper eyelid blepharoplasty procedures are performed in our beautiful office surgery center with local anesthesia with or without mild oral sedation. Procedures involving the lower eyelid, forehead, brow, or fat transfer are performed in our facility with IV sedation.
The incisions made during a blepharoplasty procedure and their resulting scars are typically hidden or well concealed within the natural creases of the upper eyelids or inside the lower eyelids. Our surgeons create the smallest incisions possible to perform eyelid surgery. The incisions are created in places where they will be well camouflaged and discrete.
There is little to no discomfort during the blepharoplasty surgery as modern anesthesia techniques are used. While blepharoplasty may result in a temporary tight or sore feeling of the eyelids, our surgeons use special surgical techniques to help minimize post-operative discomfort. Discomfort can be alleviated with medication if necessary.
Surface sutures are removed around seven days after your blepharoplasty surgery.
Upper blepharoplasty is often performed with local anesthesia with or without oral sedation. Lower eyelid blepharoplasty is performed under IV sedation. The anesthesia a patient receives is based on the procedure chosen and other patient factors, which will be determined during the consultation.
For upper eyelid blepharoplasty, the surgeon creates a very fine incision within the natural eyelid crease. Then, using a special fine needle-tipped cautery, excess skin and fatty pockets of the upper eyelid are removed. For the lower eyelids, the surgeon will remove excess lower eyelid fatty tissue through a hidden incision inside of the eyelid. For other patients, it may be necessary to address the tear trough beneath the eyelid; the surgeon can use several different techniques to address puffiness.
A blepharoplasty procedure generally takes an hour or two. Longer times may be required if it includes fat transfer or an endoscopic brow lift.
For upper eyelid blepharoplasty, a fine incision is made within the natural eyelid crease. During a transconjunctival lower eyelid blepharoplasty procedure, the surgeon creates an incision inside the lower eyelid. When addressing the tear troughs below the lower eyelids, other incisions may be necessary. This will be discussed during the consultation.
The recovery after a blepharoplasty can last from as little as 3 to 4 days to 10 to 14 days. Patients who receive additional skin resurfacing or fat transfer will have a more lengthy recovery time. Bruising and swelling are common. However, these side effects will fade after a week or two. The patient’s eyes may feel slightly dry at first, a condition that is relieved with artificial tears. Usually, the patient may wear glasses immediately and may read; however, vision is at times slightly blurry. Contact use may be limited depending on the procedure.
Recovery after blepharoplasty can last anywhere from 3 to 14 days. Patients may be able to return to work within 3 to 10 days of their procedure and resume their full social activities within 7 to 14 days. Most of our patients are able to return to work within 7 to 10 days of their blepharoplasty surgery.
Light walking-type exercise can typically be resumed within one week after blepharoplasty. Activities that are more strenuous may need to be postponed for 2 or 3 weeks as vigorous activities can increase swelling, prolong healing, and cause bleeding.
A lower eyelid blepharoplasty is the usual procedure to remove eyelid bags. Often, there is a tear trough or orbital hollow inferior to the orbital bag. To increase volume, this area can be filled with autologous fat or a dermal filler.
Yes. A droopy eyelid appearance may be caused by excess skin, or the eyelid itself may be low. The latter is referred to as ptosis. In either case, the surgeon can use different techniques to lift the eyelid and improve the symmetry between the two.
No. Eyelid surgery (i.e., blepharoplasty) is intended to improve the contours of the upper or lower eyelid. During upper eyelid surgery, redundant skin, and potentially deeper tissue are removed to relieve the overhanging skin. While performing lower eyelid surgery, eyelid bags can be removed to decrease volume beneath the eyes. If a patient has lost volume beneath their eyes, the surgeon can use dermal fillers or autologous fat to increase the volume in this area. Crow’s feet are a result of repetitive muscle contraction and skin aging. The surgeon can address muscle activity with injections of BOTOX or Dysport, and the skin can be treated with a laser or chemical peel.
In general, our goal is to not change the shape of the eye from what it looked like in youth. If, however, the eye was closed due to significant redundant skin or the lower lid is pulled down due to involutional changes of the skin, then one would expect to see a positive improvement in the shape of the eye following surgery.
Most patients do experience temporary side effects following surgery; nonetheless, these subside rather quickly. Common side effects include:
The results achieved during an upper blepharoplasty typically last at least ten years. Some patients may want to consider having a follow-up procedure, but many will never need one. The results of a lower blepharoplasty are usually permanent, however, additional volume with filler or fat transfer may be required to counter the additional bony changes occurring with age.
While complications and adverse outcomes following an eyelid lift are rare, as with all surgeries, the risks and potential complications must be considered. Potential risks and complications include:
To determine how much a blepharoplasty will cost, one of our surgeons needs to evaluate the potential patient’s eye area. To accomplish this, men and women who are interested in having a blepharoplasty can schedule a consultation at the Buckingham Center.
A blepharoplasty (aka eyelid surgery, an eyelid lift) is a surgical procedure that facial plastic surgeons perform to address the signs of aging around the eyes (e.g., drooping upper eyelids, bags beneath the eyes). A blepharoplasty procedure can also be used to reconstruct or repair an individual’s eyelid. At the Buckingham Center for Facial Plastic Surgery, some of the top facial plastic surgeons in the Austin, Texas, area perform cosmetic, functional, and Asian blepharoplasty procedures. After surgery, their patients look younger and appear well-rested.
The ideal candidate for eyelid surgery is someone with realistic expectations, who is in good health and does not use products that contain nicotine (e.g., traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco, smoking-cessation products).
Most blepharoplasty patients are over the age of 35. Nonetheless, younger individuals who inherit the genes that cause bulky tissues to develop around the eyes may also be good candidates for blepharoplasty.
Since the surgeon modifies the tissues of the eye, there are certain eye or skin diseases that could disqualify an individual from being a good candidate for this procedure.
Blepharoplasty candidates must be aware of the potential changes the procedure can provide, the possible risks of the procedure, as well as how to care for their eyes following surgery.
To minimize the potential for complications following surgery, following the postoperative plan that the surgeon provides is crucial. Furthermore, patients who follow these instructions enjoy a more comfortable recovery.
Patients may receive a prescription for an antibiotic cream following surgery. The patient gently applies this cream to the eyelid. Acetaminophen and cold compresses are useful for reducing inflammation for the first few days following surgery.
Patients need to sleep with their head elevated for several days after their blepharoplasty procedure; following this recommendation helps keep inflammation down.
Any pain and inflammation the patient experiences usually subsides within three days. Nonetheless, it may take a month or so for the patient to see the final results of their blepharoplasty.
Patients return to their regular activities about a week or two after surgery.
Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive offers, expert tips, and the latest insights in facial aesthetics. Stay ahead with updates straight from our experts—delivered right to your inbox!
