Reasons for the Procedure

Eyelift (blepharoplasty) refers to eyelid surgery, either for cosmetic or therapeutic purposes. With age, the muscles, fat, and skin around the delicate eye area can begin to sag, which some people find bothersome. If the sagging is of sufficient magnitude, a person’s vision may become obscured by their eyelids. In other cases, bags under the eyes cause the lid to pull away from the eye, causing irritation and dry eye syndrome. Blepharoplasty therefore is not only a cosmetic procedure, but can be used to help restore vision or to treat a dry eye.

The procedure is typically performed by an oculoplastic surgeon specifically trained to operate around the delicate eye area. It involves the surgical removal of excess skin and fat and possible reconstruction of the muscles near the eye, with the goal of restoring more normal appearance and function. This procedure will not eliminate dark circles under the eye area, nor will it eliminate the appearance of wrinkles unless the affected skin is physically removed. Either the upper or lower lids (or both) can undergo this type of operation.

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