Eyelid Surgery

Our eyes can reveal our true feelings, our state of mind, and even our overall health. When we are tired, our eyes can appear baggy. As we age, smile lines can become permanently etched into the facial skin. With advancing age, the brow become heavier and descends. The eyebrow lowers, and loose skin can roll up and lie on the upper eyelid. The fat that normally surrounds the eye can begin to pooch out, creating bags in the lower lid. Some of these problems can be improved by rejuvenating the brow with Botox, but sometimes surgery is required.

Upper eyelid surgery can be performed through incisions made in the skin. The incisions are planned so that they are hidden in the upper eyelid crease and will be difficult to see. The incision for lower eyelid surgery is made just below the lower lash line. These sutures are removed after 4 or 5 days and the patient can return to work in about a week.

Question:
My upper eyelids look like saggy flaps of skin hanging down to my eyelashes. Can this be improved?

Answer:
Of course. As discussed in the Eyelid Surgery section, this problem is worsened as the brow sags with advancing age. Some improvement can be expected from use of Botox to elevate the brow, and bring some of the skin upward, off the eyelid. If this does not provide sufficient improvement, some of the skin can be removed. This procedure can be performed in the office using only numbing medicine in the skin, or in the Surgery Center, with the help of an anesthesiologist if more sedation is needed.

Question:
My lower eyelids have some darkening of the skin. What can be done?

Answer:
This depends on the cause of the darkened skin. When there are bags under the eyes, a shadow is cast under the bulge, creating a darkening of the lower lid. In some patients, the skin itself can become dark. Frequently both processes can be involved. The part of the darkening caused by a bag can be improved with a lower eyelid surgery, reducing the fat bulge and decreasing this shadow.