Eyelid Surgery

Dr. Lee’s philosophy is to create natural-looking upper and lower eyelids by avoiding too much skin removal or too tight a pull to the lower eyelid while maintaining good eyelid functionality.

Plastic surgery of the eyelids can address one or all of these problems of the upper and lower eyelids. Surgery on the eyelids can be complex and can affect the function of the eyelids. If you are considering surgery, Dr. Lee can explain the different procedures that may benefit you and can help you find the best option for you.

If you have developed aging changes to the eyelids or drooping of the eyelids then you may be a candidate for surgery. There are factors that may increase your risk of complications and one of the main factors is the symptom of dry eyes.

Surgery on the eyelids can increase the risks and symptoms of dry eyes. If you have significant symptoms already, you may not be a candidate for surgery or may need to have a more conservative surgery.

Bleeding problems or medications that thin the blood may also increase your risks of complications as well as overall medical conditions.

Ideal candidates for Eyelid Surgery have realistic expectations in terms of results.

The upper eyelids will be bruised and swollen from five days to ten days. There are sutures that need to be removed within five days. The lower eyelids will be swollen or bruised for 7-14 days.

Pain is usually not significant. There may be eye drops that need to be placed for a few days after surgery. Dr. Lee advises patients to sleep with their heads elevated for one week and to use ice packs for 3-5 days.

Like any surgery, there are risks of bleeding, infection, and nerve injury. The nerve injury risk is very low because there are not many nerves in the area although there are some nerves that may affect the sensation of the skin.

There are also additional risks which include dry eye problems, tearing, prolonged swelling of the eyelids, or scarring of the lower eyelid that can lead to pulling down of the lower eyelid.

The upper eyelids can be improved with upper Blepharoplasty. Dr. Lee performs three different techniques for upper Eyelid Surgery.

For those patients with no upper eyelid crease, Dr. Lee performs an invagination Blepharoplasty to create a new crease in the upper eyelid, which creates a more refined appearance for the upper eyelid.

For those individuals with excessive skin only or skin and fat, a traditional Blepharoplasty can be performed. For those people with ptosis and aging of the upper eyelid, a ptosis repair and Blepharoplasty can be performed.

For lower Eyelid Surgery, Dr. Lee prefers Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty, which uses the inside of the lower eyelid to make the incision so there are no incisions on the skin itself. This lower Blepharoplasty procedure is most useful in patients with excessive fat and puffiness in the lower eyelid.

If the lower-eyelid skin is loose as well, it can be removed with a small incision underneath the eyelashes. If necessary, Dr. Lee also performs canthopexies to elevate the lower eyelid itself.

When the upper eyelid loses its muscle tone or when the skin is so excessive it blocks the vision of the upper eyelid, insurance will pay for the repair of the muscle or removal of the excessive skin.

Dr. Lee works with an ophthalmologist who can measure the amount of blockage of vision to document this for insurance companies.

Ptosis of the upper eyelid is when the eyelid is low on the eyeball or pupil. It can be cosmetically unacceptable as well as affect the vision in the eyes. Ptosis may be only on one side or maybe in both eyelids.

There are many causes of Ptosis which relate to muscle function, muscle detachment, and nerve function, or may be congenital. There are tests that are performed to help determine whether surgery can help.

Removal of excessive eyelid skin of the upper or lower eyelid can be performed under minimal or local anesthesia in the office. If the amount of skin is not excessive and there are no problems with ptosis or significant fat, the surgery can be performed in the office.

For the dark circles or deep folds between the lower eyelids and the cheek, hyaluronic acid fillers (JUVEDERM®, RESTYLANE®) can make this less deep and less dark.

Fine wrinkles around the eyes can be improved with BOTOX® injections; the eyebrows can also be elevated with BOTOX®.

Fine and deeper wrinkles can also be improved with chemical peels and laser treatments such as Fraxel.

The cost of Eyelid Surgery depends on the exact techniques utilized. Because of this, the price varies from case to case. The anesthesia used, the total time required to perform the procedure, and other factors all impact the overall cost.