YOU MIGHT BENEFIT IF:
If you have excess upper eyelid skin and/or bulging bags of fat that makes you appear older and tired.

If your vision is partly obstruced by excess skin involving the upper eyelids.

SURGICAL GOALS:
A more youthful and rested appearance of the eyes.

An eyelid lift will not remove or erase all wrinkle lines. It will soften them.

For selected patients, improvement in vision.

THE PROCEDURE:
We usually perform the operation on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia with or without IV sedation, or with general anesthesia. We place the incisions where natural creases occur. We remove the excess skin and, if necessary, bulging fat. We then close the wounds with fine nylon sutures.

POST-OP HEALING:
We ask the patient to use ice packs and head elevation for the first 48 hours after surgery.

All sutures are usually removed within 3-7 days.

Initial mild discomfort is controlled with oral medication.

Bruising and sensitivity to light last a week or two. Swelling progressively disappears over several weeks.

Eye makeup can be used shortly after sutures are removed.

Contact lenses can be worn when comfortable---usually within 7-10 days.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES:
Additional procedures that would enhance the result are: Forehead Lift, Face Lift, Chemical Peel, Laser Skin Resurfacing or Microdermabrasion.

INSURANCE?
If the procedure is considered cosmetic, it is not covered by insurance. The patient is responsible for payment. However, if we perform the surgery to improve vision, insurance might cover the costs of surgery.

NOTE
The suitability of an upper eyelid lift for an individual is determined during the office consultation. All procedures have risks. Minor complications occur occasionally. Major complications are quite unusual.