Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Wrinkles, fine lines, and bagginess around the eyes can be beautifully rejuvenated with eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty. Signs of aging can appear very prominent around the eyes, and make you look older or more fatigued than you actually are. Puffy under-eye bags and sagging eyelids are natural with age, but often can appear prematurely or exacerbated by allergies, thyroid disease, and stress. Eyelid surgery can be a beneficial solution to give you a more youthful, refreshed look. Dr. John P. Zimmermann employs state-of-the-art techniques that can renew your appearance with long-lasting results.

Benefits of Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid surgery can provide a number of benefits for those who are seeking to rejuvenate the upper eyelid areas, the lower eyelid areas, or both. Benefits of eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) include:

  • Reduce puffiness and bagginess
  • Smooth out wrinkles and fine lines around the eyes
  • Remove drooping upper eyelid skin that may be impairing vision
  • Can be combined with other cosmetic enhancement procedures such as facelift or brow lift surgery for a more comprehensive facial makeover

Eyelid Surgery Procedure

The techniques utilized in eyelid surgery depend on many factors, including brow position, amount of skin excess, fat herniation (“bags”), and the degree of fine wrinkling.

If the brows have sagged below their optimal position, a brow lift may be required in addition to eyelid surgery for the most natural appearance to be obtained.

Laser resurfacing of the eyelid skin may be necessary to correct fine wrinkling, or in cases of minimal skin excess, to delicately shrink the skin.

Prominent fat pads in the upper lids are often contoured, whereas in the lower lids, they are either contoured or actually used to fill out depressions in the tear trough area below the lid.

Because of the thin skin of the eyelids, incisions rapidly heal and progress to being imperceptible in a very short time

Upper Eyelid Surgery

Typically, an incision is made in the crease above the eyelid, which can make residual scarring virtually unnoticeable. Excess skin is removed, the fat pads contoured as appropriate, leading to smoother skin and a more rested and youthful appearance. Laser resurfacing is occasionally utilized to diminish the fine wrinkling of the residual upper lid skin.

Lower Eyelid Surgery

The usual purpose of lower eyelid surgery is to reduce the puffiness and bagginess under the lids.

Lower eyelid surgery may a small, discrete incision directly under the lower eyelashes, or in some cases of minimal skin excess, an invisible incision within the back of the eyelid (“transconjunctival”). Laser resurfacing is often used to diminish the fine wrinkling of the residual lower lid skin.

Excess fatty tissue and inelastic skin, as appropriate, are then removed from this lid. The surrounding skin is reshaped and tightened for a more refreshed and smooth appearance. The purpose of lower eyelid surgery is typically to reduce puffiness and bagginess under the eyelids.

Both eyelid surgery procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. Detailed recovery information will depend on each patient’s unique needs. Most patients are able to resume normal daily routines after a few days. Makeup can usually be applied after one week.

Contact the Aesthetic Surgery Center of Napa Valley

If you have any questions about eyelid surgery, or if you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Zimmermann, please contact the Aesthetic Surgery Center of Napa Valley today.