Eyelid Lift

The ideal candidate for an eyelid lift is a patient who has noticed their eyelids are heavier, overly wrinkled, or drooping and sagging, and is ready to consider a procedure for lasting correction of these concerns. Despite the skincare industries’ claims, eye creams and serums cannot reverse the aging process. They are helpful in slowing down the aging process, but eyelids cannot be lifted with skin care products alone. Some lifting can be achieved by nonsurgical procedures, but for those with moderate to significant drooping, surgical procedures are the best option for significant rejuvenation.

Most people only have this procedure done once, though you could need another if you have your first done very early in life. Your consultation will include a discussion of realistic expectations for results you could expect from each treatment option that is suitable for you. Each treatment performed at Reflections is tailored to the individual patient to account for their needs, wants, and anatomy. Many patients want to know how long they can expect results from an eyelid lift procedure to last. If you define the longevity of the result by the length of time until a patient has another similar procedure, then an eyelid lift is as near to permanent a result as possible. It is very rare that an eyelid lift patient would ever undergo another surgical eyelid lift procedure. After the procedure, you should expect that, over time, your face will continue to age naturally.

Your consultation will include a discussion of realistic expectations for results you could expect from each treatment option that is suitable for you. Each treatment performed at Reflections is tailored to the individual patient, to account for their needs, wants, and anatomy. Many patients want to know how long they can expect results from an eyelid lift procedure to last. If you define the longevity of result by the length of time until a patient has another similar procedure, then an eyelid lift is as near to permanent a result as possible. It is very rare that an Eyelid Lift patient would ever undergo another surgical eyelid lift procedure. After the procedure, you should expect that, over time, your face will continue to age naturally.

The eyelid’s wonderful blood supply reduces the risk for complications caused by poor circulation during the healing process, including scar deformities and skin necrosis. However, this blood supply also lends itself to increased swelling and the risk of bruising. All eyelid lift patients will experience swelling, and many will experience bruising. Generally bruising is light (often a yellow tone) and usually resolves within a week. Upper Blepharoplasty does have risks, though they occur very rarely. Some of those risks include Hematoma, scar deformities, skin necrosis, infection, bleeding, and eye injury. Hematomas are generally quick and easy to resolve with the help of specialized aftercare with your surgeon. Scar deformities and skin necrosis can create serious, long-lasting complications. However, these are very rare complications, particularly in the eyelid, because the area has such good blood circulation and the surgery creates very little stress on the skin. Patients are given specific instructions prior to the procedure to minimize risks and speed their recovery.

During the consultation, patients are provided with a gallery of photos documenting normal time-lapsed healing of our patients, so they can best understand how the scars will heal and fade over time. Scarring from a cosmetic procedure is a big concern for most patients. It’s natural to wonder what type of scarring to expect It’s important to note that hundreds of thousands of patients undergo eyelid lift surgery each year. The ones we notice are usually not because they are a good result. We tell patients the best results are never noticeable as a surgical result, but rather look very natural. We prefer to conceal these incisions in the natural fold of the eyelid, as we find this provides the most natural results, with the best-healed scars.

Each patient will be given specific and comprehensive pre-operative instructions before their surgery. However, the following are some of the instructions we give to every patient who undergoes an Eyelid Lift: Discontinue blood-thinning vitamins and supplements prior to surgery. These include Vitamin E, Fish Oil, Tylenol, and Aspirin. You will not resume these supplements until at least 1 week after surgery. Avoiding blood thinners is especially important for eyelid surgery, because the area is so prone to swelling and bruising. I recommend that patients start arnica tablets one week prior to surgery and continue to take arnica tablets until any bruising has resolved after surgery. Arnica is a powerful supplement that helps your body to heal bruises and inflammation, but can have some side effects. I make sure patients are checking in with me regularly while taking it.

Want to see exactly how our patients look day-by-day as they heal? We offer patients the option to few a private gallery of healing timeline photos during their consultation. This allows our patients to feel prepared and confident in their recovery process. The following are generalized instructions for eyelid Lift Aftercare: Most patients do not take any pain medication after the procedure. Although a prescription for pain medication is given, patients are often surprised about how little discomfort there is after an upper eyelid surgery. For the patients who decide to take pain medication, they usually do so for the first day or two and very often find that extra-strength Tylenol is enough. Recovery is typically easy and quick. You will be given an antibiotic following surgery. It’s important to take the entire course of the antibiotic as prescribed, and to avoid any substance which might affect its efficacy. You will also be given a list of supplements, herbals (including drinks such as Kombucha), “metabolism boosters”, “fat burners”, and medications that must be stopped before and not taken after the procedure until it is permitted by your surgeon. Strenuous workouts should be avoided for the first 2 weeks following surgery to avoid complications and delays in healing. You will likely feel up to resuming normal activities much sooner, so sometimes patients have difficulty holding off on their workouts. It’s important not to strain the area around your eye while it is healing, and though you likely don’t realize it, these muscles are often tensed during difficult exercise. Keeping activity light during this time will ensure the fastest recovery with the best-healed incisions. Patients who wish to conceal their eyelid lift procedure from co-workers will want to take 7-10 days off from the time of surgery. After days 9-10, incision lines can typically be well-covered with makeup and swelling and bruising is minimal. If your work is physically strenuous, you will need to take 14 days off from work, as straining during this time can delay healing and possibly cause complications. Patients typically feel “runway ready” around 7 days after an Eyelid Lift surgery. This is generally when you will resume normal social activities. However, any big events, like a wedding, should be spaced at least 3 weeks after your procedure, to ensure you have plenty of time for any lingering swelling or bruising to resolve. Protecting your incisions from sunlight is very important while they are healing. You will want to keep sunglasses on while outdoors (including while driving) until your incisions are completely faded.

Your individualized quote will be provided during your consultation. Financing is available at our office, through Prosper Credit and Care Credit. Major credit cards are also accepted, if you prefer.