What to Expect on Blepharoplasty Surgery Day
Where will my blepharoplasty be performed?
Most often, blepharoplasty is performed on an outpatient basis. Typically, the surgery is performed at an outpatient surgery center, in a surgical suite at the plastic surgeon's office or in a hospital. If you are having other cosmetic surgery procedures at the same time as your blepharoplasty, your doctor may recommend an inpatient (overnight) stay in a hospital. If an inpatient stay is required, the overall cost of the surgery will be higher because of the additional expense of the hospital stay.
What is done during the blepharoplasty procedure?
During the blepharoplasty procedure, the surgeon makes incisions that follow the natural lines of the patient's eyelids. This helps to minimize the appearance of scars. For the upper eyelids, the incision is made in the creases of the upper lids. For the lower eyelids, the incision is made just below the lashes. Obviously, if you are only having an upper blepharoplasty or a lower blepharoplasty, only upper or lower eyelid incisions will be made.
Your plastic surgeon may extend the incision into the laugh lines (a.k.a. "Crow's Feet") at the outer corners of your eyes in order to reduce their appearance.
Using these incisions, your plastic surgeon will separate the skin from the tissue underneath. The excess fat is removed and sagging skin and muscle is trimmed. Your plastic surgeon will close the incisions using very fine sutures.
In situations where a patient has a pocket of fat (bags) under their eyes but does not have sagging skin, a special type of blepharoplasty, known as a "transconjunctival blepharoplasty" may be performed. In this procedure, the incision is made inside the lower eyelid, since only fat, and not excess skin will be removed. Transconjunctival blepharoplasty is usually performed on younger patients who have more elastic skin.
How long does the blepharoplasty procedure take?
Depending upon whether you are having an upper blepharoplasty, a lower blepharoplasty or both upper and lower lids done, the surgery will last between one and three hours. If you are having other cosmetic surgery procedures done at the same time, you may be in surgery even longer.
Learning more about Blepharoplasty is easy. Use the quick links below to find out more.
- Blepharoplasty Overview
- Who Is Getting Blepharoplasty?
- Who Should Not Get Blepharoplasty?
- Blepharoplasty Risks & Complications
- Blepharoplasty Cost & Price Information
- Health Insurance and Blepharoplasty
- Choosing a Plastic Surgeon for Blepharoplasty
- Blepharoplasty Consultation Checklist
- Preparing for Blepharoplasty
- Anesthesia for Blepharoplasty Patients
- The Blepharoplasty Surgery Procedure (you are here)
- Recovering from Blepharoplasty
- Returning to Work/Normal Activity After Blepharoplasty
- Before & After Blepharoplasty Photos