Eyelid Surgery & Eyelifts or Blepharoplasty at Baltimore Washington Eye Center serving greater Baltimore & Washington, D.C.

Dermatochalasis is the medical term that describes loose excess skin of the eyelids that occurs with age. This extra skin can make eyelids feel weighed down and cause eyes to appear tired. In some cases, the excess eyelid skin can cause hooding and even obscure part of the vision. The surgery to correct this is a Blepharoplasty (also sometimes referred to as an Eyelift) and can be performed on the upper or lower eyelids or both upper and lower eyelids.

Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty

Upper eyelid Blepharoplasty results in the improvement of two characteristics of the aging upper eyelid area. The first is removal of the excess skin and reformation of the lid crease which was obscured by the folds of excess skin.  The second is removal, if necessary, of herniated (or pushed forward) fat in the inner corner and middle of the eyelid that leads to a “puffy” appearance.  Blepharoplasty, however, does not correct crow’s feet or lift sagging eyebrows.

Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty

Lower eyelid Blepharoplasty can also involve removal of excess eyelid skin, but more often it the appearance of swelling or “puffiness” of the lower eyelids is the reason for surgery. In this case, fat pockets in the lower eyelids are pushing forward and this fat is removed.  There are two different surgical techniques for this procedure. If there is excess lower eyelid skin that needs to be removed in addition to the fat, an inconspicuous incision that runs just beneath the lash line is used.  Alternatively, the fat pockets can be accessed through an incision made in the inner lining of the lower eyelid.

You Might Benefit From Eyelid Surgery such as an Eyelift or Blepharoplasty if:

• Your upper eyelids appear hooded
• It's become increasingly difficult to put on eye makeup
• Even after you've had a good night's sleep people ask you if you're tired
• You have puffiness under your eyes that never goes away
• You are developing bulges in the corners of your upper eyelids
• You have trouble keeping your eyes open
• Your upper eyelids always feel heavy
• Your eyes appear to have become smaller
• Your eye makeup smudges very easily
• You've lost the fold of your upper eyelid
• Your peripheral vision is decreased
• You have excess skin and crepe-like wrinkles beneath your eyes
• Ever since you can remember you've had baggy eyes
• You have skin breakdown or irritation at the area of excess skin

When evaluating Dermatochalasis or need for Blepharoplasty at Baltimore Washington Eye Center, Oculofacial Surgeon Chimene Richa, M.D. will listen closely to the patient’s symptoms and concerns and may need to perform additional testing, including photographs and visual fields.  Visual field testing will assess whether the excess skin is impairing the upper visual field. If surgery is deemed the appropriate next step, she will explain the entire procedure and what to expect before and afterwards. In most cases, Blepharoplasty can be performed on an outpatient basis at the Baltimore Washington Eye Surgery Center by Dr. Richa.

Patients with dermatochalasis and saggy or tired looking eyelids who want to learn more about Blepharoplasty in the greater Baltimore or Washington DC area will find that Baltimore Washington Eye Center is conveniently located for people from Arbutus, Carney, Clarksville, Columbia, Dundalk, Edgemere, Essex, Ellicott City, Ferndale, Glen Burnie, Kenwood, Laurel, Linthicum, Lutherville, Millersville, Odenton, Owings Mills, Parkville, Randallstown, Reisterstown, Rivera Beach, Pasadena, Severna Park, South Gate, Timonium, Towson, and Woodlawn Maryland.

To schedule an appointment for examination or consultation with Dr. Chimene Richa for Blepharoplasty, please call us at 800.495.3937.