About Eyelid Surgery, Blepharoplasty or Eyelifts
Eyelid surgery such as blepharoplasty, or an eyelift, is a common type of procedure to help you look and see your best. Your eyes are one of the most important aspects of your appearance, and one of the first areas to show signs of aging. Dermatochalasis is the medical term that describes the 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 or older. In some cases, the excess eyelid skin can cause hooding and even obscure part of the vision. If the eyes are more open and relatively free of creases and folds, you will probably seem more rested and youthful. The eyelid surgery to correct the droopy, saggy tired looking eyelids is called blepharoplasty 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 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 the appearance of swelling or “puffiness” of the lower eyelids is the reason for patients electing this 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, if there is no excess skin, the fat pockets can be accessed through an incision made in the inner lining of the lower eyelid.
Who might benefit from eyelid surgery such as blepharoplasty?

• 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 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 the eye doctors will listen closely to your 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, they 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.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about eyelid surgery such as eye lifts or blepharoplasty for droopy, puffy or saggy eyelids, please call Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937 to schedule an appointment.