Department of Surgery

Strong Health's Specialists in Plastic Surgery

Cosmetic Surgery

Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty): What to Expect

Blepharoplasty is usually an outpatient procedure lasting between one to three hours. Normally you’ll be given local anesthesia. That means you’ll be sedated and the area around the surgery will be numbed. You’re awake during the surgery, but relaxed and feeling no pain.

What Happens During Surgery

The incisions for the upper eyelids are usually made through the central portion. A segment of skin is removed along with portions of fat and muscle underneath the skin. For the lower eyelids, the incisions are made about 1/16th of an inch below the rim of the lower eyelid and extend onto the side of the face. Again, the procedure involves removing skin, fat and muscle.

Risks

All surgery includes some risk and uncertainty. Serious complications or side effects of this surgery are quite rare, but they include:

You may also have difficulty closing your eyes when you sleep. (In rare cases this condition may be permanent. Another very rare complication is ectropion, a pulling down of the lower lids, which can be corrected with further surgery.)

Learn More About Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)