Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Offered at our convenient location in Baltimore, Maryland

Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure that involves a surgeon removing excess skin, fat and tissue from the eyelids. It is a great way to achieve a youthful and refreshed appearance for your eyes.

Baltimore-area specialist Dr. Alyson Wells offers cutting-edge eyelid surgery at Valley Plastic Surgery and Medi-Spa. For more information, call (410) 628-8200 or contact us online.

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About Eyelid Surgery

As we age, excess skin forms in the eye area and the skin loses elasticity. Fatty tissue accumulates under the skin, and the eyes appear tired, wrinkled or puffy. Many of us end up looking older than we feel, even with a good skin care regimen. Friends, family-members and co-workers may notice how tired we look, even with a full night’s sleep. Genetic factors and body chemistry can even cause these aging effects in younger people. Luckily, eyelid surgery can help to solve this problem.

Eyelid surgery provides individuals with a solution for improving sagging above and below the eyes and reducing puffiness of the eyelids. Eyelid puffiness is often caused by bulging fatty deposits. Upper and lower eyelid lifts strategically remove the excess skin and fat and rejuvenate the eye area. ⁽¹⁾

What Can I Do About Drooping Brows?

Blepharoplasty cannot correct drooping eyebrows or completely eradicate wrinkles. It is often combined with a brow lift, BOTOX® or facelift to improve droopy eyebrows, crow’s feet and facial sagging. Sometimes fine wrinkling of the lower eyelid can be addressed by laser treatments or chemical peels. Eyelid surgery with these options can successfully restore a youthful, revitalized appearance to your entire upper face for years to come.

Benefits of Eyelid Surgery

Some of the benefits of eyelid surgery include:

Reducing droopiness and bagginess in the upper eyelid
Clearing blocked field of vision caused by drooping upper eyelid
Reducing the appearance of “bags” under the eyes
Appearing more alert and well-rested
Appearing more youthful
Experiencing a boost in self-confidence

Who is a Candidate for Eyelid Surgery?

If you have drooping, crepey skin on either of your eyelids, or enlarged bags forming below your eyes, eyelid surgery might be right for you. To be considered eligible, you should be in relatively good health. This is because your body needs to be able to heal from the surgery and recover so that you can experience the desired results. You should have realistic expectations and a positive outlook. There are numerous reasons why your eyelids might be bothersome to you, physically and aesthetically. We can discuss whether or not eyelid surgery is the right solution for you at your personal consultation.

Personal Consultation

At your personal consultation, we can tell you everything you need to know about eyelid surgery. We will examine your eyes and determine if eyelid surgery is a wise procedure for you to undergo. We will ask you about your medical history and assess your current health status. With the information that we gather, we can devise a personalized procedure plan for you moving forward. To schedule your personal consultation, call (410) 628-8200 or fill out this inquiry form.

Preparation

We will give you personalized preparation instructions to help ensure a safe and successful eyelid surgery. This may include stopping or starting certain medications and certain restrictions and recommendations. For two weeks prior to your treatment, you should avoid excess sunlight. Having a sunburn on or near your eyelids could increase discomfort during your recovery. If you smoke, you should stop, both in the run-up to your surgery and during your recovery. The effects of smoking on your health may reduce your ability to heal.

Eyelid Surgery Procedure

The eyelid surgery procedure can involve treatment on the upper eyelids, the lower eyelids, or both (quad blepharoplasty). It begins when we administer anesthesia so that you feel no discomfort during your procedure, this may be local or general depending on the nature of your treatment plan. Dr. Allen begins by making the necessary incisions. The incision for upper lid blepharoplasty is placed so that it falls naturally in the crease. The incision for the lower lid blepharoplasty is placed close to the lash line, along the fold of the lower eyelid, to ensure the resulting scar is hidden in the natural contours of your face. Both types of incision heal very well and are usually almost imperceptible. When the incisions are made, Dr. Allen will remove excess skin, fat and tissue and reconstruct your eyelids for an enhanced appearance. ⁽²⁾ The procedure typically lasts from 45 minutes to two hours, depending on the specific details of the procedure.

Recovery

Patients who receive general anesthesia will remain in our recovery room until awake and comfortable prior to returning home. The majority of our patients experience only mild bruising and swelling following their eyelid procedures, and many can return to work within a week. Patients who undergo more extensive procedures may need a longer time off work (approximately 10 days). We will provide you with personalized recovery instructions that will include how to care for your wounds and tips for speeding up your recovery.

Results

Swelling may last for up to two weeks, and it may take several months to heal entirely. However, the general results of your eyelid surgery should be visible immediately and continue to improve as swelling subsides. Your eyelids will be smoother and tighter, and you will have a more energized and youthful appearance. These results will be long-lasting. It is also possible to receive additional and alternative procedures to further enhance your appearance.

Corresponding & Complementary Procedures

Here at Valley Plastic Surgery and Medi-Spa, we offer procedures that can correspond with and complement your eyelid surgery.

Brow Lift

A brow lift is a cosmetic surgery that raises the eyebrows and forehead to reduce the drooping effects that aging can have on this part of the face. It involves a surgeon making incisions near the hairline and removing excess skin to raise the forehead and eyebrows. This procedure is commonly performed alongside eyelid surgery.

Botox

Botox is a cosmetic treatment that can reduce wrinkles and fine lines for a more youthful look. It involves a provider injecting the botox formula into the skin, where it temporarily blocks nerve impulses that activate the muscles responsible for fine lines and wrinkles. Botox treatment can work in combination with your eyelid surgery to improve your overall appearance and give you a refreshed look!

To read more about procedures at Valley Plastic Surgery and Medi-Spa, visit our blog.

How Much Does Eyelid Surgery Cost in Baltimore?

To find out how much eyelid surgery costs at Valley Plastic Surgery and Medi-Spa, call (410) 628-8200 or visit our contact page.

FAQ

Does eyelid surgery differ between your male and female patients?

There are some subtle yet extremely important nuances that differentiate eyelid lifts in men and women. The position of the surgical incision, the length of the surgical incision, and the optimal amount of skin removed can be a bit different in men and women. Your procedure will be individualized and customized to address your specific concerns and goals, and your results will be appropriately feminine or more masculine.

Will eyelid surgery get rid of the dark circles under my eyes?

Lower eyelid blepharoplasty can be helpful in improving or eradicating the dark shadows from this region. However, this depends on the factors contributing to the dark color. In many circumstances, transfer of micro-particulate fat (either as combined or sometimes as a stand-alone procedure) into this area will be needed to give the most satisfactory results. There are also patients that will benefit from a mid-facelift procedure to address the dark coloration. The techniques used by Dr. Wells to improve the area around the eyes are highly individualized and customized to each patient’s particular desires and goals.

How do I know if I need eyelid surgery, a brow lift, or both?

The good news is that you don’t need to know that when you make your consultation appointment at Valley Plastic Surgery! That is precisely why sophisticated patients choose Dr. Wells — she is board-certified in both plastic surgery and otolaryngology/head and neck surgery, and she helps you decide which procedure, or combination of procedures, is right for you.

Will my medical insurance pay for eyelid surgery?

Most eyelid lifts are not covered by insurance benefits or health savings accounts. A select group of upper eyelid lifts, usually in older patients with tremendous skin excess, may be covered if objective visual field testing demonstrates that a patient’s vision is impaired and blocked by the overhanging skin and that taping the excess out of the way actually improves the vision. Dr. Wells is very familiar with the criteria set forth by insurance companies that impact the determination of “medical necessity” and will discuss the testing and likelihood of insurance coverage for the procedure during your consultation if you are possibly a candidate for this approach.

How much does eyelid surgery cost?

The fees associated with an eyelid lift (blepharoplasty), similar to other cosmetic procedures, depend upon several factors, so it is difficult to give an absolute cost. This is especially true for eyelid procedures, as they are frequently combined with other facial procedures (laser resurfacing, fat transfer, chemical peels, brow lift), but in some cases can be very comfortably performed with just local numbing medicine and an oral sedative, thus eliminating the cost of anesthesia services.

Valley Plastic Surgery is knowledgeable about regional and national trends in costs associated with providing this procedure, including the costs associated with the anesthesia and the operating room, and we strive to be competitive with plastic surgeons in the Baltimore-Washington area.

However, some variability in fees throughout the region may reflect use of cheaper and perhaps less satisfactory materials and supplies, less training or experience of the physician performing the procedure if other than a board-certified plastic surgeon, less training of the individual providing the anesthesia if other than a board-certified anesthesiologist, or lack of accreditation of the surgery facility in which the procedure is being performed. In other words, Dr. Wells is a board-certified plastic surgeon and a board-certified otolaryngologist/head and neck surgeon who operates in her own accredited surgery center with a board-certified anesthesiologist providing the anesthesia.

A detailed estimate of the fees, customized for your procedure, will be provided to you following your consultation with Dr. Wells.

References

Rebowe RE, Runyan C. Blepharoplasty. PubMed. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482381/
Scawn R, Gore S, Joshi N. Blepharoplasty Basics for the Dermatologist. Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery. 2016;9(2):80-84. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-2077.184050