INITIAL RECOVERY TIME: 7 DAYS
FINAL RESULTS: 3 MONTHS
Your eyes are often the first facial feature people notice and the first place they look to decipher your emotions. They’re also the first area of the face to show signs of aging, with the most delicate skin anywhere on the body. Wrinkles, puffiness and sagging skin don’t just make a person appear older—these effects of aging can cause the eyes to look tired or grumpy, or even obstruct vision in some cases.
Eyelid lift surgery, called blepharoplasty, can address unwanted signs of aging on the upper or lower eyelids, removing excess skin, repositioning fat and muscle, and restoring a more youthful, open appearance to the eyes. Dr. Chen tailors the procedure to your specific needs, making subtle changes that deliver substantial yet natural improvements.
Blepharoplasty may include surgery to the upper eyelids, the lower eyelids, or both. The specific technique Dr. Chen uses during surgery depends on your anatomy, your concerns, and your goals.
Through an incision made in the natural crease of the upper eyelid, Dr. Chen removes excess, sagging skin and repositions remaining fat, muscle and skin to smooth wrinkles and create a more natural, refreshed upper eyelid contour. Once healed, the scar is well-concealed in the eyelid crease. Surgery can take as little as 1 hour to perform, and post-operative discomfort is minimal.
If you are bothered by puffy bags or sagging skin gathered below your eyes, Dr. Chen may recommend lower eyelid surgery. Incisions are located along the lower lash line, through which Dr. Chen will remove and reposition herniated fat and remove excess skin, restoring a smoother contour to the area. As with upper eyelid surgery, a lower lid procedure takes about 1 hour to perform and results in little post-operative discomfort.
If you’re bothered by an angry or concerned look mainly due to furrows between your eyebrows or lines on the outside of your eyes, BOTOX Cosmetic injections may provide the results you seek without surgery. BOTOX relaxes the muscles around your eyes to prevent you from forming “expression lines” such as frown lines or crow’s feet, providing up to 3 months of improvement. BOTOX, fillers and skin resurfacing treatments can also enhance the results of eyelid surgery by smoothing and firming the skin around your eyes and upper face.
Our eyelid lift patients are typically back to normal activities less than 2 weeks after surgery. However, strenuous activities such as bending, straining and lifting are off-limits for about this time. The first few days after surgery, your eyes will appear slightly swollen and bruised, and they may tire easily. Pain medication can help manage discomfort, but most patients don’t require prescription meds for very long. Applying cold compresses as well as lubricating ointment will help.
When I met Dr. Stephen Chen, he painted a realistic picture for me. He took time to assess my problem, ask questions and make suggestions. Dr. Chen is definitely an artist…his work, along with his professional yet warm manner, make him an exceptional doctor.
-Actual Patient of Dr. Chen
Most patients return to work within about 1 week, although you may need to take more frequent breaks at first to rest your eyes, especially if you work at a computer. The majority of post-operative swelling and bruising subside within 2 weeks, and results continue to improve subtly for several more weeks. Final results are usually in place about 3 months after surgery. Dr. Chen will explain the surgery and recovery process in detail at your consultation.
Bothersome effects of aging are rarely isolated to one area of the face. Many patients combine an eyelid lift with brow lift or facelift surgery to rejuvenate the upper, mid and lower face. Combining multiple procedures into a single operation can help Dr. Chen achieve more comprehensive, naturally appealing results with a single recovery period for the patient. He’ll be happy to discuss options for combining procedures at your consultation, so you can choose the best course of action for your needs.