New York Center for Facial Plastic Surgery
Schedule a consultation
Schedule today
Upper Blepharoplasty (Upper Eyelid Surgery)
Information About Upper Blepharoplasty Procedures with Dr. Andrew Jacono in New York
What Is Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty?
Many of Dr. Jacono’s patients find that they constantly look tired. Their family, friends, and colleagues say that they look stressed and exhausted, even if they aren’t. Usually, tired appearances are caused by drooping upper eyelids. In some cases, the upper eyelids sag so much that they obstruct vision.
Watch the Journey: A 59-Year-Old Woman’s Experience with Upper and Lower Eyelid Lift by Dr. Andrew Jacono. Real-life review 4 years post-surgery.
To treat these patients, Dr. Jacono performs an upper blepharoplasty or upper eyelid surgery. This upper eye blepharoplasty procedure tightens and removes excess, hanging eyelid skin. It also removes fat pockets in the upper lids that weigh down the eyelids.
For some patients, the brow and forehead also droop. In these cases, Dr. Jacono performs an endoscopic brow lift. In some cases, it may be necessary to do both the upper lid blepharoplasty and lower eyelids.
Aging of the Upper Eyelids
Usually, the upper eyelids sag because of a combination of age-related factors. These include, but are not limited to:
- Dermatochalasis, or the growth of extra, crepey eyelid skin. This is often referred to as hooded upper eyelids.
- Fat development in the corners of the eyes. These pockets of fat are called the medial or nasal fat pads. They look like pea-sized bulges.
- Descending brow and forehead tissue. This is generally caused by gravity’s constant pull on the face.
How Is Upper Blepharoplasty Performed?
During upper eyelid surgery, Dr. Jacono makes small incisions in the upper eyelids’ natural folds. These folds are called supra-tarsal creases. Incisions are virtually invisible once fully healed. If patients have hooding under the brow, the incisions must come out beyond the eyes’ outer corners.
Dr. Jacono believes that removing too much fat and muscle from the upper eyelids creates hollowness. This changes the natural character of the lids.
To prevent this, Dr. Jacono asks all patients to bring in photos of their younger selves. This allows him to recreate youthful upper eyelids. Once he understands the proportions of patients’ younger eyes, he makes operational plans.
Sometimes, excess fat in the eyes’ inner corners must be removed. In other cases, the brows require lifting in a procedure called a mini brow lift. This is performed with an endoscope through a small incision in the scalp.
Finally, Dr. Jacono may use a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser to enhance results. Lasers smooth wrinkles and resurface surrounding skin.
Upper eyelid surgery is a simple operation that can be performed with a local injection of novocaine. There is minimal discomfort, and the procedure usually takes about half an hour to perform.
How to Rejuvenate Hollow Upper Eyelids
Some patients’ upper eyelids become hollow with age. As extra volume is lost, their eyes appear more deep-set. The surrounding skin also looks crepey as the upper eyelids shrivel. In some cases, this hollowness can occur after an overly aggressive upper eyelid lift.
The best way to rejuvenate hollow upper eyelids is not to cut away the skin, but to restore volume. This can be done with a fat graft harvest from other parts of the body. Dr. Jacono usually harvests fat from the waist or thighs before injecting it into the eyelids.
What Is a Functional Upper Blepharoplasty?
If the eyelids begin to sag and hinder vision, a functional blepharoplasty may be medically necessary. This procedure corrects drooping upper eyelids using the same technique as cosmetic blepharoplasty. Functional blepharoplasty can be life-changing, as it corrects impaired vision that may cause daily difficulties.
In summary, functional blepharoplasty can help if patients:
- Have discomfort in the forehead region. This is often caused by the overuse of eyelid-lifting muscles
- Experience irritation because of excess skin friction
- Have impaired vision
What Is the Recovery Time for Upper Eyelid Surgery?
Upper blepharoplasty recovery is quick compared to other cosmetic surgeries. Most bruising resolves in just 4 days. By a week after surgery, camouflaging makeup can be used to get back to work.
The final results will be visible after the swelling resolves. The healing process usually takes a few weeks.
What is the Cost of Upper Blepharoplasty?
Upper blepharoplasty ranges in price depending on the patient and surgical goals. Surgery cost is always subject to change when the board-certified plastic surgeon begins work and sees how difficult or easy the surgery will be. If there are side effects that require more work and time, the cost will be higher.
Am I a Good Candidate for Upper Blepharoplasty?
Men and women with sagging eyelids may be good candidates for blepharoplasty. To best determine your needs, you should schedule a consultation with Dr. Jacono. He will offer you a platform to discuss your issues, concerns, and aesthetic goals.
To learn more about upper eyelid surgery, or to schedule your consultation with Dr. Jacono, please call his office. His New York City location can be reached at 212-570-2500. His Long Island location can be reached at 516-773-4646.
You can also complete an online consultation form to schedule your appointment. Our patient care coordinators will be happy to assist you.
Upper Blepharoplasty Before and After Photos
Upper Blepharoplasty Before and After:
This woman in her late forties wanted to lift her drooping cheeks and nasolabial folds and recreate a tighter jawline and get rid of her jowls. She had a mini facelift with a deep plane facelift of her fallen facial musculature.
A short scar facelift incision was used so the incisions are hidden on the inside and behind the ear so the hair can be worn up with a ponytail. She has her upper eyelid lift and lower eyelid lift with a fat transposition to fill her under eye circles performed at the same.
Upper Blepharoplasty Before and After:
This patient in her late forties had heavy upper eyelid skin, an excessive medial fat pad, and lateral hooding that made her eyelids look tired. She underwent an upper eyelid surgery with preservation of her muscle and upper eyelid fat pads that make the eyelids look natural and not plastic. The incisions are not visible because of the tailored hidden incisions.
Upper Eyelid Lift Before and After:
This patient in her late forties had excessive upper eyelid skin and wrinkling from excessive sun exposure. She underwent upper eyelid surgery to remove excess eyelid skin (called dermatochalasis) as well as laser resurfacing for eyelid skin wrinkles for complete upper eyelid rejuvenation.
Fat Transfer to Upper Eyelids Before and After:
When eyelids become hollowed and sunken with age creating wrinkly skin, Doctor Jacono will perform a fat graft injecting fat from another part of the body. This creates smoother skin and restores a youthful look to the upper eyelids.
Functional Upper Blepharoplasty Before and After:
Due to the heaviness of the upper eyelid skin this patient had weighing down of her upper eyelids that limited her vision. She had removal of her upper eyelid skin that opened her eyes up and improved her vision.
