Upper Lid Eyelift Surgery: How, What And Why

Getting older doesn’’t just mean being sore longer after a vigorous hike or a healthy bike ride. Yes, you’ll probably feel more creaky and achy in the mornings in general. Not just after some physical exertion the night before. You simply feel the effects of life more the longer you live it. It’s part of the deal. Unfortunately, the effects of aging don’t stop there. As we age, our bodies physically change as well.

Usually, these changes aren’t ones we’ll enjoy seeing in the mirror. We don’t have to look far, either, to see one of these changes. The skin around our eyes – our eyelids –loses its elasticity as we get older. That process, combined with the constant pull from gravity can cause excessive skin to collect in the eyelids. The result? Droopy, puffy, and tired looking eyes. All the time.

To some degree or another (if the eyelid skin stretching effect of aging runs in your family, for example, you’re more likely to experience noticeable changes yourself), we’ll all deal with physical changes to the way the skin around our eyes looks. On the other hand, there is a relatively simple cosmetic procedure available today that can dramatically reduce this specific effect of the aging process. An upper lid eyelift (blepharoplasty) procedure could very well improve your appearance, self-image, and provide improved function to boot.

What is it?

Put simply, a blepharoplasty is the shaping of the skin around your eye to achieve a more youthful, rested look and eliminate eyelid sagging. With an upper lid eyelift, your GLOW Surgical Arts cosmetic surgeon will carefully measure the eyelid skin and then precisely remove a small amount of skin, muscle and/or fat to achieve a natural, less wrinkled lid appearance. The procedure is performed at our Redwood City cosmetic surgery office, takes one to two hours to complete, and you’ll be able to return home shortly afterwards.

The recovery process

All in all, the post procedure process for the patient is fairly simple. You'’ll have stitches in the eyelid for a few days. Some swelling and bruising is common and normal. Even those should be fairly brief, dissipating completely within a couple of weeks and easily coverable with glasses or makeup until then. You’ll return to the GLOW surgery office one day after the procedure and then again at the five day mark for removal of any sutures. Any pain or discomfort in the first 24 to 48 hours after the procedure can be soothed with pain medication if need be, and you should be able to return to work and resume life as normal within days.

Results

After the procedure, you can expect to look less sad when you see yourself in the mirror. Your eyelids will look more open and alert, and the difference on the overall look of your face will be dramatic. If you’re experiencing functional issues or physical irritation from the excess skin around your eyes (vision impairment or irritation from excess folds of eyelid skin rubbing together), those too will be positively impacted. While an upper lid eyelift won’t stop the effects of aging and won’t last forever, the results are long lasting (as long as 10 years).

Aging is going to affect us all. There’s no way around it. When it comes to the way our faces look, the way our eyes and eyelids appear, however, there are ways to combat the aging process. And, assuming you’re in otherwise relative good health (and hopefully a non-smoker), you’re most likely a perfect candidate for this upper lid eyelift procedure. If you’re at all interested in even just finding out more about what the procedure entails and what it could mean for you, a GLOW cosmetic surgeon can go over the entire process with you during a free, no obligation consultation. Ultimately, the decision is yours. If you’re tired of looking, well, tired, an upper lid eyelift just might be the solution. We’re simply here to help you achieve that solution if you opt to pursue it.

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