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Eyelid Lift in Santa Barbara
As we age, we all experience some sagging of our faces, including our eyelids. You may be a candidate for eyelift (blepharoplasty) if you have excessive eyelid sagging or wrinkled upper or lower eyelid skin. Eyelid lift can also be beneficial if your excess upper eyelid skin interferes with vision or if you have lost your natural upper eyelid crease. Blepharoplasty may also be indicated if you have puffy pouches of fat in the upper or lower lids that create a tired or aged appearance.
If you would like information about eyelid lifts or facial cosmetic surgery in Southern California, please send us an email or call our Santa Barbara plastic surgery office at 805-682-7222 to schedule a consultation.
Blepharoplasty patient shown before surgery with bags under
eyes and wrinkled folds of skin hooding eyelashes on upper lid.
The blepharoplasty procedure effectively produces a more youthful and rested appearance of the eyes. The procedure may also widen your visual fields if excessive upper lid skin has partially blocked vision.
Blepharoplasty is done on an outpatient basis in Santa Barbara under sedation or general anesthesia. The incisions are made where the natural crease should be in the upper lids and below the lash line in the lower lids. Excess fat and skin are removed where appropriate. If only excess fat is present in the lower lids, it may be removed through an incision inside the lower lids with no external incision or scar (transconjunctival blepharoplasty).
Incisions following natural contour lines in upper and
lower lids provide access to skin and fatty tissue. In some cases, excess fat
may be removed through an incision placed inside the lower eyelid.
All sutures are usually removed within 4-6 days. Initial mild discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication. Bruising and sensitivity to light persists for at least one to two weeks. Swelling progressively disappears in 1-2 weeks. Eye makeup can be used after sutures are removed. Contact lenses can be worn when comfortable, usually within 7-10 days.
Sutures close the incisions, leaving hairline scars that soon fade.
Additional procedures that may enhance the result of an eyelift (blepharoplasty) are: Forehead Lift, Face Lift, Chemical Peel or Laser Skin Resurfacing.
If eyelift surgery is being done to improve the field of vision, insurance may cover upper lid surgery. Otherwise, these procedures are considered cosmetic, and the patient is responsible for payment.
The postoperative patient with unobstructed upper
eyelids and firmer, smoother skin under the eyes.
The specific risks and the suitability of eyelift for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are very rare.
Illustrations courtesy the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
- Blepharoplasty Information from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Blepharoplasty Before and After Photos
- Schedule a personal consultation with an Aesthetic Surgical Partners plastic surgeon
- Contact us for additional information about Santa Barbara eyelid surgery