In upper eyelid surgery, the surgeon first marks your natural eyelid crease. This is done to keep the scars invisible along these natural folds. The incision is made, and excess fat, muscle, and loose skin are removed. The amount removed is tailored specifically to each individual’s needs. In some cases, fat may be added to restore a more youthful appearance to areas of hollowing. The surgeon uses fine sutures to close the incisions and minimize scar visibility.
In lower eyelid surgery, the surgeon makes an incision in an inconspicuous area along the lower lid lash line. Excess fat, muscle, and skin are then trimmed away before the incision is closed with fine sutures. A transconjunctival blepharoplasty may correct eyelid puffiness caused primarily by excess fat. In this case, the incision is made inside the lower eyelid, and excess fatty material is conservatively removed. When sutures are used to close this kind of incision, they are invisible to the eye. They are also self-dissolving and leave no visible scar. In some cases, the fat will be rearranged (fat transposition), allowing the puffy fat to be moved into an area with a hollow or dark appearance to create a more well-rested, natural appearance. Under normal conditions, blepharoplasty can take 1 to 3 hours.