Eyelid Lift Surgery
Conveniently located to serve New York City
Eyelid lift surgery (blepharoplasty) is a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure to remove excess skin, muscle, and fat from the eyelid for a rejuvenated facial appearance. When you have puffy, saggy or droopy eyelids (scientifically known as ptosis), it can create a tired, aged appearance with which you may not be happy. The blepharoplasty (eyelift) procedure can restore the youthful appearance of your eyes. To schedule a consultation to find out if you are a good candidate for our eyelid lift in New York eyelid surgery procedure or another facial cosmetic surgery procedure, please call our office at 212-308-1566.
Please see our Blepharoplasty before-and-after gallery.
Signs You May Be a Good Candidate for Eyelid Surgery
If you are unhappy with any of the following, you may be a good candidate for blepharoplasty:
- Skin hanging over the natural fold of the eyelid
- Skin drooping or bulging over the eyelashes
- Puffy upper or lower eyelid skin
- Deep furrows beneath your eyes
- Bags beneath your eyes
- Lower eyelids drooping downward
These changes to our face are not at all uncommon as we age. Often times the eyelid sagging and puffiness can be caused by genetics and natural changes that take place in aging. Other factors that can worsen and accelerate these changes are excessive sun exposure, smoking, poor diet and alcohol consumption.
Eyelid surgery provides improvement that can be both cosmetic and functional—cosmetic because it can enhance the appearance of your entire face, and functional because excess, hanging upper eyelid skin can interfere with your peripheral vision. In some cases, particularly in congenital ptosis, drooping eyelids could cause other eye-related problems such as strabismus (crossed eye) and amblyopia (lazy eye). Additionally, neurological conditions such as Horner Syndrome can cause eyelid falling or swelling.
A blepharoplasty can alleviate these vision issues associated with ptosis, especially in children with severe drooping eyelids that impact their ocular motility. This is why it’s important to have a thorough evaluation with a board-certified ophthalmologist. Our medical director at Manhattan Surgical Care, Dr. Pakeman, is not only a board-certified ophthalmologist, but also a cosmetic surgeon who specializes in oculofacial surgery. When you undergo eyelid surgery at our New York office, you can trust that you are in skilled, experienced hands.
Dr. Pakeman also offers Asian eyelid surgery which creates an eyelid fold parallel to the eyelash line, double eyelid surgery.
Eyelid surgery does not address a sagging brow, crow’s feet or other types of wrinkles. For a comprehensive rejuvenation effect, some people choose to combine their blepharoplasty with BOTOX® or facial surgeries.
Your Eyelid Lift Consultation
During your consultation, you and Dr. Pakeman will discuss your expectations and goals for the eyelid lift procedure. He will guide you through the eyelid surgery process from start to finish, giving you preparation and aftercare instructions.
Dr. Pakeman will ask you about your medical history, including whether you have issues like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, smoking history, a tendency to scar, thyroid issues, blood-clotting disorders, dry eyes, glaucoma, or a detached retina. He will need to know about any vision problems and whether you wear glasses or contact lenses.
He will evaluate your physical health and examine your face. Photographs may be taken as a reference. Your concerns, age, skin type, and ethnic background will all be taken into account when creating the surgical plan.
The Eyelid Surgery Procedure
A Blepharoplasty can take about an hour to be completed by Dr. Pakeman. It involves making inconspicuous incisions in the crease of the upper eyelid just above the lash line of the upper eyelid or in the lower lid just below the lash line. If skin is not being removed in the lower lid, a transconjunctival blepharoplasty incisions can be made on the inside of the lower eyelid without cutting the eyelid skin, no scar blepharoplasty. The results of your eyelid surgery will last many years. For some people, any return to sagging or puffy upper eyelids is usually because of a descending brow, which can be raised with a brow lift.
The Recovery Process
After the procedure, your eyelids may feel sore or tight. Your eyes may feel dry, sticky, or itchy for at least a week. You may also experience swelling and bruising, which you can relieve with cold compresses, eye drops, and various medications. It helps to elevate your head whenever lying down or sleeping.
You will need to follow Dr. Pakeman’s recovery directions closely. These will include attending follow-up appointments, notifying the office if you encounter any issues, and avoiding specific activities while healing.
The results of your eyelid lift surgery may last five to seven years. The effects of the aging process will continue to develop over time.
The Cost of an Eyelid Lift
The price of an eyelid lift is determined based on factors like the surgeon’s fee and the costs of the anesthesia, operating room, prescriptions, and any necessary tests.
When eyelid surgery is purely cosmetic in nature, its cost is not covered by health insurance. When it is performed to address sagging upper eyelids that block vision, it may be considered a functional procedure. Contact your health insurance provider to inquire about coverage.
Contact Us to Learn More
When in New York and want to find out if you are a good candidate for eyelid surgery, please contact Manhattan Surgical Care to schedule a consultation with experienced cosmetic eyelid surgeon, Dr. Basil Pakeman. Get the refreshed look you want with an eyelid lift in New York City. Schedule an appointment with us today.