Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, corrects sagging or drooping eyelids, as well as bags and bulges around the eyes. These conditions develop as a result of laxness of the eyelid skin and accumulation of fat around the eyes. It is not limited to older patients, as many individuals inherit a predisposition toward development of fat pouches at an early age. Thus, surgical correction is appropriate for all age groups.

Following the natural lines of your eyelids, the surgeon makes incisions using a scalpel or laser (see Laser Treatments / Surgery). Excess skin can then be removed by traditional excision or by laser; nonessential fat is removed precisely (to avoid a future "hollowing" appearance as the patient increases in age). Very fine sutures are used to close the incisions (and can be removed in two to seven days).

Following surgery, to help speed their recovery, patients are asked to apply ice compresses during the first 24 to 48 hours, and antibiotic drops for a week. With the reduction of swelling, most patients are able to return to their normal activities in less than a week.

In some cases, abnormal eyelid conditions can be caused by other medical problems such as allergies or thyroid disorders. In these patients, the proper treatment may be medical rather than surgical.

For eyelid surgery in Thousand Oaks or Oxnard California contact Dr. David Michelson