Blepharoplasty
Wake Plastic Surgery proudly serves Cary, Raleigh, and the surrounding areas.
Eyelid surgery can make a patient appear more refreshed, awake, and youthful. And in many cases, it can also improve peripheral vision. As we age, the skin of both the upper and lower lids can become redundant. And the tissues behind the skin of the lids can lose their tone that can lead to “puffiness” or eyelid “bags”.
Blepharoplasty Highlights
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- 1 Week
out of work
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- 4-6 Week
Recovery Period
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- Care Credit Financing
6 months, 24 months
& 36 months
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- Starting Cost
$6,575
Why choose Wake Plastic Surgery?
Our board-certified plastic surgeons perform eyelid surgery in his private, accredited, on-site surgical suite. The procedure can be performed with either local anesthesia only or with IV sedation, which minimizes the recovery process. His background in anatomy allows him to specifically identify and address the root problems associated with blepharoplasty surgery.
Our Blepharoplasty ResultsShould I treat the upper lids, lower lids, or both?
Removal of the excess upper lid skin can effectively increase the aperture of the eye, eliminate a tired or fatigued appearance, and can even improve peripheral vision. Notice the restored definition of the upper lid crease.
Upper lid blepharoplasty
Upper eyelid surgery is a relatively simple and straightforward procedure. Dr. Stoeckel typically performs this surgery with just local anesthetics and the procedure only takes about 30-40 minutes to complete. The downtime is minimal and there is usually very little bruising or swelling. Upper blepharoplasty surgery can correct the “tired” or fatigued appearance of the lids and give a patient a brighter and more awakened look. Many women report that they can apply their eyelid makeup again once the excess skin has been removed.
A well-performed lower lid surgery can erase the dark circles and baggy skin that can make people look aged and tired.
Lower lid blepharoplasty
Lower eyelid surgery, in most cases, requires the manipulation of the tissue under the skin in order to achieve effective and natural appearing results. Dr. Stoeckel releases a piece of tissue called the orbital septum and manipulates the lower eyelid fatty tissue to eliminate the “eyebags” and “tear trough” deformities that bother so many patients. The recovery time is a bit longer than the upper lid surgery, but the end results are well worth the recovery “down time”.
Correction of all four lids can often be quite dramatic. This patient benefited from a complete eyelid makeover.
Upper and lower lid blepharoplasty
Many patients decide to have both the upper and lower eyelids corrected at the same time for complete eyelid rejuvenation. In fact, many also combine the eyelid surgery with other facial procedures such as face lifting and brow lifting.
Where are the scars?
The scar for the upper lid procedure is hidden exactly within the normal lid crease. It is only visible with the eyes closed and even then is quite difficult to perceive. The lower lid scar runs just beneath the eyelid lash margin and into a natural “crow’s feet” wrinkle. The scar is a bit more perceptible than the upper lid scar, but is typically very well tolerated.
The left photo demonstrates the upper lid scar which is well hidden within the normal upper lid crease. The lower lid scar on the right is located just under the lashes. The extension of this scar falls into one of the natural wrinkles just lateral to the corner of the eye.
How bad is the recovery process?
The upper lid surgery has very little if any pain associated after the procedure. Almost all patients can complete the surgery with just ibuprofen for pain control. Some patients have bruising that can even involve the lower lids, but many patients are fortunate enough to have no bruising at all. There is a bit of swelling when the sutures are removed at 5 days after surgery. Most patients see near complete results in about 2-3 weeks. The lower lid surgery recovery is less predictable. There is a higher risk of prolonged swelling and bruising. Ideal results may take 3 months to achieve, but most patients are quite comfortable with their appearance after 4-5 weeks. The pain is still quite minimal even if the swelling and bruising are more problematic.
Can the surgery be done with just local anesthesia?
The upper lids alone are done with just local anesthesia in most cases. The procedure is very minimally invasive and most patients prefer to “walk in and walk out” for upper lid blepharoplasty. The lower lid procedure is a bit more involved and typically is completed using a sedation anesthesia. But there certainly are patients that can have both the upper and lower lids completed with just a local anesthetic.
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