Upper Eyelid Surgery
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Upper Blepharoplasty in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Francisco
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Before and After Patient Gallery
Results you can trust. We encourage you to visit our before and after patient gallery and our transformation gallery to view actual patient results from eyelid procedures performed at Wave Plastic Surgery. Witness the transformative effects of upper eyelid surgery and set realistic expectations for your desired outcome.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
Give us a call today to schedule your upper eyelid surgery consultation with one of our renowned plastic surgeons at Wave Plastic Surgery.
Le Lost 48 Pounds And Transformed Her Full Face
— Le Qiao, Full Body & Face Transformation
What Is Upper Eyelid Surgery?
Upper eyelid surgery is a cosmetic procedure designed to correct the sagging, drooping, or puffiness in the upper eyelids by removing excess skin, muscle, and sometimes fat. Also known as upper blepharoplasty, this procedure helps improve vision in cases where the drooping eyelid obstructs sight, but it is most commonly performed to enhance appearance.
At Wave Plastic Surgery, upper eyelid surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgeries at our facilities in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Orange County. Our experienced surgeons tailor each upper eyelid surgery to the individual needs of our patients, ensuring that the results look natural and meet your aesthetic goals. This procedure is popular among men and women who want to correct the signs of aging or enhance their overall facial harmony.
Note: We also commonly perform a modified version of the upper eyelid surgery for patients of Asian descent who are looking for a more significant and broader appearance of their eyes. Visit our Double Eyelid Surgery page for more information.
Get Your Consultation Today
Give us a call today to schedule your consultation with one of our plastic surgeons at Wave Plastic Surgery to learn more about lower and upper blepharoplasty procedure and cost.
When To Consider Upper Eyelid Surgery?
- Sagging Eyelids Aging can cause excess skin to droop over the eyelids, creating a hooded appearance. This can make you look older and tired, even if you feel energetic.
- Puffiness Fat deposits in the upper eyelids can cause puffiness, giving a heavy or tired appearance. Upper eyelid surgery can remove or reposition this fat for a smoother look.
- Impaired Vision Sometimes, sagging eyelids obstruct your vision, making everyday tasks like reading or driving more difficult. Surgery can improve both appearance and functionality.
- Tired or Angry Expression Drooping eyelids can give off a tired or even angry look, despite how you feel. Surgery helps refresh your appearance, making you look more alert and approachable.
- Loss of Eyelid Contour Over time, the natural contour of the eyelids can diminish. Upper blepharoplasty restores this definition, enhancing the balance and shape of your eyes.
Does Eyelid Surgery Hurt?
Benefits of Upper Eyelid Surgery
Upper eyelid surgery at Wave Plastic Surgery offers aesthetic and functional improvements that can significantly enhance a patient’s quality of life. Some of the key benefits include:
- Enhanced Appearance: By removing excess skin and puffiness around the eyes, upper eyelid surgery can create a more youthful, refreshed, and alert appearance. This subtle change can take years off your face and restore a well-rested look.
- Improved Vision: Many patients struggle with impaired vision due to sagging or drooping upper eyelids. Upper blepharoplasty helps alleviate this problem by removing the excess skin that obstructs your field of vision, making daily activities such as reading and driving safer and more comfortable.
- Natural Results: At Wave Plastic Surgery, our surgeons are dedicated to achieving results that look natural. Every procedure is customized to preserve your unique facial features, avoiding any “overdone” appearance. Our goal is to enhance your beauty without making the surgery obvious.
- Increased Confidence and Self-Esteem: Feeling good about your appearance can significantly boost your self-confidence. Many patients report feeling more optimistic about their looks, leading to improved social interactions and an overall sense of well-being.
- Long-Lasting Results: Upper eyelid surgery at Wave results in long-term benefits. While aging continues, the procedure results are typically long-lasting, offering years of aesthetic and functional improvements.
“I come from a part of the country where people like to be very natural and recover quickly. That's what I strive to do.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Upper Eyelid Surgery?
Upper eyelid surgery can be a transformative procedure, but it’s important to ensure that you are a suitable candidate for this type of cosmetic enhancement. You may be an ideal candidate if you are:
- Experiencing droopy or sagging upper eyelids: If your eyelids droop significantly, it may make you look tired or older and interfere with your vision. Surgery can correct this by removing the excess skin, giving you a more alert and youthful look.
- Concerned about puffiness or excess skin around your eyes: Excess fat or skin around the upper eyelids can create a puffy appearance. If this is a concern, upper eyelid surgery can help smooth out the area, making your eyes look more vibrant and refreshed.
- In good overall health: General health plays a crucial role in the safety and success of the procedure. Candidates should be free from major health conditions that could interfere with healing or increase the risk of complications.
- Non-smoker (or willing to quit before surgery): Smoking can impede the healing process and affect the overall success of the surgery. If you are a smoker, you will need to quit several weeks prior to and after the surgery to ensure optimal recovery and results.
- Realistic in your expectations regarding the procedure results: While upper eyelid surgery can dramatically improve your appearance and restore function, it’s crucial to have a realistic understanding of what the surgery can achieve. Your surgeon will work with you to align your expectations with the potential outcomes.
During your consultation at Wave Plastic Surgery, one of our board-certified surgeons will evaluate your medical history, skin condition, and aesthetic goals to determine if upper eyelid surgery is right for you.
"With innovative and open techniques as well as a superb attention to detail in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Peter Lee stands as an internationally acclaimed, award-winning and media-recognized physician. His consistently outstanding results in restoring the face and body by creating balance and beauty are what have made him the go-to expert in cosmetic surgery.”
Upper blepharoplasty: Your Top 5 Questions Answered
How Upper Eyelid Surgery Is Performed
- Incision Placement: To ensure minimal visible scarring, the surgeon makes a discreet incision along the natural crease of your upper eyelid. This strategic placement helps hide the incision line once it has healed, blending naturally into the folds of your eyelid.
- Removal of Excess Skin, Fat, and Tissue: Through the incision, the surgeon carefully removes any excess skin, fat, or muscle contributing to drooping, puffiness, or a heavy appearance around the eyes. This step is crucial in reducing vision impairment caused by sagging eyelids while creating a more refreshed look.
- Tightening and Reshaping: After removing the excess tissue, the remaining skin is gently tightened, and the eyelid is reshaped to create a smoother, more youthful contour. The surgeon focuses on achieving a natural result that enhances your facial features without appearing overdone.
- Closure of Incisions: Once the necessary adjustments are made, the incisions are closed with fine sutures to promote optimal healing and minimize scarring. The precise nature of the closure ensures that your eyelids heal smoothly, leading to natural-looking results.
Recovery and Results
- First Few Days: In the initial days following surgery, it’s normal to experience mild discomfort, swelling, and bruising around the eyes. These side effects are temporary and can be managed with cold compresses, keeping your head elevated, and prescribed pain medications. Some patients may also experience sensitivity to light or slight dryness in the eyes, which can be relieved with lubricating eye drops.
- First Week: Most patients can resume daily activities and return to work within 7 to 10 days post-surgery. However, avoiding strenuous activities, including heavy lifting and vigorous exercise, is recommended for at least two weeks to allow your eyelids ample time to heal without putting unnecessary strain on them. You may also need to avoid wearing contact lenses during this time to prevent irritation.
- Final Results: While the initial swelling and bruising will subside within a few weeks, it can take several months for the final results to settle fully. As your eyelids continue to heal, the improvements in the appearance of your eyes will become more pronounced. Your eyes will look brighter, youthful, and alert, with the excess skin and puffiness significantly reduced or eliminated.
Get Your Consultation Today
Give us a call today to schedule your upper eyelid surgery consultation with one of our plastic surgeons at Wave Plastic Surgery.
5 Do’s & Don’ts After Upper Eyelid Surgery
Types of Upper Eyelid Surgery Offered at Wave Plastic Surgery
Aging upper eyelid surgery, also known as upper blepharoplasty, is designed for individuals who want to address the natural signs of aging, such as droopy or sagging eyelids. The eyes are often the first point of facial contact, and loose or poorly defined eyelids can make a person appear tired or older than they feel. This procedure removes excess skin and tightens the remaining tissue, creating a more youthful, refreshed look.
Several factors can contribute to sagging or loose eyelids, including the natural aging process, stretched-out skin, and genetic predisposition. Upper blepharoplasty helps correct these issues, offering a rejuvenated appearance that still looks natural. By restoring the shape and contour of your eyelids, this surgery can enhance your overall facial aesthetics and boost your self-confidence.
Upper eyelid surgery is an effective solution for patients seeking a refreshed, alert, and more youthful appearance. Whether due to aging or genetics, this procedure helps restore balance and definition to your eyes, making them look as vibrant as you feel.
Asian Double Eyelid Surgery
Get Your Consultation Today
Give us a call today to schedule your upper eyelid surgery consultation with one of our plastic surgeons at Wave Plastic Surgery.
Our Upper Eyelid Specialists
Peter Lee
M.D., F.A.C.S.
Dr. Peter is CEO and Chief Surgeon of WAVE Plastic Surgery Center with over 20 years of plastic surgery experience, overlooking 30K+ successful plastic surgery cases. He has mentored master surgeons around the world in state-of-the-art techniques, and has been inducted into the RealSelf 100 & 500 Hall of Fame.
His many accolades and shining results are evidence of Peter’s expertise.
Ben Lee
M.D., F.A.C.S.
Throughout 20+ years in aesthetic plastic surgery, Dr. Ben Lee has always been passionate about using his skills to impart a lasting, positive impact on the lives of his patients.
“Time and time again, I have witnessed dramatic improvements in a patient’s confidence and well-being after a relatively minor cosmetic or reconstructive procedure. As a surgeon, that brings me great joy.” — Dr. Ben Lee
Denise Wong
M.D., F.A.C.S.
With a focus on Upper Eyelid Surgery, Dr. Wong has a deep understanding of the unique anatomy of the eyelid which is critical in performing this highly technical and intricate surgery. She is experienced in approaching various specific eyelid characteristics for different ethnicities, especially Asian cultures.
She uses precise microplastic surgical techniques to enhance the natural shape and inherent beauty of your eyes, making them appear bigger and brighter.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Upper Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
The results of upper eyelid surgery are long-lasting, with most patients enjoying their refreshed appearance for 5-10 years or more. However, the natural aging process will continue, and some patients may choose to undergo additional procedures in the future.
The eyelid surgery is ambulatory, so patients return home the day of the surgery. After 7 to 10 days, the sutures are removed, and any swelling will quickly subside. The swelling usually dissipates completely 2 weeks after the Blepharoplasty. Patients typically return to work a week after the surgery.
The average price for eyelid surgery, or Blepharoplasty, is around $4,000 for upper eyelid surgery and $5,000 for lower eyelid surgery. Most Plastic Surgeons will bundle upper and lower eyelid surgery for a discounted price.
Dark circles or “bags” under the eyes are treated with lower eyelid surgery if they are the result of shadowing due to bulging or fat or sagging skin. If the dark circles are the result of pigmentation changes, skin lightening creams or light chemical peels may be able to treat the issue.
The development of wrinkles around the eyes is a natural part of aging. Over time, the skin around the eyes becomes less elastic, which causes the eyelids to droop. Once this process begins, a person may start tensing their forehead muscles to lift their drooping eyelids. This can cause headaches and fatigue. If you are experiencing these symptoms, or want a more youthful, energetic look, you may be a good candidate for a blepharoplasty.
Eyelid surgery typically begins with local anesthesia to numb the area, along with light intravenous sedation. Patients remain awake, but stay comfortable and do not experience any pain during the procedure. After any surgical procedure, some discomfort can be expected. All patients are provided with prescriptions for pain medication. Patients typically have very mild discomfort after their eyelid procedures.
Eyelid skin is the thinnest skin on the body. As such, it heals more quickly than any other skin on the body. The incisions made during an eye lift procedure are made along the eye’s natural creases. These incisions will heal quickly and be almost imperceptible and are typically only visible when the eyes are closed.
Blepharoplasty is a relatively quick and non-invasive cosmetic procedure. A plastic surgeon can perform the upper Blepharoplasty in an hour and the lower Blepharoplasty in another hour.
For some patients, sagging or drooping eyelids can obstruct their vision. By removing the excess skin and tissue, upper eyelid surgery can help restore a clearer field of vision.
Give us a call today to schedule your Eyelid Surgery consultation with one of our plastic surgeons at Wave Plastic Surgery.
Medcially Reviewed By Dr. Ben Lee
Proudly using his creativity to help patients regain a sense of wholeness and confidence, Dr. Ben Lee takes a very patient-centered approach to care.
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Le Lost 48 Pounds And Transformed Her Full Face
— Le Qiao, Full Body & Face Transformation
