The effects of time can cause the skin of the eyelids to stretch and the muscles under the skin to lose strength, resulting in sagging that can make you look tired no matter how well you’re sleeping and may even get in the way of your ability to see clearly. Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, can be performed to reduce sagging above the eyes and drooping lids below the eyes. If you’re tired of looking tired, schedule a consultation with Becker Plastics in New Jersey, serving the cities of Princeton, Voorhees, and Yardley, as well as Philadelphia.
What is Blepharoplasty?
The blepharoplasty procedure addresses the common problems of drooping skin and “bags” in the upper and lower eyelids.
Above the eye, sagging eyelid skin above the crease is tightened while excess fat tissue is removed and weak muscles are tightened. This creates tighter skin and more youthful contours in the eye area, making you look more alert and improving your vision.
Below the eye, fat that has accumulated over time to create a puffy look will be removed or redistributed and the skin will be tightened.
This pocket of under-eye fat can be hard to deal with as your skin ages and weakens, but surgery is an effective solution.
Once removed, the skin between your cheekbones and eyes will be smoother and less obvious. When you look in a mirror, you will see bright, alert, and youthful eyes, without all the excess drooping and bulging around them. Blepharoplasty patients can choose to have their plastic surgeon address the upper or lower eyelids alone, or both together in the same surgery.
How is Blepharoplasty Performed?
Blepharoplasty is an outpatient procedure. Some procedures require only local anesthesia, while more in-depth eyelid surgeries call for added sedation or even general anesthesia. Your surgeon will create a surgical plan with you before the day of the procedure.
Eyelid surgery requires finesse and skill and should only be performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. Here’s how each type of blepharoplasty is performed:
Upper blepharoplasty
A small incision is made in the eyelid crease. Fatty tissue in the skin above the eyelid is removed, muscles are tightened, and excess skin is cut away.
Lower blepharoplasty
There will be an incision made in the tiny crease just under your lower lashes or inside the lid. From this opening, the fatty tissue that has accumulated will be addressed and excess skin will be cut away as well.
Blepharoplasty Recovery
Prepare to take around two weeks off after your surgery. You will need to avoid makeup initially to prevent infection and reduce the chances of developing visible scarring. In the first few days after your surgery, you’ll want to focus on rest and use pain and anti-inflammation meds as directed. You’ll also need to use cold compresses to keep swelling under control.
To prepare for your recovery, make sure that you:
- Have someone staying with you or checking on you if you live alone
- Can lie down comfortably on your back with your head elevated
- Have access to cold compresses to manage swelling
- Avoid eye strain
- Avoid alcohol
Compresses are key to managing post-surgical discomfort and inflammation. Because you will have stitches around your eyes, you’ll want to build your cold compress from a lint-free cloth and a bag of something frozen, such as frozen peas.
When your hands are clean, wrap the frozen peas in the cloth and place them over your eyes. You can dampen the cloth only as directed by your doctor; adding water to your incision may not be the best choice early on. Your surgeon should give you detailed aftercare information.
No matter how you choose to manage your inflammation, do not:
- Use a warm compress; it will just increase the inflammation
- Ice your eyes for more than 20 minutes
Frostbite is possible when applying ice, so be careful. Use a timer to make sure you don’t fall asleep under your compress.
Things to Consider Before Your Consultation
Eyelid surgery may be something that you’ve wanted for a long time, and you deserve to be proud of your appearance. Getting the best results possible starts with a consultation at our New Jersey offices. Come to your consultation ready to talk about your goals, health history, and any questions or concerns you may have.
Make sure that you bring your surgeon a list of all your current medications to avoid any excessive risk during the procedure. You may need to stop some medications prior to your procedure and avoid them for the first few days or weeks of recovery. Discuss this with your regular physician as well, if possible.
The consultation is an opportunity for you to get to know your surgeon, find out more about the procedure, and understand your own candidacy. Make the most of your consultation by asking lots of questions!
Patient Results
Hundreds of satisfied patients
* All patients are unique and individual results may vary.
Why Choose Becker Plastic Surgery?
For those considering any cosmetic procedure in the cities of Philadelphia, Princeton, Voorhees, and Yardley, there are many options. However, if you’re choosing blepharoplasty as a fresh start to boost or even rebuild your self-confidence, you will want to work with the best. The professional staff and board-certified physicians at Becker Plastics are skilled, experienced, and work hard to ensure that each patient achieves their individual aesthetic goals.
Patient Reviews
Alternative and Complementary Procedures
Perhaps you’re interested in eyelid surgery but aren’t ready to commit to permanent correction, or surgery just isn’t in the budget yet. You might still be able to get terrific results at the Becker offices in Princeton, Voorhees, Yardley, and Philadelphia with other therapies. For example, you could undergo skin microneedling, which is non-invasive and boosts collagen production. This tightens the skin and improves the tone. It can also reduce the appearance of dark circles.
If your under-eye concerns aren’t bags but hollows, an injectable filler could be enough to smooth out the area under the eyes and leave you looking more well-rested. Finally, if brow wrinkles are a point of concern, consider using Botox to relax the brow line and stop the downward pull on aging skin.
Common Eyelid surgery Questions
You should have someone drive you to your Philadelphia appointment for eyelid surgery as you will not be able to drive home. Additionally, you should plan to have someone stay with you at your home if you live alone for the first few days. You may need help and you shouldn’t exert yourself too much.
Be ready to go bare-faced for at least two weeks. Don’t work makeup into your scars. After two weeks, you can use makeup to reduce the appearance of any residual bruising.
The surgical site will be carefully cleaned before your procedure, but try to come in bare-faced if possible.
You can expect swelling for the first week and bruising for about two weeks total. Make sure that you put your post-op instructions somewhere that you and your helper can easily review them. Use the medications and cold compresses as instructed. Time your cooling sessions carefully!
If you live in the states of Pennsylvania or New Jersey, Becker Plastic Surgery offers blepharoplasty among its services. For a full list of services, please visit our Locations page.
Invest in Yourself with Blepharoplasty
This is your time to choose you. Whether you choose blepharoplasty or a non-surgical option in Philadelphia, Princeton, Voorhees, or Yardley, you can reduce the look of tired, droopy eyelids with help from the skilled and caring professionals at Becker Plastic Surgery. Contact us for a consultation to discuss your options.
ADDRESS:
256 Bunn Drive, Suite B
Princeton NJ 08540 US
PHONE:
609-279-0009
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Why choose the Doctors at Becker Plastic Surgery
Kirk Lozada, MD, FACS
- Completed his fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania and has trained with the top Facial Plastic Surgeons in Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey.
- Has traveled to Ica, Peru with Healing the Children on multiple occasions performing a high volume of cleft lip and palate surgery.
- Is currently a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and has numerous publications and presentations in the field of facial plastic surgery.
Daniel Becker, MD, FACS
- Board Certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology (ENT).
- Board Certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS).
- Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).
- Top-Rated by US News and World Report, Philadelphia Magazine, South Jersey Magazine, Castle-Connelly, and others.
- Read more about rhinoplasty specialist Dr. Becker’s credentials
Nicole Schrader, MD, FACS
- She is a double board certified surgeon in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Otolaryngology & Head/Neck Surgery.
- Is a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Has over 20 years of experience, 15+ years in private practice and has performed hundreds of facelift surgeries.
- Dr. Schrader Recognized as Best Plastic Surgeon by Town Topics Readers’ Choice Awards.