Also known as upper blepharoplasty, an upper eyelid lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure that safely removes redundant skin and fatty tissue from the upper eyelid. ⁽¹⁾ It greatly improves eyelid contour, often affording patients brighter and more alert facial expressions. An aging eyelid can make a patient look older, angrier, or more tired than they are. This often leads to misunderstandings and unintentional expressions that can impact daily life. An upper eyelid lift can reduce the skin and fat pads to rejuvenate the area and even improve the overall field of vision.

Dr. Michael Omidi is a double board-certified facial and body plastic surgeon practicing in Beverly Hills. With over 15 years of surgical experience, he produces exquisite and natural-looking results for all of his patients.

To schedule a private consultation with Dr. Omidi, please call his office at (310) 281-0155 or fill out this online form to get started today.

What is an Upper Eyelid Lift?

Our skin loses elasticity and collagen production slows down with age, leading to wrinkles, fine lines, and noticeable sagging around the eyes, cheeks, mouth, and jawline. Our eyes are surrounded by extremely thin skin, which means they are one of the first areas where signs of aging appear. Along the upper eyelids, patients may notice sagging and folding skin related to genetics, aging, or other environmental conditions that speed up the aging process. An upper eyelid lift removes a small amount of skin and repositions tissue and fat in the upper eyelid to restore a more youthful contour.

Types of Upper Blepharoplasty

For patients with excess or sagging skin only, Dr. Omidi can safely remove small proportions of this extra tissue to reconstruct the eyelid. This version of an eyelid lift does not alter the internal fat pads that are located along the upper eyelid and near the top of the nasal bridge. For those with bulk under the eyelid skin, he can remove minute portions of the orbicularis muscle that resides just below it. He can also remove prolapsed fat from above the eye to correctly reduce puffiness that may be causing the sagging to become worse. Dr. Omidi can perform any combination of these techniques to achieve an optimal result for each patient no matter their circumstances. ⁽¹⁾

Benefits of an Upper Eyelid Lift

This procedure not only improves the aesthetic appearance of the eyelid, but it can also restore a patient’s peripheral field of vision. An upper eyelid lift helps patients achieve:

Ideal Candidates

An upper eyelid lift is suited for patients with excess, stretched, and sagging skin above their eyes. Candidates may have prolapsed fat pads in the upper eye area that are noticeable when they blink. They should be in good overall health to qualify for surgery and should maintain reasonable expectations about their results.

Patients with dry eye, glaucoma, or other serious eye conditions may not be good candidates for blepharoplasty. To find out if an upper eyelid lift is right for you, schedule an appointment with Dr. Omidi today.

Personal Consultation with Dr. Omidi

Dr. Omidi will meet with you privately to discuss the procedure and your cosmetic desires. During this consultation, he will inquire about your medical history and current medications to better understand your situation before creating a personalized procedure plan. Then, he will examine the treatment area and explain an upper eyelid lift in detail. He will allow plenty of time for you to ask any questions you may have before a member of his staff schedules your surgery.

Preparation

Before an upper eyelid lift, Dr. Omidi may perform multiple tests to make sure you are fit for surgery. He may also measure your visual field and test tear production. Patients should quit using tobacco and nicotine for at least 6 weeks leading up to and following their procedure. The chemicals in these products greatly hinder the healing and recovery process. They should also discontinue certain medications and supplements including:

This procedure is typically outpatient, meaning patients are free to go home afterward. They should ask a trusted friend to drive them to their surgery and back home. We also encourage patients to have a loved one stay with them overnight to monitor their health and help them get settled for recovery. Patients should also pick up new prescriptions before their surgery date.

Upper Eyelid Lift Procedure

After we administer the appropriate anesthesia, Dr. Omidi will place an incision along the natural crease of the upper eyelid. Through this small opening in the skin, he can navigate toward the internal fat pads and remove the portions that have descended. Once he achieves the optimal contour, he removes the excess skin and uses thin sutures to carefully stitch the incision. When he is finished with one eye, he moves on to the other and repeats these steps. To complete the surgery, he cleans and bandages the eyes and sends you to a recovery room. An upper eyelid lift surgery typically takes 1 to 3 hours to complete.

If you require a lower eyelid lift as well, he can perform this procedure at the same time as an upper blepharoplasty. This is known as quad blepharoplasty. Dr. Omidi will assess your candidacy for this combined procedure during your private consultation.

Recovery

Your eyes will be swollen and bruised in the initial stages of your recovery. Patients can control any discomfort with over-the-counter pain medications that do not contain blood-thinning ingredients. After 4 or 5 days, Dr. Omidi removes your stitches and analyzes the eyelids to ensure they are healing properly. Around the end of the first week, you may return to work and daily activities that do not require bending or heavy lifting. You should avoid all strenuous activity and exercise for at least the first 2 weeks while incorporating gentle walks to optimize blood flow to the healing treatment area. After the first two weeks, your swelling dissipates considerably and your final results start to appear.

Upper Eyelid Lift Results

By week 4 or 5, your results will be clearer and more consistent as the bruising and swelling rapidly decrease. After 2 to 3 months of recovery, the upper eyelids will settle into their youthful-looking contour and the skin will appear tighter and your expressions more alert. As your incisions heal completely, the incision sites will blend seamlessly into your natural eyelid creases to create a natural-looking result.

The final results of an upper eyelid lift are incredibly long-lasting. To protect and preserve your new eyelid contour, use sunscreen whenever you are exposed to UV rays and diligently moisturize your skin.

Complementary Procedures

Facelift

Patients commonly combine blepharoplasty with other procedures like a facelift for more comprehensive anti-aging effects. During a facelift, Dr. Omidi can remove excess skin and reposition the underlying tissues of the face to restore a youthful-looking contour. This surgery focuses on the mid-to-lower face and typically improves jowling, loose skin around the jawline, and drooping along the mouth and cheeks.

It starts with incisions around the front of the ears that extend back into the hairline. If he includes a neck lift, Dr. Omidi may place another incision under the chin to access the neck muscles and fascia. He then places internal sutures to lift the drooping facial musculature and restore the area. Next, he redrapes the skin and trims the excess before carefully placing sutures around the ears. A facelift rejuvenates the lower half of the face and provides long-lasting restoration of a patient’s overall complexion.

See our blog for more procedure options.

Cost of an Upper Eyelid Lift in Beverly Hills

Since each patient is unique, the total price of an upper eyelid lift will vary. Dr. Omidi provides a detailed cost estimate during your private consultation. Schedule yours today by calling our Beverly Hills office at (310) 281-0155, or by contacting us online.

FAQ

References

1. Naik M, Honavar S, Das S, Desai S, Dhepe N. Blepharoplasty: An overview. Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery. 2009;2(1):6. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-2077.53092
2. Rodrigues C, Carvalho F, Marques M. Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty: Surgical Techniques and Results—Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 2023;47(5):1870-1883. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-023-03436-6