Blepharoplasty & Eyelid Lifts – St. Louis

More commonly known as an eyelid lift, blepharoplasty is designed to correct the excess eyelid skin and fat of both the upper and lower eyelids.  As one of the first signs of aging, drooping or sagging eyelids can give a tired appearance and can in some circumstances impair vision.  Dr. Michele Koo uses an advanced and meticulous approach to eyelid surgery to recreate a clean, crisp, single eyelid fold.  The lower eyelid can also be corrected which will impact the appearance of the mid-face and nasolabial folds.

As is always the case with Dr. Koo, she will create a personalized procedure for each patient to address their unique needs.  Using a subtle and delicate approach, Dr. Koo will deliver a rested and youthful appearance without changing the overall appearance of a patient’s eyes.

About the Blepharoplasty / Eyelid Lift Procedure

Eyelid surgery is often combined with a facelift or Botox to rejuvenate the eyes and minimize the appearance of wrinkles, crow’s feet or dark circles under the eyes.  Blepharoplasty can treat a number of conditions including:

• Remove excess fatty deposits that give the upper eyelids a puffy or droopy appearance
• Loose or sagging skin that creates folds or disturbs the natural contour of the upper eyelid.  In some cases, this loose skin can impair vision.
• Excess skin and fine wrinkles can be treated/removed with lower eyelid blepharoplasty
• Bags under the eyes
• Droopiness of lower eyelid, revealing white below the iris (colored portion of the eye)

Two-thirds of adults consider the eyes to be a defining feature of the face and in turn, blepharoplasty has grown in popularity in recent years.  Since the appearance of the eyes is so important, I use advanced techniques to gently re-shape the eyelids.

Eyelid Surgery Procedure

Incisions for a blepharoplasty procedure are made along the natural folds and creases within the structure of the eyelid to reduce any visible scarring that may result.  For an upper-eyelid surgery, an incision is made along the natural crease of the eyelid, allowing for fat deposits to be repositioned, underlying muscles to be tightened, and excess skin to be removed.  For a lower eyelid surgery, an incision can be made on the inside of the lower eyelid (transconjunctival incision), or it can also be made just below the lash line if excess skin needs to be removed.

The procedure is most commonly done with local anesthetic, but general anesthesia is available if a patient requests it.  A blepharoplasty procedure is generally done in 45 minutes, but can take longer depending on the amount of correction necessary.  If a patient is having both upper and lower eyelid surgery, the procedure can take up to 2 hours.

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Blepharoplasty Results

Results from this procedure can typically be immediately visible following an eyelid surgery, but will continue to improve over time as swelling and bruising subside.  The eyes will continue to age following the procedure, but the results are generally long-lasting and repeat procedures are rare.  Scarring will fade over time and will generally be hidden in the natural folds and creases of the eyelid.  Once healed, the blepharoplasty procedure will give patients a rested and rejuvenated appearance.

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