Our eyes are the windows to our soul and also one of the first facial features to show the dreaded signs of age. Which is why many of us have blepharoplasty, eyelift surgery, in our line of vision. Blepharoplasty is a long-standing top cosmetic surgery procedure. Globally, according to the 2024 ASAPs (American Society of Plastic Surgeons) Procedural Statistics Report, it retains its position as the fifth most sought-after surgery, and its popularity is being fueled by both young and old.
Preventative measures . . .
A blepharoplasty could be considered ‘preventative’ in the sense that if you address skin laxity in younger years, you’re delaying its fuller extent until later on. However, those in their 20s and 30s seeking an eyelift typically won’t have issues with fatty excess, rather excess skin – the pad of sagging skin over the eyelid. Younger patients run the risk of looking ‘’skeletonised’ if they undergo an extensive eyelift too soon. Instead, opting for minimally invasive appearance medicine treatments to reduce the appearance of hooded eyelids may be an option. Botox injected into the crows feet can release the surrounding eye muscles and reduce bagginess. Dermal fillers injected into the temples can lift the eyebrow tail, elevating the lid. Sofwave, a revolutionary non-invasive skin tightening treatment, can also boost collagen and elastin production to aid soft tissue contracture, which results in tightening of the upper eyelid.
Upper or lower eyelift?
Upper blepharoplasty . . . You’re experiencing excess skin on your upper lids which drapes giving the appearance of baggy or ‘hooded’ eyes. In some cases, genetics play a role in sagging skin. Certain people may also experience stretching in the levator muscle which lift the eyes – a condition called senile ptosis – resulting in drooping eyelids.
Surgery involves removes sagging skin, and excess fatty tissue and muscle, and gently lifting. The recovery period is typically shorter than lower eyelid surgery, with initial healing and bruising typically subsiding by the two-weekmark post-surgery.
Lower blepharoplasty . . . You’re sporting loose skin and bags under the eyes. There are pockets of fat in the lower lid region and which means bag size will vary from person-to-person; some can appear large and bulging.
Surgeons remove skin and fat, repositioning as they go. Most commonly, fat is removed from inside the lower lid to avoid external scarring. Lower lid surgery has a slightly longer initial recovery period of between two-to-four weeks.
Beyond the eyes . . .
Our eyes interact with all areas of our face. So, if you’re addressing your upper lids, then a surgeon will also discuss the brows and where they sit. It may be that you are a better candidate for a browlift than an eyelift if the brow is pushing the eye down. You can't talk about the upper eyelid without talking about the brow, and where the eyebrows sit. If you’re experiencing volume loss under the eyes, a surgeon may suggest a fat transfer – where fat is taken from another part of your body and reinjected under the eyes to restore volume and minimise the sunken eyes.
Seeking the guidance and expertise of qualified appearance and medicine nurses and cosmetic reconstructive plastic surgeons before embarking on any eyelid treatment, no matter your age, ensures the best and safest treatment programme – which includes topical treatments – tailored to your goals, lifestyle and genetic factors.
