Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty) in Heber City, UT

An ideal candidate for blepharoplasty (eyelid) surgery is a healthy adult, typically age 30 or older, who wants to rejuvenate a tired or aged appearance around the eyes. Good candidates are in good to excellent health, do not smoke or are willing to stop temporarily before and after surgery, and have no serious eye conditions or life-threatening illnesses, with healthy facial tissue and muscles.

During your consultation your surgeon reviews your concerns and goals, examines the structures of your face and eyes, and recommends a personalized plan. Dr. Thompson and Dr. Henstrom, our Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeons, have extensive experience performing eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) surgery. They will discuss the recommended procedure, where incisions will be placed, possible risks and complications, and any non-surgical recommendations that enhance the overall result, such as dermal fillers or Botox.

Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen products, Vitamin E, and certain herbal medications before surgery, as these can increase bleeding and bruising. Discontinue smoking for at least one month prior to surgery to ensure proper healing, if applicable. A Patient Care Coordinator will then provide all financial details on any procedure discussed and give financing options if applicable, and can facilitate the next step and provide resources such as before and after photos, articles, and educational videos.

Blepharoplasty is performed by placing hidden incisions in the natural eyelid crease or just below the lower lashes, then removing or repositioning excess skin and fat and closing with fine sutures. Upper eyelid surgery is performed under deep sedation in the surgical center or under local anesthetic in the office, depending on your surgeon's recommendation and your comfort. Having the procedure done under local anesthetic in the office significantly reduces total cost, since there are no anesthesia or facility charges. A lower blepharoplasty or a combination of upper and lower is done in the facility under deep sedation.

With upper eyelid surgery, incisions are hidden in the natural eyelid crease and extend laterally to remove excess skin and prevent an unnatural, operated appearance. Lower eyelid incisions are made either along the inner lining of the eye or just below the lower lashes. Excess skin and underlying fat are removed and the incisions are closed with fine sutures. Early on, incisions are easily camouflaged with makeup, and with time they fade to the point of imperceptibility in most patients. The benefits of an eye lift include:

• Corrects droopiness, puffiness, and bags
• Eliminates the tired, angry, or sad look
• Restores the eyes as the focal point of the face
• Restores eyelid contour
• Safely and easily combined with other facial plastic surgical procedures

Fat Repositioning With Lower Blepharoplasty Surgery. A traditional lower blepharoplasty typically involves removing fat and excess skin in the under-eye area. Fat repositioning is a different method of handling the bulging fat under the eye. During surgery your surgeon distributes a layer of fat over the rim of the orbital bone and advances it into areas of depression or hollowing, addressing deep troughs and puffiness for a well-rested, rejuvenated appearance with no visible scarring. When patients have lower lid bulging and a pronounced lid and cheek junction, or tear trough, simply removing fat will not correct the aged appearance. In those cases, Utah Facial Plastics surgeons may perform fat repositioning to smooth the under-eye area, and in many cases will also lift the cheek upward to meet the lower eyelid for a more youthful result.

Lower Lid Skin Pinch Procedure. For patients with mild to moderate excess skin and crepe-iness under the eyes, a lower lid skin pinch may be recommended as a stand-alone procedure or alongside blepharoplasty or brow lift surgery. It is best for patients who need more than Botox to smooth under-eye wrinkles and who are not good candidates for skin resurfacing. This procedure is usually done in office under local anesthesia and takes approximately 45 minutes. The skin is pinched below the lower lashes, an incision trims the excess, and it is closed with fine sutures removed 3 to 4 days after surgery. Mild swelling is typical and resolves within 3 to 7 days.

Recovery from eyelid surgery is generally mild. Ice packs are applied immediately after surgery to minimize swelling and bruising, and sleeping with the head of the bed elevated for several days helps as well. Pain is generally minimal, and sutures are removed 3 to 4 days after surgery to prevent suture marks. Most patients feel ready to return to work within one week, though bruising often remains into the second week.

Most patients are very happy with their blepharoplasty results and the rejuvenated appearance they regain. The eyes look more open and restored to a more youthful state. Results are completely natural, and many patients report that others cannot tell exactly what is different but compliment them on how rested and energized they appear.

Eyelid lift results are long-lasting. Upper eyelid surgery is often effectively permanent for many patients, and lower eyelid surgery rarely needs to be repeated. Natural aging continues, so some patients maintain their result over time with non-surgical treatments.

For hollowing under the eyes, non-surgical alternatives include dermal fillers such as Restylane placed in the tear troughs, and fat injections for longer-lasting volume. Dr. Thompson or Dr. Henstrom can recommend the right option during your consultation. With dermal filler, our injectors use a blunt cannula to minimize bruising and swelling, the treatment takes about 15 minutes, and it is done in the office with no downtime. Fat injections are another way to restore lost volume under the eye or tear trough and are a more permanent option, often done alongside a lower blepharoplasty.

The cost of eyelid surgery at Utah Facial Plastics depends on whether you have upper, lower, or combined blepharoplasty and where it is performed. Upper eyelid surgery done under local anesthetic in the office costs less because there are no anesthesia or facility charges. The most accurate way to get pricing is a consultation, where your surgeon reviews your goals and provides a personalized quote.