A youthful upper eyelid has very little excess skin around the eyelid, and there is a smooth layer of fat that contours around the bony orbital rim, giving a soft, youthful appearance.
Aging of the upper eyelid involves development of excess skin and volume loss. With age, this extra skin crowds the eyelids and decreases the amount of upper eyelid that can be seen, women often complain of difficulty applying makeup in this area.
The ideal surgical candidate is a patient of any age group that exhibits redundant upper eyelid skin to a degree that it is negatively affecting the individual’s appearance. The upper lids may in some cases, impact the visual field.
The procedure is performed to remove the extra skin that sags and drapes over the upper eyelid. The incision is made in the natural eyelid crease and only unnecessary skin and deeper structures are removed. Once the skin is removed, fine sutures are used in a meticulous way to close the skin.
The goal of upper eyelid rejuvenation is to create refreshed and bright-looking eyes that do not look tired and heavy. The aim of our rejuvenating surgical procedures is to restore the individual’s youthful appearance, not alter it. Successful rejuvenation of this region requires a thorough understanding of the aging process and knowledge of what constitutes a youthful appearance.
There has been a movement away from aggressive removal of skin, muscle and fat, which is associated with hollowing and skeletonization of the upper eyelid complex. The modern approach is to perform conservative upper eyelid blepharoplasty targeted primarily at the excess upper eyelid skin, coupled with volume augmentation of the outer eyebrow and upper eyelid region.
In some cases, a combination lateral brow lift is necessary to treat the hooding resulting from descent of the eyebrow complex. The aim is to achieve a youthful and healthier appearing upper eyelid region.
