Do you have tired-looking, heavy, sagging or drooping eyelids? Does it seem like no matter how well rested you are, you always look tired, and no amount of rest improves the sagging, heavy feeling in your eyelids? You may be an excellent candidate for blepharoplasty, or an eyelid lift.  An eyelid lift is a procedure that corrects the loose skin, muscle and fat on both the upper or lower eyelids. The procedure can leave you looking more youthful, rested and refreshed – but it can also improve your health!

Why Are My Eyelids Drooping?

Eyelids can become droopy for many reasons, but the most common reason is age. As we get older, the muscles in our eyelids get weaker. Much like any other muscle in the body, when the muscle weakens, fat begins to accumulate. As this fat accumulates in your eyelids, your eyelid begins to droop under the weight. The more pressure, the greater the effects of gravity over time.

What Can I Do About It?

A blepharoplasty removes the excess skin, fat and tissue that is weighing down your eyelid, tightening up the eyelid and making your eyes appear more alert and open. The procedure can take one to three hours, and in some cases recovery can be as quick as seven to 10 days, with full results occurring up to a year after the surgery. Most patients experience dryness in the eyes and may be prescribed drops to help remoisturize the eyes. You may also be required to wear sunglasses for several weeks after surgery to combat sensitivity. Your eyes may feel tired for several weeks following the surgery, and you may require frequent naps during this time.

Eye makeup can be worn soon after surgery, but healing may be faster if you skip the makeup.

What Is ‘Double-Eyelid’ Blepharoplasty?

Double-eyelid surgery, or “Asian eyelid surgery,” is used to create a crease to the eyelid in patients of Asian descent. This surgery often leaves the patient with larger, rounder-looking eyes. Generally, double-eyelid surgery is considered cosmetic in nature and will not be covered by insurance.

How Can a Blepharoplasty Improve My Health?

While some blepharoplasty procedures, such as the double-eyelid cosmetic procedure, may not qualify for insurance coverage, many procedures do qualify for insurance coverage, because often, drooping eyelids can be a danger to your health. When your eyelids droop, your range of vision becomes restricted, making it harder to see what you are doing. This can cause everything from strained eyesight to much more serious problems like car accidents and accidental falls. In other cases, sagging eyelids may not cause restriction to the field of vision, but may be painful or uncomfortable. In these cases, many insurance plans will cover the surgery if your doctor deems it medically necessary.

If you are interested in learning more about the eyelid lift, double-eyelid lift, or to see if your insurance may cover an eyelid procedure, please give Dr. Chau’s office a call at 888-966-9471 to schedule a consultation.