EYELID LIFT WHO IS A CANDIDATE? If you have excessive, sagging or wrinkled upper or lower eyelid skin. If you have excess upper eyelid skin that interferes with vision. If you have lost your natural upper eyelid crease. If you have puffy pouches of fat in the upper or lower lids that create a tired or aged appearance. INTENDED RESULT A more youthful and rested appearance of the eyes. Widening of visual fields if excessive upper lid skin has partially blocked vision. It will not remove or erase all wrinkle lines. It will soften wrinkle lines. PROCEDURE DECRIPTION The operation is done on an outpatient basis under sedation and local or general anesthesia. The incisions are made where the natural crease should be in the upper lids and below the lash line in the lower lids. Excess fat and skin are removed. If only excess fat is present in the lower lids, it may be removed through an incision inside the lower lids with no external incision or scar (transconjunctival blepharoplasty). RECUPERATON AND HEALING All sutures are usually removed within 7-10 days. Initial mild discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication. Bruising and sensitivity to light last at least a week or two. Swelling progressively disappears over several weeks. Eye makeup can be used shortly after sutures are removed. Contact lenses can be worn when comfortable—usually within 3-7days. OTHER OPTIONS Additional procedures that would enhance the result are: Forehead Lift, Face Lift, Chemical Peel or Laser Skin Resurfacing. INSURANCE GUIDELINES Occasionally, if surgery is being done to improve the field of vision, insurance may cover upper lid surgery. Otherwise, these procedures are considered cosmetic and the patient is responsible for payment. NOTE The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are rare.