A person’s eyes are a beautiful component of the face that deserves to be shown, but sometimes an excess of skin above or under the eyes can create an aging facial appearance. Because your eyes have such a big impact on your overall appearance, an eyelid lift on the lower or upper eyelid can be an effective way to refresh this delicate skin. Besides, who doesn’t want to look more alert and younger? Eyelid lift surgery at Shumway Cosmetic Surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, involves removing fat deposits and small amounts of muscle and skin from around the eyes and can improve the look and/or function of the eyelids.

In San Diego and San Diego, CA, our talented cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Robert A. Shumway, is a leader in the field of cosmetic surgery, and patients seek his surgical skills and talents on a regular basis for blepharoplasty. He diligently trained at some of the nation’s most prestigious medical centers and has taught cosmetic surgery techniques at Duke, UCLA, and UCSD. As a trustee of the California Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, he adamantly stresses the importance of the healing process with a focus on patient care and instructing his patients on post-operative care. If you’re interested in refreshing your eyes with an eye lift to remove excess skin, contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Shumway at his practice today.

Eyelid surgery is a facial cosmetic enhancement that is sought out by both women and men of various ages. During your private consultation, treatment options will be discussed with Dr. Shumway based on your presenting concerns. In most situations, eyelid lift candidates have excess, hanging skin and folds above the eyes, or bulging skin just under the bottom eyelid. These irregularities can cause vision impairment. For a brighter appearance, blepharoplasty may be the appropriate procedure for you. If you have loose skin that droops on the upper eyelid or bulging bags under the eyes, blepharoplasty can correct this as well.

Depending on the complexity of the eyelid surgery, some form of anesthesia will be given as determined by Dr. Shumway. This treatment may be done on the top eyelid by itself, on the bottom eyelid, or a blend of both upper and lower.

• Upper eyelid
  Upper eyelid surgery assists in diminishing the hanging of skin that impairs vision to produce a more appealing eyelid appearance. The incision point is often placed along the lash line or crease to trim away tissue and fat.
• Lower eyelid
  Lower eyelid surgery is performed to improve puffy skin under the lower lid. In most cases, an incision is placed just under the lash line to surgically remove fatty tissue, and the skin is delicately lifted to produce a smoother look. Sometimes a nonsurgical laser procedure may be applied to help with discoloration while dermal fillers can be used for added smoothness if necessary.

Blepharoplasty can take up to two hours in surgery based on what is being treated (upper, lower, or both). After the procedure, you should expect a few days to rest and avoid strenuous activities. Ice packs can assist in reducing bruising and swelling. The outcomes from blepharoplasty may last a decade or longer, but while they are long-lasting, aging will not stop. To complement your surgical outcomes, facial rejuvenation treatments at Shumway Cosmetic Surgery, such as lasers, chemical peels, and fillers, can be added to create a fresh appearance.

How much does eyelid surgery cost?
Cosmetic eyelid surgery costs will vary based on whether you’re getting a lower eyelid lift, upper, or both. As soon as your surgical plan is developed in your initial consultation, Dr. Shumway can then discuss cost estimates. For results that look natural and last for many years, it’s better to concentrate on selecting an experienced cosmetic surgeon whom you are comfortable with, like Dr. Shumway, rather than looking for the most inexpensive. To help you afford great results, Shumway Cosmetic Surgery takes several payment methods, including low-interest financing.

Can I use insurance to pay for my eyelid surgery?
When loose skin is limiting your sight, your insurance might cover some of your blepharoplasty. Please talk to Dr. Shumway in your initial consultation if you might be applying for an insurance claim. A team member at Shumway Cosmetic Surgery can help you submit the required paperwork and information to your provider to consider your claim. Typically, you will require a letter from an ophthalmologist or optometrist stating that blepharoplasty is medically necessary to restore your vision.

What are some other benefits of an eyelid lift?
An eyelid lift doesn’t just help to rejuvenate your face, but it can also give you other benefits. You may discover your vision field is greater once excess, hanging skin on your upper eyelid is gone. It is also easier to put on eye shadow and other makeup once your upper lid is smooth. Getting rid of fine lines, paper-thin skin, dark circles, and puffy bags on your lower eyelid may help your eyes appear fuller and brighter without a lot of makeup.

Will an eyelid lift fix wrinkles and Crow’s feet?
Forehead wrinkles and Crow’s feet might be better addressed with a brow lift or facelift since the improvements of blepharoplasty are limited to the upper or lower eyelids. Blepharoplasty may be performed with a nonsurgical treatment, like BOTOX, which can smooth wrinkles around the eyes and on the forehead. Wrinkle fillers, like Juvéderm or Restylane, may help to add volume for a fuller appearance. In your initial consultation, Dr. Shumway will develop your custom treatment plan to fit your goals.

What about nonsurgical treatments instead of eye surgery?
Skin tightening without surgery, plus injectable treatments (such as BOTOX, Juvéderm, and Restylane) may give you mild improvements. Although, if you want to fix moderate to severe loose skin or would like to see results that last a long time, eyelid surgery is better for your needs. When you tell Dr. Shumway about your needs and goals, he will give you his suggestions for a surgical or nonsurgical treatment plan. He might also recommend both nonsurgical and surgical procedures for ideal results.

If you are having a hard time seeing due to hanging skin on your upper eyelids, or you are frustrated by bulging bags underneath your eyes, then blepharoplasty at Shumway Cosmetic Surgery may be the answer for you. This surgery can allow you to look and feel youthful and awakened while offering a gorgeous answer to your vision impairment concerns. We encourage you to contact our office in San Diego, CA to schedule a consultation with Dr. Shumway.