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Blepharoplasty
What Blepharoplasty Can Do for You
At NewView Eye Center, we offer eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) consultations for patients throughout Northern Virginia who are dealing with drooping, heavy, or puffy eyelids. Whether the issue is affecting your vision or simply making you look more tired than you feel, eyelid surgery can make a meaningful difference.
Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that removes or repositions excess skin, muscle, and fat around the eyelids. It can address both medical concerns that affect your vision and cosmetic concerns that affect how you look and feel.
Reasons to Consider Blepharoplasty
01
Functional Reasons
When extra skin on the upper eyelid droops far enough to rest on the lashes or cover part of the upper visual field, it becomes a functional problem. Qualifying usually means documented visual field loss, eyelid measurements, and photographs.
02
Cosmetic Reasons
Many patients seek blepharoplasty because their eyes look tired or heavy: hooded upper lids that make applying eye makeup difficult, under-eye puffiness from fat pockets, or loose skin below the lashes that creases or sags.
03
Who Makes a Good Candidate
Good candidates are generally in good overall health, have realistic expectations, and do not have active eye disease. Your doctor also evaluates your tear film and brow position, since both affect how surgery looks and heals.
How the
Procedure Works
Blepharoplasty can be performed on the upper lids, the lower lids, or both during the same session. The approach depends on your anatomy, your goals, and whether the concern is skin, fat, or a combination of both.
Blepharoplasty at a Glance
1–3hrs
Typical length of surgery
5–7days
Upper-lid sutures removed
10–14days
Back to social activities
7–10yrs
Upper-lid results often last
Recovery and What to Expect
Recovery from blepharoplasty is gradual, and healing continues for several months after surgery. Understanding what is normal at each stage makes the process much easier to navigate.
01
The First Week
Bruising and swelling are most noticeable during the first 48 to 72 hours. Apply cool compresses in short sessions, sleep with your head elevated on two pillows, use antibiotic ointment on the incisions as directed, and use lubricating drops frequently.
02
Weeks Two and Beyond
Sutures are typically removed between days five and seven for upper lid incisions. Most patients return to social activities within 10 to 14 days and light activity around two weeks, with strenuous exercise waited until closer to four.
03
Long-Term Results
Upper blepharoplasty results are long-lasting, often remaining visible for seven to ten years or more. UV-protective sunglasses and daily sunscreen around the eyes help preserve them.
Preparing for Your Surgery
Good preparation helps your surgery go smoothly and supports a faster, more comfortable recovery — expand each step to learn more.
Your doctor will review your full health history, all current medications, and any prior eye or facial surgeries. Hold aspirin and blood thinners only as directed by your prescribing doctor, stop nicotine for at least two weeks before your procedure, and bring a complete list of supplements and over-the-counter products to your consultation.
For functional cases, your doctor will document visual field test results, eyelid measurements, and standardized photographs; for cosmetic cases, photographs alone are often sufficient. Dry eye testing may also be included, and asking to see before-and-after photographs of patients with anatomy similar to yours helps align your expectations.
Arrange a ride home and plan to have someone available to help you for at least the first day or two. Stock your home with cool compresses, lubricating eye drops, and extra pillows to keep your head elevated, and choose loose button-up clothing over pullover tops during early recovery.
Risks and What to Watch For
Blepharoplasty is a commonly performed and generally safe procedure, but like all surgery it carries some risk. Most patients experience bruising, swelling, tightness, and some dryness in the weeks following surgery. Dry eye symptoms are especially common after upper blepharoplasty and usually respond well to consistent use of lubricating eye drops.
Less Common Complications
Insurance, Cost, and
Choosing Your Surgeon
Understanding what your insurance covers and what you should ask during a consultation helps you plan confidently and compare your options clearly.
Warning Signs That Need Urgent Attention
Some symptoms are not part of normal recovery and should be treated as urgent. Severe pain that is getting worse rather than better, sudden changes in vision, or rapid swelling with a feeling of firmness or pressure behind the eye all require immediate attention. Contact your surgeon right away and go to the nearest emergency department if needed. Bleeding behind the eye is rare, but early treatment is critical to preserving vision.
Frequently asked questions
These answers address questions that come up often and are not fully covered elsewhere on this page.
Most surgeons recommend waiting approximately two weeks before returning to contact lens wear. During that window the eyelids are still healing, and handling contacts can irritate the incisions or introduce bacteria to vulnerable tissue. Plan to wear glasses during recovery and get clearance from your doctor at a follow-up visit before putting lenses back in.
Upper blepharoplasty is designed to open the appearance of the eye without altering its underlying shape, and lower blepharoplasty should preserve the natural almond contour of the lid margin. Over-aggressive skin removal from the lower lid can pull the lid downward and create an unintended rounded appearance, so choosing a surgeon with specific experience in eyelid anatomy helps prevent this outcome.
It depends on what is causing the darkness. If the dark appearance comes from a shadow cast by an under-eye fat bulge, removing or repositioning that fat during lower blepharoplasty can visibly improve it. If the darkness comes from skin pigmentation or thin skin that makes underlying blood vessels visible, surgery will not change the color. Your eye doctor can help you identify the cause during your exam.
Yes, and many patients choose to do this. Brow lift, facelift, and laser skin resurfacing are all commonly performed alongside blepharoplasty. Combining procedures means a single anesthesia session and one recovery period, and the trade-off is a longer surgery with more initial swelling. Your surgeon will help you weigh whether a combined approach or a staged plan better fits your goals.
Short domestic flights are generally manageable after about a week, though your doctor will advise you based on your individual healing. Longer flights are better delayed until two to three weeks after surgery, since cabin pressure and prolonged sitting can worsen swelling and slightly elevate the risk of blood clots. If early travel is unavoidable, stay well hydrated, move your legs regularly, and keep your head slightly elevated.
The tissue removed during blepharoplasty does not grow back, so results are long lasting. Upper lid surgery typically holds well for seven to ten years or more, and lower lid surgery rarely needs to be repeated. Natural aging continues in the surrounding areas, so protective sunglasses and daily sunscreen are two of the most effective ways to extend the life of your outcome.
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