Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty
The most common eyelid surgery performed in the world is called a blepharoplasty. An upper eyelid blepharoplasty, specifically, is a very popular surgery across all ages in both men and women. Upper eyelid blepharoplasty is a very delicate surgery that involves removing excess tissue of the eyelids that can achieve both an enhanced cosmetic appearance and improved vision. Dr. Jennifer Murdock is the eyelid specialist in Miami who provides the very best results for an upper eyelid blepharoplasty. She also offers a unique procedure called the Baby Bleph™ that combines surgery for the upper eyelids and laser treatment around the eyes. This type of specialized upper eyelid surgery is only offered in the Miami and South Florida.
Intro to Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty
An outpatient cosmetic procedure, upper eyelid blepharoplasty is aimed at removing excess skin, fat, and muscle from the upper eyelids. This surgery can rejuvenate the area surrounding your eyes, making you look more rested and alert. People opt for this surgery not only for aesthetic reasons but also for functional purposes, such as improving vision obscured by drooping eyelids. For whatever reason patients seek this straightforward procedure, people are happier, more energetic, and more confident after an upper eyelid blepharoplasty.
Who Can Benefit from Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty?
This procedure is ideal for individuals who have excess tissue in the upper eyelids. This can be sagging or drooping skin, fat prolapse or fat herniation, swelling of the upper eyelids, or asymmetry of the upper eyelids. Remember, the brows also have an effect of the upper eyelids, so it is important to note any brow ptosis or brow abnormalities that may contribute to the overall appearance of the upper face. All of these changes in the brows and eyelids can contribute to a tired or aged appearance.
In some cases, the sagging is severe enough to impair vision. While insurance criteria for upper eyelid blepharoplasty is very strict, certain individuals with severe eyelid sagging, called dermatochalasis, can have their insurance cover a basic version of an upper eyelid blepharoplasty to improve central vision. In general many different people can be candidates for upper eyelid blepharoplasty depending on each individual’s goals and aesthetic concerns.
Benefits of Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty
Here are some great reasons why you should choose an upper eyelid blepharoplasty with Dr. Murdock:
Small Changes for Large Results: As a skilled surgeon, Dr. Murdock uses refined techniques with hidden incisions to provide subtle but noticeable results. Only about a 20 minute procedure, an upper eyelid blepharoplasty can have very impactful results.
Feel Better and Look Your Best: By addressing the upper eyelid skin, many patients feel more awake, brighter, and more refreshed. After the heaviness of the excess tissue has been removed, headaches can be relieved and vision improved. These changes that affect how people feel also affect how they look – happier, more youthful, and energized.
Natural-Looking Results: Incisions, whether performed with a laser or with a blade, are hidden within the natural creases of the eyelids. Thus, many people can’t even find the scar once it is fully healed.
Quick Recovery: Most patients experience a relatively short recovery time after upper eyelid surgery, with minimal scarring and discomfort. Dr. Murdock has many tips, tricks, and techniques to minimize downtime. Get your frozen peas ready!
Quick Recovery: Most patients experience a relatively short recovery time after upper eyelid surgery, with minimal scarring and discomfort. Dr. Murdock has many tips, tricks, and techniques to minimize downtime. Get your frozen peas ready!
Combination Eyelid Procedures
An upper eyelid blepharoplasty is a great option to remove excess skin and fat on the upper eyelids. But what about the skin texture? Or heavy brows? Dr. Murdock may recommend additional procedures based on your unique anatomy that will give you your best results. While an upper eyelid blepharoplasty does not lift the brows, combining this procedure with an internal brow pexy can give a subtle, natural lift to temporal hooding.
To address the aging skin of the eyelids, Dr. Murdock may discuss laser resurfacing and/or micro-coring. Tightening the surrounding skin of the Crow’s feet and lower eyelids can give an overall rejuvenated appearance to tired eyes. Dr. Murdock has pioneered the Baby Bleph™ which is a quick procedure to address the upper and lower eyelids. The Baby Bleph™ includes a laser upper eyelid blepharoplasty and then addresses the lower eyelids without surgery. Instead, the lower eyelids wrinkles are tightened with a combination of laser resurfacing and laser micro-coring. This will smooth skin and stimulate collagen regeneration for an overall rejuvenation of the eyelids and surrounding skin.
Blepharoplasty Procedure Overview
Anesthesia: Upper eyelid blepharoplasty is often performed in the office under local anesthesia. Dr. Murdock often prescribes oral anxiolytics to make patients even more comfortable. Topical numbing can also mitigate the pain of local anesthesia.
Incision: Measure twice, cut one. Dr. Murdock will take most of her time ensuring that the incision is made perfectly to reflect each patient’s natural anatomy and remove a safe amount of skin. As an ophthalmologist first, Dr. Murdock’s primary goal is to maintain the health of the eye. This includes removing just enough skin to improve cosmesis, but still allow for the eyelids to close and function properly.
The upper eyelid crease incision is made with either a laser or a blade. This will blend into the natural crease in that area and become a scar that is very well hidden.
Removal of skin: The excess skin is used with cautery or laser.
Cosmetic fat sculpting: For those patients who have elected to proceed with a cosmetic upper eyelid blepharoplasty, Dr. Murdock goes a bit deeper into the tissues around the eyes to sculpt fat that can cause unnecessary heaviness and bumps. She will sculpt just enough of the fat in the upper eyelids to maintain a youthful volume in the area. She will then address the sub-brow fat that can cause the brows to appear heavy and add more weight to the upper eyelids. This will help the eyelids to achieve a better lift and smoother appearance.
Closure: Dr. Murdock is always complimented on her precise suturing techniques. She will choose a very fine stitch to minimize scarring once the incisions are fully healed.
Post-operative care: Now that Dr. Murdock has completed her part of the procedure, the ball is now in your court. Dr. Murdock and her staff will make sure you have everything you need for a smooth and rapid recovery.
Recovery and Aftercare
Recovering from upper eyelid blepharoplasty generally involves:
Cold compresses: Constant cold compresses with frozen peas for the first 48 hours are the most important part of the healing process.
Warm compresses: Warmth and gentle massage will help the bruising and swelling around the eyes circulate out of the tissues faster
Ocular lubrication: Artificial tears and ophthalmic ointment will be prescribed to keep the eyes healthy and lubricated throughout the healing process
Rest: It is important to get plenty of rest, keep the head elevated, and avoid vigorous activity for the first week after surgery.
Follow up visits : To ensure proper healing and an excellent outcome, Dr. Murdock will want to monitor your progress at regular intervals.
Patients usually return to work and activities within a week or 2, although complete healing can take several weeks to months. Feel free to review full post operative instructions here.
Risks and Considerations
While an upper eyelid blepharoplasty is considered a safe and low-risk procedure, any type of surgery comes with its risks. Those particular to blepharoplasty include:
- Scarring
- Asymmetry in eyelid shape
- Dry eyes
- Need for additional surgery
- Eyelid edema
Consultation with Dr. Murdock, a qualified plastic surgeon, is crucial to discuss these risks and how they apply to your specific presentation.
Choosing a Specialized Surgeon is Important
Dr. Jennifer Murdock has devoted her career to plastic surgery of the eyelids, so you know that an upper eyelid blepharoplasty is best in her hands. The eyelids and periocular area are very delicate and require the expertise of an oculoplastic specialist. Certified by the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Murdock is one of the few elite surgeons who has proven extensive knowledge and experience in upper eyelid blepharoplasty. As the creator of the Baby Bleph™, Dr. Jennifer Murdock can address the entire area around the eyes with a unique, minimally invasive, relatively quick procedure.
Schedule a Consultation with Jennifer Murdock, MD
Don’t wait any longer with heavy eyelids. Book a consultation with Jennifer Murdock, MD in Miami, and find out how to look and feel younger, happier, and brighter. Dr. Murdock is seeing patients in Miami.
