About Laser Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Have you noticed that your eyes look tired even when you feel well rested? Do your eyelashes look shorter or flatter than they used to? Does your eye makeup smudge in the creases of excess skin that didn’t used to be there? Do you see the same excess skin of your father, mother, or grandparents’ eyes when you look at your own? Do you feel like you no longer recognize your own image in pictures or on screen? If you can identify with any of these scenarios, then laser eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty aka eyelid lift) at the Gateway Aesthetic Institute and Laser Center may be the rejuvenating solution that you need.

What is laser blepharoplasty and is it better than surgery that is performed with a regular scalpel?

At Gateway Aesthetic Institute & Laser Center, laser blepharoplasty is performed with a CO2 laser, which removes the excess skin, fat, and wrinkles, that are negatively altering the appearance of your upper and lower eyelids. Unlike surgeries that are performed with a conventional scalpel blade, our CO2 laser provides enhanced precision when cutting tissue, and superior control of intraoperative bleeding, which results in less bruising after your surgery as well as a quicker and easier recovery. The use of a laser also allows us to perform surgery on your lower eyelids without any visible scar, and on your upper eyelids with a barely perceptible scar that is hidden in your eyelid crease. Finally, because our CO2 laser can also be used to tighten skin and remove wrinkles and crepiness around your eyes on the same day as your blepharoplasty, we are able to provide you with a more efficient recovery as well as a more rejuvenated appearing result.

What causes loose upper eyelid skin and puffy bulges beneath the eyes?

The thinnest skin on the body is found around our eyelids, and with time, its collagen and elastin content gradually decrease, resulting in noticeable skin laxity. Those with older family members who have significant wrinkles, puffiness, and skin laxity around their eyes will often start to notice the same changes in their own eyes starting in some cases as early as the second decade of life. Lifestyle factors such as excessive sun exposure and smoking can further contribute to changes in skin quality around the eyes that manifest as skin laxity, wrinkles, and crepey texture. Finally, there are age related changes in our facial skeleton, fat pad structure, and ligaments, that can also contribute to these changes in appearance around the eyes.

Do I need to have general anesthesia for my blepharoplasty?

No. At Gateway Aesthetic Institute and Laser Center, we make our patients comfortable with a combination of mild oral sedation, as well as local anesthesia, when performing blepharoplasties. This approach avoids the need for general anesthesia, which is riskier to undergo, is more expensive, and which requires an extensive preoperative workup. Our patients are awake but relaxed and comfortable during surgery, which is performed in the familiarity of our clinic, and can easily transition to the comfort of recovering at home after their treatment is completed.

What are the risks of laser blepharoplasty?

Swelling, redness, and some bruising around the eyes are experienced by all patients to a certain extent but resolve fairly quickly after surgery. Some patients may experience dry eyes for a few days to a few weeks before their eyes start to feel normal again. Dry eyes can be managed with moisturizing/lubricating eyedrops and ointments during this time if need be. Rarer complications of eyelid surgery include bleeding, infection, scarring, inability to fully close one’s eyes, double vision, blindness, and adverse reactions to sedation or anesthesia. These complications are extremely rare and can almost always be avoided with proper preoperative evaluation and/or timely treatment.

What is recovery like after laser blepharoplasty?

For the first two days after surgery, it is important to rest with your head elevated at a 45-degree angle while frequently applying ice packs to your eyelids. You should plan to take at least three days off from work. After three days, light activity can be resumed if it does not require lifting, straining, or bending. After two weeks, all normal activities may be resumed. If eyelid wrinkles have also been removed with laser resurfacing, you should plan 7 to 14 days of downtime for the skin to sufficiently heal, though there may be some residual redness that will take a few weeks to several months beyond this to fully resolve.

Why trust Gateway Aesthetic Institute and Laser Center with your blepharoplasty?

The physicians at Gateway Aesthetic Institute and Laser Center have performed thousands of laser blepharoplasties over the course of decades. As aesthetic dermatologists, they are not only meticulous in the design and execution of your surgery, but also take a conscientious anatomical approach to ensuring that you have a safe and excellent outcome. Many of our patients elect to combine their blepharoplasty with other procedures during a single treatment session, to maximize the efficiency of their recovery time. As such, our physicians will commonly perform procedures such as fully ablative CO2 or erbium laser surfacing, Fraxel Dual laser, Fraxel Repair laser, or Halo laser to the face, neck, and/or chest on the same day, so that you emerge looking fully rejuvenated in all these areas – not just around your eyes.