Blepharoplasty in Virginia, Washington D.C. and Maryland.
Enhance Appearance with Blepharoplasty Benefits
Elevate your natural beauty with Blepharoplasty at The Naderi Center. This procedure revitalizes your eyes, enhancing your overall facial aesthetic. Say goodbye to sagging eyelids and under-eye bags, and embrace a youthful, vibrant appearance effortlessly.
Blepharoplasty Expected Results
The eyelid lift, technically known as blepharoplasty, is a plastic surgery procedure designed to correct puffy, sagging, or tired-looking eyes. The procedure restores a more youthful and refreshed appearance to the eye area by removing excess skin, fat and muscle. The eyelid lift may be performed on the upper or lower eyelids or on both eyelids, and it may be combined with laser skin resurfacing to enhance the results.
- Rejuvenation of the upper and lower eye region of the face
- Improved appearance of “tired” looking eyes, lower lid bags, and drooping upper eyelids
- In some cases a medically necessary procedure done to improve peripheral vision
Blepharoplasty Summary
Mild
General Anesthesia
2 to 3 weeks
Upper Blepharoplasty
The upper blepharoplasty surgery, also known as upper eyelid surgery, allows patients to look rejuvenated without having their face change drastically. Eyelid skin is normal, but as we age, the excess skin beings to sag and weigh down, making one appear older and tired. In the case of women, the loose excess skin makes applying eyeshadow difficult and easy to smudge. Difficulty with applying make-up is one of the top reasons why younger women in their 30s seek upper blepharoplasty surgery. When the upper eyelid gets heavy, patients often unconsciously elevate their brows to open up their eyes, leading to formation of horizontal forehead wrinkles. Furthermore until the excess skin of the upper eyelid is removed, our doctors cannot fully treat these forehead wrinkles with Botox. Relaxing the forehead muscles with Botox, in a patient that truly needs an upper blepharoplasty will prevent the ability to raise the brows and will make the upper eyelids feel “droopy” and even heavier. Prior to treating forehead lines, loose upper eyelid skin must be addressed first.
Lower Blepharoplasty
One of the most common reasons for lower blepharoplasty is to diminish the appearance of “under eye bags”. Patients feel as if they constantly look tired, have noticeable under eye wrinkles, or sagging under eye skin. The under eye skin is the thinnest skin on the face, therefore the skin in this area is one of the first places to start to become loose with aging. Often times patients have this area injected with hyaluronic acid fillers or fat to allow for smoothening of the skin. This type of under eye filler injection is referred to as “tear trough” injections. In some instances filler injections are just not enough to get rid of the hollowness, dark circles and loose skin. This is when the expertise of a board certified facial plastic surgeon is vital to determining whether a patient is a candidate for surgery.
Ideal Candidate for Blepharoplasty
Good Candidates for Upper Blepharoplasty
- Have loose or sagging skin on the eyelid that affects the natural contour of the upper eyelid
- Experience loss of the natural contour/shape of the upper eyelid
- Have excess skin that can impair vision
- Are in good health
- Do not have any medical conditions that may delay and impair wound healing
- Have a positive outlook and realistic goals for what upper blepharoplasty can accomplish
- Are non-smokers
Good Candidates for Lower Blepharoplasty
- Have puffiness due to fatty deposits underneath the eyes
- Have bags under the eyes
- Have excess skin or fine wrinkles of the lower eyelid
- Have dark circles
- Are in good health
- Do not have any medical conditions that may delay and impair wound healing
- Have a positive outlook and realistic goals for what lower blepharoplasty can accomplish
- Are non-smokers
Types of Blepharoplasty
Functional Blepharoplasty
A functional blepharoplasty is when the sagging, excess eyelid skin impairs one’s field of vision. Patient’s may experience difficultly with peripheral vision.
Cosmetic Blepharoplasty
Cosmetic blepharoplasty can be performed on the upper and lower eyelids. Cosmetic blepharoplasty is primarily performed to give patients a refreshed and more rejuvenated look.
Testimonial
“I’ve been coming to see Dr. Naderi for several years now and have never been disapointed with my results. Dr. Naderi takes the time to review and discuss what my expectations are, which I find both helpful and reasuring. He has such a soft touch and a great eye to what looks good and natural. I can’t imagine going anywhere esle! ”
Real patient
Cost of Blepharoplasty
There are a variety of factors that determine the overall cost of your Blepharoplasty.
- Surgeons Fee: $5,000 ($9,000 when upper and lower blepharoplasty performed together)
- Anesthesia Fee: depends on length of procedure
- Hospital and Surgical Facility Fees: depends on length of procedure
- Pre-Surgical Medical Clearance and Lab Tests: usually covered by medical insurance
- Ophthalmology Clearance: may be required and is usually covered by medical insurance
- Medication Costs: usually covered by medical insurance
- Follow-Up Visits: included with surgeon’s fee at The Naderi Center
Blepharoplasty Surgical Technique
The upper and lower blepharoplasty can be performed separately or at the same time. Our surgeon can perform the upper blepharoplasty procedure in-office under local anesthesia and oral sedation. If the upper and lower blepharoplasties are to be performed together they are done under general anesthesia.
Preparation for Blepharoplasty
At The Naderi Center we believe the success of any cosmetic procedure can be improved with proper patient preparation. We go above and beyond to make sure that our patients are medically, emotionally and physically ready for surgery.
Please review our detailed instructions for blepharoplasty surgery preparation with the link below:
Recovery After Blepharoplasty
Immediately after the blepharoplasty procedure, a topical ointment will be applied to the eyes to keep the incision sites moist. Sometimes this topical ointment makes one’s vision blurry and this is normal. The first day after surgery we advise applying cool compresses made of gauze that is dipped in ice water. Do not apply direct ice on the eyes. These cool compresses can be applied in intervals of ten minutes on and ten minutes off. The cool compresses help reduce swelling and keeps the bruising to a minimum.
Our surgeon will prescribe pain medication to take if needed. You should expect mild discomfort immediately after the surgery, and a couple days following the procedure. Swelling, bruising and blood shot eyes are very normal. Swelling the first few days after surgery will be the worse, especially after you wake up from lying flat.
Some common side effects experienced after blepharoplasty surgery include:
- Swelling and Discoloration – It is completely normal for your eyes to appear swollen as well as have purple-bluish bruising around the eye and eyelid. The bruising will be greater on the second and third day after your surgery. This is temporary and over the course of the next six weeks this will improve. Cool compresses will minimize swelling and bruising.
- Mild Bleeding – Some mild bleeding is not unusual at the incision sites the first few days after surgery. If you try to do strenuous activity, increase your blood pressure by straining on the toilet, sneezing, heavy lifting or bending forward you will aggravate the bleeding and swelling.
- Numbness Around the Eyes – Parts of the eyelids may feel “numb” or lumpy after the eyelid operation. This is temporary and to be expected and may take months to feel normal again.
- Pain and Itching – It is normal to experience tightness, pressure, shooting pain, itchiness, soreness, and fatigue for several days to weeks following surgery as you recover.
- Blurry Vision – Patients often experience some blurring of vision for 2-3 days after surgery. This is normal.
Risks, Safety And Potential Complications After A Blepharoplasty
With any procedure, complications can occur. Our surgeon will always go over any potential complications you may have. Although, they are rare, they need to be discussed. These potential complications are also why patients should select a surgeon extremely well versed and experienced in blepharoplasty surgery.
- Vision loss from retrobulbar hemorrhage
- Infection
- Double vision from problems with eye alignment
- Noticeable surgical scarring
- Malpositioned eyelids
- Overcorrection (removing too much skin)
- Numbness of the eyelids
Blepharoplasty Specialist, Dr. Jessica Kulak
Dr. Jessica Kulak is our double board certified facial plastic surgeon. Dr. Kulak is a true specialist who only performs surgery on the face and neck. She performs the upper blepharoplasty procedure in office under local anesthesia, as well as in a hospital setting under general anesthesia. The lower blepharoplasty procedure is only done in a hospital setting under general anesthesia. When performed together upper and lower eyelid surgery takes about two hours to complete. Anesthetic options include MAC (monitored anesthesia care), general anesthesia, and local anesthesia. Dr. Kulak is extremely particular, making sure all of her measurements are precise to achieve symmetric eyelid creases. She is known for achieving natural results, without that “surprised”, or “hollowed” appearance. All of her scars are hidden in the natural eyelid creases, this also allows her to preserve the natural eyelid shape.
To find out if a blepharoplasty is the right procedure for you, contact The Naderi Center to schedule a consultation. Contact our Reston, Virginia office at 703-481-0002 or the Chevy Chase, Maryland office at 301-222-2020. Although the Naderi Center is conveniently located for patients throughout the Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. area, we have many patients from across the United States who come to our surgeons because they know they are ultra-specialized in their area of cosmetic plastic surgery. Those outside of the immediate area may request a virtual consultation with our specialist.
Blepharoplasty FAQs
Why does the eyelid skin begin to sag?
During the natural aging process our body loses collagen in our face causing a loss in skin elasticity. Loss of skin elasticity combined with gravity causes the skin to drop down and sag. When it comes to eyelid tissue, the edges of the upper eyelid margin begin to fall first. The tendon of the eyelid muscle responsible for elevating the upper eyelid stretches, hence making it difficult for the upper eyelid muscle to lift the upper eyelid. Throughout aging elasticity and weakened muscles create a droopy upper eyelid appearance. Additionally, excessive manipulation of the upper eyelid (i.e. excessive eye rubbing, eyelid retraction, etc.) can stretch the upper eyelid skin and lead to droopy upper eyelids. Cataract surgery (or other eye surgery) is also a common cause of droopy eyelids, because manipulation of the eyelid during the surgery can weaken the muscle holding the eye open. In some cases, droopy eyelids can be present since birth, this is called congenital ptosis.
What are some common complimenting procedures that can be combined with blepharoplasty?
Laser resurfacing around the eyes, or even the entire face, is often times performed to enhance the surgical results. Laser resurfacing will help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, lighten brown spots, tighten the skin’s elasticity, stimulate collagen, smoothen the skin texture, brighten your complexion, and give the face an overall more rejuvenated appearance. Other popular procedures to combine with the blepharoplasty procedure include a facelift, browlift, rhinoplasty, chin implant or neck liposuction, as well as body procedures.
Can patients with dry eyes proceed with a blepharoplasty procedure?
Patients with a history of dry eye syndrome can proceed with a blepharoplasty procedure however the surgeon must be extremely cautious to remove precisely the proper amount of eyelid tissue. If excessive eyelid tissue is removed the problem of dry eye will be aggravated as potentially more of the eye surface is exposed to air when the patient attempts to close their eyes.
When can I go back to work after blepharoplasty?
Every patient is different and heals differently. 1-2 weeks is recommended to take off of work.
Will the results of the blepharoplasty surgery be permanent?
The lower blepharoplasty rarely needs to be repeated. As time goes on, your eyes will continue to age after the procedure. The upper eyelid surgery can last with nice results for 10+ years. Once the fat is removed, it will always be removed. Patients rarely have another surgery.
Will the upper and lower blepharoplasty procedure get rid of deep wrinkles around my eyes?
The upper blepharoplasty will not remove deep wrinkles around the eyes. The lower blepharoplasty, with a skin pinch technique, can remove creping or deep wrinkles under eye.
Does the eyelid lift leave scars?
The incisions made for the eyelid lift do result in scars though they tend to be well-concealed, if not invisible, within the crease of the upper lids, just beneath the lash line of the lower lids, in the crow’s feet area, or inside of the lower lid.
Can I wear eyeglasses after my blepharoplasty surgery?
Eyeglasses may be worn after blepharoplasty surgery.
Can I wear contacts after blepharoplasty surgery
We advise patients to wait one week post blepharoplasty surgery before applying their contact lenses.
Does insurance cover blepharoplasty?
If the severity of eyelid droopiness or ptosis, affects a patient’s peripheral vision most insurance providers will approve upper blepharoplasty as a medically necessary functional procedure. An ophthalmology exam is usually needed in cases of functional blepharoplasty. Our surgeons only perform cosmetic blepharoplasty.
How much is the blepharoplasty surgery? (Not including hospital and anesthesia fees)
When can I work out post blepharoplasty surgery?
Patient can resume exercise 1-3 weeks after blepharoplasty surgery.
What blepharoplasty office is near me?
If you live in the states of Virginia or Maryland, The Naderi Center for Plastic Surgery and Dermatology offers blepharoplasty among its services. For a full list of services, please visit our Locations page.