3 Things To Know About Blepharoplasty

As we age our eyelids often start to sag down. While this is mainly a cosmetic concern for many people, it can actually make it difficult to see if the sagging is severe enough. The good news is that it is possible to remove excess skin and fat from the eyelids. This procedure is commonly know as an eyelid lift or blepharoplasty. This surgery can be performed on either the upper or lower eyelids, or both. In 2017, eyelid surgery was the fourth most popular cosmetic surgery with over 209,000 procedures performed. If you are considering eyelid surgery, here are three things to keep in mind.

The Results Are Long Lasting

The first thing that you should be aware of when it comes to blepharoplasty is that the results are long lasting. How long your results will last depends on your genetics, lifestyle, and face shape. Most patients find that the results from blepharoplasty last for somewhere between 10 and 15 years. This means that after the procedure you can expect younger looking, less saggy, and less puffy eyelids for over a decade. 

The Recovery Process

Whenever you have any cosmetic procedure, it's important to consider how long it will take to recover and how the recovery time will impact your daily life. Recovering from blepharoplasty can take several weeks. Redness and swelling near the incisions are common immediately after this procedure and it can take a few weeks to be able to see your full results. While full recovery can take upwards of a month, most patients are able to return to work after 10 days. If this procedure is something you are interested in, it's important to factor in enough time for recovery. 

The Cost

Cost is another factor to keep in mind when it comes to blepharoplasty. Costs can vary from surgeon to surgeon. Costs can also vary depending on whether you are having the procedure done on your upper eyelids or your bottom eyelids, or both. On average the cost for the procedure on both eyelids is between $4,000 and $5,500. Most of the time, the costs of this procedure are out of pocket since it's an elective cosmetic procedure. However, if your drooping eyelids impact your vision, your health insurance may cover some of the costs. 

Blepharoplasty, or an eyelid lift, is a great option to correct drooping or sagging eyelids. The results are long lasting and can make your eyes look more youthful and more awake. The recovery process can take a few weeks, however, most patients are able to return to their normal activities after about 10 days. Costs can vary and the procedure typically costs between $4,000 and $5,500. If your eyelids impact your vision, health insurance may cover some of the costs.