Upper vs. Lower Blepharoplasty: Which is Right For You?

You may be considering blepharoplasty for many reasons.

Upper eyelids can have excess skin, bulging fat pads or be heavy and hooded. You may have very heavy, tired feeling eyes or find that your eyelashes are covered by excessive skin. This can lead to difficulties applying eye makeup or keeping eye makeup in place. The folds of the skin are sometimes so pronounced that it affects the peripheral vision by restricting the visual field.

Lower eyelids can have crepey skin, excessive eyebags, prolapsed bulging fat and give the appearance of tired, puffy, or hollow eyes.

Benefits of Lower Lid Surgery

Eyes appear less puffy and under eye bags become reduced or eliminated. This leads to a smoother and more youthful appearance of the under-eye area which gives you confidence as they look less tired. Eyes look refreshed and less hollow.

The recovery from lower lid blepharoplasty is slightly longer than for upper lid procedures – around 2-3 weeks. Scarring is discrete, where possible it is hidden inside the lower eyelid or under the lower eyelash margin.

 

Which procedure should I choose?

Choice of procedure is a matter of personal choice depending on how your eyelid appearance is affecting you and the outcome you are wishing to achieve. Your specialist oculoplastic surgeon can help you assess the benefits to you during a face-to-face consultation where careful consideration is given to the appearance of your eyelids and your desired outcomes. Surgical procedures give a longer lasting effect lasting 10 – 15 years compared to facial aesthetics treatments which are temporary and require frequent repeating.

 

Can I have both upper and lower blepharoplasties done together?

This decision is made on a case-by-case basis. You will need a general anaesthetic for lower lid blepharoplasties and a local anaesthetic for upper lid blepharoplasties. If both procedures are done together, they will be performed under a general anaesthetic.