Eyelid Surgery FAQs

If you’ve been considering eyelid surgery, you probably want to know more about what to expect. Here, we answer the most commonly asked questions our patients have about eyelid surgery. You can also request a consultation with us for more information.

Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure that helps you look refreshed by restoring droopy lids to a more youthful placement for a more alert, rejuvenated appearance. Eyelid surgery also removes any excess fatty tissue responsible for puffy lids or bags under the eyes, and can be performed on upper lids, lower lids or both.

The best candidates for eyelid surgery are in good physical and mental health, and are unhappy with their eye area or who feel that their eyes contribute to a prematurely aged appearance. It’s also important to have realistic expectations about your results and to know what an eyelid can and cannot accomplish. For example, the appearance of wrinkles at the outer corners of the eyes, or crow’s feet, will not be improved through eyelid surgery.

Any cosmetic surgery can feel like a huge decision. When the surgery concerns the face, patients often feel even more intimidated. If you think you might be a good candidate for eyelid surgery, but aren’t completely sure or don’t feel entirely comfortable with the idea of eyelid surgery, my suggestion is to schedule a consultation.

During your consultation, we can talk about your goals for eyelid surgery and any concerns you may have. I’ll also be able to give you a better idea of the exact results you can expect. Consultations are commitment-free, so you can simply go home afterwards, and take your time to think about everything we’ve discussed before making your final decision.

For the best blepharoplasty results, you want a refreshed look that complements your natural facial features. There are many eyelid lift surgeons in the Tampa area, but not all of them can deliver the results you want. Dr. Castellano and his team have decades of aesthetic experience and hundreds of satisfied repeat patients. During your consultation, you can see more before and after images and hear our plan for helping you create a refreshed look through eyelid surgery.

It’s very common to combine blepharoplasty with additional cosmetic procedures for more comprehensive results. For example, BOTOX® Cosmetic can be incorporated to smooth away crow’s feet, while a chemical peel may help lighten dark circles below the eye. A brow lift combined with blepharoplasty offers a full rejuvenation of the upper face, but eyelid surgery can be combined with a face lift or neck lift as well.

Eyelid surgery won’t eliminate crow’s feet, but BOTOX® Cosmetic injections can. If crow’s feet are your primary concern, I recommend starting with BOTOX®, and then seeing how you feel about the improvement in your appearance. If you find that your lids give your eyes a hooded, aged appearance even after wrinkles around the eye area are minimized, come back in and we’ll talk about moving forward with eyelid surgery.

There are a few different kinds of eyelid surgeries. The creation of a double eyelid in East Asian eyes is commonly referred to as double eyelid surgery. Many individuals of East Asian descent lack a double upper eyelid and choose to undergo surgery that creates a crease in the upper eyelid. This can be done for cosmetic purposes, as well as to improve vision in cases where the upper eyelid is too low over the eye.

However, men and women also frequently undergo eyelid surgery of the upper or lower lids to improve signs of aging. This type of eyelid surgery requires a different approach. During eyelid surgery to improve signs of aging, I typically remove conservative amounts of excess, baggy skin, eliminate excess fatty tissue that may contribute to puffy bags under the eyes, and tighten the remaining skin to create a refreshed, alert appearance.

It is sometimes possible to get upper eyelid surgery covered by your insurance provider. Although specifics will vary, there are three typical insurance requirements that are roughly the same across all providers:

• You’ll need documented proof that your eyelids droop over your eyes in the form of a photo.
• You’ll need a documented clinical exam by a physician who confirms that your drooping eyelids obscure your vision.
• You’ll need evidence that your vision is improved when your eyelids are pulled out of the way. Normally, patients do this by taping their upper eyelids up to mimic the changes that could be made in the visual field by upper eyelid surgery.

It’s important to note, however, that insurance providers won’t cover lower eyelid surgery, as the lower eyelids do not typically affect vision.

Before your blepharoplasty, Dr. Castellano will discuss your appearance goals so that he has a clear understanding of your hopes following surgery. The procedure itself will vary in technique and time, depending on which approach is used and whether additional procedures are being performed, as well as the level of correction needed. Dr. Castellano will go over your surgery with you in more detail beforehand so you know exactly what to expect.

During upper eyelid surgery, Dr. Castellano places the incision to follow the natural crease of the upper lid. Through this access point, he can tighten lax muscles and remove fatty deposits. The incision is closed with ultrafine sutures.

In lower eyelid surgery, Dr. Castellano makes an incision along the lower lash line, through which he can eliminate excess skin and tissue. For lower blepharoplasty, incisions may also be hidden within the smile creases. Again, ultrafine sutures are used to close the incision.

After your blepharoplasty, your eyes will feel swollen at first, and may look bruised as well. They might feel dry or irritated. Cold compresses, especially applied in the first day or two after your procedure, can help you feel more comfortable. It’s very important to protect your eyes from the sun right after surgery and throughout the healing process. Most Tampa-St. Petersburg men and women are back to their normal daily routines about a week after surgery, but it’s important to check with Dr. Castellano before resuming more active pursuits.

Although any type of surgery will leave a scar, Dr. Castellano takes every precaution to ensure that the incisions made during eyelid surgery allow for very discreet, yet impressive, results. Most men and women can expect their incisions to heal up to nearly invisible after their recovery.

Patients typically see an improvement right away following eyelid surgery, with the final results becoming more apparent as any swelling and bruising diminish over the first few weeks. Although blepharoplasty will not prevent the aging process around the eye area, this surgery does deliver long-term results to help patients retain a more youthful look for longer.

Eyelid surgery tends to produce long-lasting results. Most patients only need to undergo the procedure one time in their life. However, each case is unique. There are some activities and lifestyle habits you can avoid to help contribute to the chances that your results will last.

For instance, smoking negatively affects skin thickness and laxity and should be avoided for the best blepharoplasty results. Patients should also avoid prolonged unprotected sun exposure to keep their skin in optimal condition. Allergies can sometimes cause the skin around the eyes to swell, which may affect your long-term results. If you have frequent allergy problems, consider discussing possible medications or other solutions to your allergies with your physician.