This plastic surgery procedure, also known as blepharoplasty, is performed either when excess skin on the upper eyelid is affecting peripheral vision in extreme cases, or for cosmetic reasons when the skin is loose but does not impair sight. The procedure is therefore almost always performed on older patients.

This type of surgery is also popular among East Asians who, for genetic reasons, are missing an upper eyelid crease in about half of all cases. Surgery therefore creates an artificial crease directly above the eye ball which gives a more western appearance. Given the genetic motivation for this surgery among Asians, the procedure for this purpose is typically performed on much younger patients than in the west.

Procedure information
Eyelid surgery typically involves the removal or repositioning of excess skin on the upper lid by the making of incisions that follow the natural fold of the eyelid so that any scarring is not noticeable. The skin is then pulled over the incision and the excess removed, which creates tighter eyelids through the elimination of wrinkles or drooping skin.

The procedure typically takes between 1 and 3 hours to perform, depending on the extent of the surgery, and is usually done under general anesthetic.

Recovery time
The recuperation period following blephoraplasty is generally much shorter than in the case of a face-lift. Patients can expect a certain amount of bruising and swelling that will typically improve in appearance after a week and should fully reduce after a fortnight.

However, the final result of the surgery always takes considerably longer to stabilize, usually up to 6 months at the most. Given the swelling that occurs directly afterwards, patients may experience a small impairment of vision, meaning driving and manual work should not be attempted immediately after as a precaution. The full recovery period is largely determined by skin quality and age.