Blepharoplasty
Eyes as a mirror of soul reflect our inner world and when they shine everybody around believes that You are a healthy person full of energy. However, if there are dark circles or “bags” under eyes and upper eyelid loos overhung, You will immediately have a look of a tired unfortunate person. In the latter case, the most efficient method of resolving the problem is blepharoplasty (plastic surgery of eyelids).
Blepharoplasty or plastic surgery of eyelids is an operation for removal of excessive fatty tissue and overhung flabby skin of the upper eyelid as well as removal of “fatty bags” from under eyes.
Indications for lower blepharoplasty - these are obvious bags under the eyes that become more pronounced with age. I recommend not delaying this process: while you are young - you do not have a clear excess of skin, and this operation can be done transconjunctivally without incisions on the outside.
Indications for upper blepharoplasty - this is drooping of the upper eyelid. However, with solving this problem, on the contrary, it is advisable not to rush. If you do it too early - the eye will close worse, the "droopy" eye effect will appear. Therefore, be sure to listen to your doctor and do not rush with the correction of the upper eyelids.

With the help of eyelid surgery, you can solve such problems as:
- removal of excessive skin and fatty tissue around eyelids;
- reduction of signs of age-related changes;
- removal of congenital or acquired defects of eyelids;
- correction of palpebral fissure and shape of eyes.
The main goal of blepharoplasty is to improve the patient's appearance, so there is no strict age limit. Most people undergo eyelid surgery to remove signs of aging. However, at the same time, this operation can significantly improve the appearance of young people as well.
Contraindications
Absolute contraindications to blepharoplasty include:
- patient age under 18 years;
- oncological pathology;
- bacterial or viral diseases in the acute stage;
- hemophilia and other hereditary diseases accompanied by impaired hemostasis (the body's defense system against bleeding)
- endocrine disease in the decompensation stage (i.e., with signs of endocrine insufficiency)
- cardiovascular pathology in the decompensation stage (i.e., with signs of heart failure);
- mental disorders, nervous system damage, exacerbation of somatic disease;
- decompensated liver and urinary system diseases;
- HIV infection;
- diabetes mellitus
- pregnancy, breastfeeding;
- purulent and inflammatory processes in the eye area
- "dry eye syndrome";
- increased intraocular pressure;
- injections into the eye area less than 8 months before the procedure with botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid, etc;
- respiratory organ dysfunction, tuberculosis.
Relative contraindications may include signs of inflammatory processes on the skin around the eyes (redness, rash, swelling) regardless of the cause of inflammation.
Types of Blepharoplasty
Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty
Such surgical operation helps to remover overhanging of upper eyelid. Skin fissure begins within the natural fold next to internal corner of the eye and goes slightly beyond the boundary of outer corner of the eye into the area of the so-called “crow’s feet”. With the help of such incision, excessive skin and fat are removed. When cured, the incision is fully covered in the fold of upper eyelids.
Before starting the correction, the surgeon marks the incision lines and areas for plastic surgery. During upper eyelid blepharoplasty, the surgeon makes an incision along the natural crease line of the eyelid and removes excess skin and fat tissue, if necessary, shaping the upper eyelid. The size and number of incisions are determined by the doctor during the surgical procedure. After completing all manipulations, the surgeon applies a cosmetic suture.
Upper eyelid lift can be performed under both general and local anesthesia. The second option is predominantly used (in combination with intravenous sedation).
Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty
Plastic surgery of lower eyelids helps to remove “bags” from under eyes, edemas and hernias. Incision of skin runs right under eyelashes of lower eyelid. Excessive skin and fatty tissue are removed through it. Otherwise, fatty tissue under eyes can be redistributed for leveling of irregularities and dips. Also, blepharoplasty of lower eyelids includes such manipulations as muscular lift, canthoplasty (change of fissure of eyes) or canthopexy (lifting of corners of eyes, removal of eversion of lower eyelids).After completing all the manipulations, the plastic surgeon applies a cosmetic suture.
Circular (combined) blepharoplasty
Circular blepharoplasty involves performing plastic surgery on both the upper and lower eyelids simultaneously.Methods of Performing the Operation
Transcutaneous Classic Method
The transcutaneous (traditional) eyelid plastic surgery is performed with tissue incision. In upper blepharoplasty, the skin incision is made along the natural fold of the upper eyelid, excess skin is excised, and fat hernias are either removed or redistributed. In lower eyelid surgery, the incision is made below the lower lash line to access fat hernias under the eyes.

Transconjunctival blepharoplasty
Transconjunctival blepharoplasty is applied in case of presence of fat hernias and absence of excessive skin. Such surgery is intended for young people and people with good skin tonicity. Incision is done inside of lower eyelid. This technique does not imply a transcutaneous incision; however, it cannot be used for removal of excessive skin. In addition, if there is any excessive skin, application of this technique will cause an increase of the number of wrinkles because there is no skin lift in this technique. Laser polishing or chemical peeling is often applied together with this technique for the purpose of reduction of small wrinkles around eyes.
Transconjunctival blepharoplasty is technically simpler than cutaneous blepharoplasty, so it is difficult to call it the high-tech operation as advertised in dishonest plastic surgery advertising. Transconjunctival blepharoplasty is often promoted as non-surgical blepharoplasty or "blepharoplasty without incisions," which cannot correspond to reality, as there is still an incision.
Laser Blepharoplasty
Often clinics mislead patients by using the prefix "laser," as technically, it is still the same ordinary blepharoplasty. Skin incisions and manipulations with fat hernias can be performed using a surgical laser. The advantage of such an operation is minimal bleeding due to coagulation ("sealing" of blood vessels and edges of separated tissues). However, coagulated wound edges heal slower, which is a disadvantage. Incised wounds heal better, faster, and with a more inconspicuous scar than burned ones.
Fat-Saving Blepharoplasty
Fat-saving eyelid surgery is a type of blepharoplasty in which, in addition to the standard removal of hernias and excess skin, the deficit of tissue thickness is simultaneously replenished with the patient's own fat. Such replenishment can be done by various methods, depending on the specific patient's data:
- Lower orbital zone lipofilling. The feature of the method is that with correct administration, the more fluid consistency of fat is distributed more evenly in the tissues than the denser hernia fat, without forming irregularities and lumps. Suitable for all patients, even very slender ones (Read more: What is lipofilling)
- Redistribution of fat pads to fill tissue deficits. Suitable for patients with sufficient thickness of their own tissues in the orbital area. The disadvantage of the method is frequent contouring of the hernia fragment in the late postoperative period. This is because hernia fat is significantly denser and more compact than the fluid fat collected for lipofilling.
The method is selected by your doctor depending on the characteristics of the patient's tissue condition.


Photo: Fat-saving blepharoplasty with lower orbital zone lipofilling and removal of 6 hernias
Eyelid Fat Hernias: Causes and Methods of Elimination
Eyelid Hernias - these are protrusions of periorbital fat, which are located deep and serve as a cushion for the eyeball. They develop gradually as the tone of the restricting tissues of the septum and circular eye muscle and skin decreases.
During the operation, not all fat is removed, but only a small part that creates protrusions. The eyelid skin is practically devoid of subcutaneous fat. Beneath the skin is immediately the circular muscle, under the muscle - the septum, and behind the septum - the hernias (periorbital fat).
The main cause of hernia formation is genetics, followed by a tendency to edema, which gradually stretches the restraining tissues.
Rehabilitation
Usually, patients recover quickly after blepharoplasty. Although bruising and swelling may intensify the day after surgery, they quickly subside. Most patients can return to work within 7-8 days after blepharoplasty.
After blepharoplasty, it is not recommended to:
- Massage, rub, or traumatize the surgical area
- Consume alcohol, nicotine, and/or be exposed to high temperatures for the first two months (compresses, sauna, bath, tanning beds, sun, etc.)
- Engage in heavy physical activities for 1 month
- Strain or bend low for the first 4 days after surgery
- Attempt to remove postoperative stitches by yourself
- Sleep face down on a pillow
- Read, watch TV, or use a computer for one week
- Apply any mechanical pressure to the surgical area
- Wear contact lenses for one month after the operation
- Apply makeup for three weeks after the operation
After the surgery, moderate bruising and swelling of the eyelids may be present. To reduce swelling, use cold compresses, gently applying them to the eyes after 24 hours post-surgery. For the first few days, place several pillows under your head to minimize swelling. Bruising and swelling of the upper eyelids may last for 2-3 weeks or longer.
Typical reactions and side effects:
Pain, discomfort in the surgical area; moderate swelling; itching; hardening; hematoma; decreased skin sensitivity; skin tightness; erythema; redness; change in skin color in the surgical area; short-term increase in body temperature; negative reaction to suture material (glue).
These reactions usually resolve on their own. If any reaction persists or worsens over time, or if a reaction not listed above develops, immediately contact your treating physician.
Risks and possible complications after blepharoplasty:
Ptosis - drooping of the upper eyelid due to damage to the eye muscle; retrobulbar hematoma - accumulation of blood in the retrobulbar space; dry eye syndrome; eye asymmetry; formation of keloid scars; incomplete eyelid closure; inflammation of the eye membranes and sutures; skin pigmentation due to sun exposure without special sun protection measures, as well as tanning bed exposure.
Conclusion
Blepharoplasty eliminates a tired and sad expression in the eyes. For the lower eyelids, the most gentle method is considered to be transconjunctival blepharoplasty. It is performed without incisions on the skin, eliminating the risk of lower eyelid eversion. The main thing is to use the method that suits the patient individually.
Eyelid Surgery Reviews
Content author - plastic surgeon Valentyn Zykov
- Practicing surgeon since 1998
- I perform more than 500 operations a year
- Laureate of the 21st national program "Person of the year"
- I operate in Poland (Warsaw) and Greece (Athens)












