8 Things to Know if You’re Considering Eyelid Surgery

Here's what you need to know about eyelid surgery and eyelid surgery recovery plus answers to common questions about cosmetic eye surgery.

Drooping lids, puffy bags, and dark circles under your eyes are all an inevitable part of the aging process. Translation? There’s no real way to avoid these issues. That being said, eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, can help, especially when these issues start to become particularly bothersome. Blepharoplasty tightens or removes sagging skin around the eyes, resulting in a more youthful, more well-rested look. 

Despite the fact that the procedure is relatively simple, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Here, helpful things to know about eyelid surgery and eyelid surgery recovery plus answers to common questions about cosmetic eye surgery.

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1. Take the time to find the right doctor for your eyelid lift.

As with any type of cosmetic surgery, your priority should be finding a board-certified plastic surgeon or oculoplastic surgeon with extensive experience in eyelid surgery. A great way to start is by reading reviews and researching surgeons in your area. Finding the right surgeon requires going beyond their credentials, which will take a little extra time.

“With all elective surgeries, I feel that the better a patient is educated, the more gratified they will be,” says Dr. Adam Tattelbaum, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Rockville, Maryland. “Speaking with, interviewing, and learning from your prospective surgeon is the best way to have a good comfort level—if it doesn’t feel right or expectations don’t seem realistic, it’s time to move on [to another surgeon].” 

Additionally, Dr. Tattelbaum explains that when choosing a plastic surgeon for your eyelid surgery, it’s important to choose one who is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. “It indicates that the surgeon has gone through extensive and specific training to perform these procedures,” says Dr. Tattelbaum. In this case, it’s one of the easiest ways to feel confident that your surgeon has extensive blepharoplasty experience.

2. Take time to research the procedure too.

Once you’ve found a surgeon with plenty of blepharoplasty experience, it’s important to keep doing your homework and completely understand the eyelid surgery you’re planning on having. Dr. Guy Massry, a Beverly Hills, California, oculoplastic surgeon, suggests asking specific questions about your problem area and looking at several recent before and after pictures, to make sure the surgeon has proven results that are in line with what you’re looking for. 

3. Be prepared for the cost.

Repeat after us: plastic surgery, eye plastic surgery included, is not something to try and save money on. So how much does eyelid surgery cost? According to RealSelf members, the average eyelid surgery costs $4,525. Some well-qualified doctors may offer surgery for less, but deeply discounted surgical pricing generally means deeply discounted results. 

According to Dr. Tattelbaum, the cost of an eyelid surgery will depend on whether a patient is doing the upper lids, lower lids, or both. “Upper lid surgery can sometimes be done under local anesthesia, which is less expensive,” he says. “Expect prices to vary between $4,000 and $8,000 for [a cosmetic eye surgery], depending on the region, the surgeon, and the scope of the eyelid surgery.”

4. An eyelid lift isn’t meant to be totally transformative.

Eyelid surgery can make your eyes look more open and tighten loose skin around your eyes, but blepharoplasty doesn’t change the structure of your eyes. The results are much more subtle, leaving you looking refreshed and youthful rather than entirely different.  

“Cosmetic eyelid surgery is an effort to soften or slow the signs of aging—as we age, the upper lids become droopier,” says Dr. Tattelbaum. “Upper eyelid surgery can remove extra skin and, in some cases, extra fat, to give the eyelid a more refreshed appearance.” Additionally, some patients may benefit from elevation of the eyebrows as well.

As far as the lower lid goes, the most common signs of aging are protruding fatty pockets (aka puffy under-eye bags), which form as support inside the eye relaxes. “Lower eyelid surgery generally removes some of this excess fat and, in some cases, skin as well,” explains Dr. Tattelbaum. 

Related: Plastic Surgeons Are Seeing Younger Patients Getting Eyelid Surgery. Here Are 4 Issues That Have Nothing to Do With Aging That a Blepharoplasty Can Treat

5. It’s normal to be nervous.

RealSelf members tend to give the results of eyelid surgery a Worth It Rating in the 90s. In other words, the odds are good that you’ll be pretty happy with the final results. But that doesn’t mean it’s abnormal to be nervous beforehand. (One RealSelf member even wrote, in a review, that she ended up canceling her appointment, then calling back to rebook it.) Talking with your surgeon in the days and weeks leading up to the surgery can help ease your fears.

6. Recovering from eyelid surgery is a process.

It’s natural to focus on nothing but the results after surgery, but patience is a virtue. How long does it take for eyes to heal? Think in terms of months, not weeks or days. Post-op swelling can hide the true results; it may even seem like your results are asymmetrical during the initial recovery period. 

“Eyelid skin is the thinnest skin in the body and usually heals well and quickly—wounds are water-sealed within 48 hours, and sutures often come out in seven days or less,” says Dr. Tattelbaum. But how long does swelling last after eyelid surgery? “It is common to see some puffiness above the incision in the upper eyelid and of the eyelash margin in the lower lid after eyelid surgery, and that can last a few months. The outer corners of the eye may have some firmness as well,” he says. The good news: while you may feel these after effects, most people are unlikely to notice them. Simple things like icing and massage can go a long way toward helping tamp down swelling after eyelid surgery. “We ask our patients to apply cool compresses for the first 24 hours after an eyelid lift, and then we begin a massage regimen after the first post-op visit,” says Dr. Tattelbaum. 

7. Try these other eyelid surgery recovery tips.

Following eyelid surgery, your doctor will advise that you avoid makeup and stop wearing contacts for at least a week. However, most doctors recommend you wait two weeks in order to give your eyelids enough time to fully recover. Waiting two weeks will help guarantee the incision area is healed and minimize the risk of infection from applying makeup. In general, touching your eyelids as little as possible will also help reduce swelling. (One RealSelf member vouched for this in a review, noting that their post-op swelling went down drastically after they stopped wearing contacts and eye makeup.) 

Additionally, make sure you’re protecting your eyes from wind, sun, and other elements, as these can also negatively affect your recovery process. Until you’re fully healed, consider wearing a big hat and sunnies, to help shield your eyes whenever you’re outside. (As an added bonus, those accessories can also help conceal any post-op bruising, which can last for a few weeks.)

You might also experience redness and dry eyes after a blepharoplasty. Some doctors will prescribe eye drops, to help. If you already suffer from dry eyes, make sure to discuss that with your surgeon prior to the procedure. 

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8. Give yourself a break, emotionally and physically.

In short, let the recovery process take its course. Take some time off work so you can have a few days to recover in private. This will also set you up for success, when it comes to carefully following the recovery guidelines, and ultimately ensure that you end up with the best possible results from your cosmetic eye surgery.