Eyelid Lift

Conveniently Serving Jefferson City, Columbia, & Surrounding Areas

A Clearer Vision of You

An eyelid lift, also known as blepharoplasty, is a popular surgical procedure designed to address sagging and wrinkled eyelid skin and rejuvenate the youthful appearance of the eyes. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Barbara Howard focuses on providing beautiful and natural-looking results to her blepharoplasty patients in Jefferson City.

Good Candidates for Blepharoplasty

You may be a candidate for eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) if you have excessive, sagging, or wrinkled upper or lower eyelid skin. An eyelid lift can also be helpful if you have excess upper eyelid skin that interferes with vision or if you have lost your natural upper eyelid crease. Eyelid lift may also be indicated if you have puffy pouches of fat in the upper or lower lids that create a tired or aged appearance.

The eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) procedure is intended to produce a more youthful and rested appearance of the eyes. The procedure may also widen your visual fields if excessive upper lid skin has partially blocked vision.

Reviews

Dr. Howard was more understanding and sincere, than other doctors. I didn’t feel like ‘just another person’. Very comforting. A.B.

Your Consultation

If you are thinking about getting an eyelid lift, scheduling a consultation is necessary to learn more about the procedure and have any questions answered. The consultation will typically involve you and Dr. Howard discussing your expectations regarding the procedure. Your medical history will also be discussed.

Dr. Howard will tell you about the steps involved in the eyelid lift, including recovery. She will also go over any preparations that will be necessary.

Your Eyelid Lift Session

On the day of the eyelid lift session, the first step will be preparing the areas around the eyes through cleaning and precise markings. The patient will then be made comfortable through the application of anesthesia.

Blepharoplasty for the upper eyelids is typically done in the office with local and oral sedation. A lower eyelid blepharoplasty is done on an outpatient basis under light or general anesthesia.

Once the anesthesia has taken effect, incisions will be made in the target areas. For an upper eyelid lift, the incision is made in the natural crease in the upper lid. For lower blepharoplasty, the incision will either be made inside the lower lid or beneath the lash line.

Next, excess skin and muscle tissue are removed, and the remaining tissues are tightened. Excess fat is expertly removed and/or repositioned.

The procedure can last several hours. Once it is complete, the incisions are closed with fine sutures. The affected areas are then covered with sterile bandages to allow the patient to recover.

Blepharoplasty Recovery

All sutures are usually removed within 6-7 days. Initial mild discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication. Bruising and swelling are typical and progressively disappear in 2-4 weeks. Eye makeup can be used after sutures are removed and incisions are healed. Contact lenses can be worn when comfortable — usually within 5-10 days. Additional procedures that may enhance the result of an eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) are: forehead lift or face lift.

Eyelid Lift Risks

The specific risks and the suitability of eyelid lift for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are rare.

Schedule a Consultation for Your Eyelid Lift

Call Barbara Howard, M.D. in Jefferson City, at (573) 635-9668 to schedule your personal consultation for your eyelid lift.