Blepharoplasty is a general surgical term that includes many different procedures all aiming to improve and rejuvenate the eyes. Surgeons can focus on eliminating excess “hooding” over the eyes by repositioning or removing tiny fat deposits and removing lax skin, or they can solely perform a lower eyelid lift that tightens the areas beneath the eyes to smooth out permanent eye bags. For these types of intricate procedures, surgeons are careful to place the incision hidden within the crease of the upper eyelid or along the lower lash line. Those with more significant aging concerns can undergo a procedure to rejuvenate both the lower and upper eyelids at the same time (quad blepharoplasty).

Dramatically improving your aesthetics may be as simple as highlighting the natural beauty of your eyes with this minimally invasive solution. At Roham Advance Laser & Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, our surgeons, Dr. Tim Roham and Dr. Ali Roham work together to provide the highest-quality surgical experiences for each and every patient. From the time you walk into our fully accredited facility, you can expect our welcoming staff to assist you in answering your questions or scheduling your complimentary consultation.

Eye surgery, or blepharoplasty, offered at our Orange County cosmetic and plastic surgery offices, is one of today’s most common cosmetic surgery procedures. It is incredibly popular for a variety of reasons; with such subtle changes, it can create a transformative effect on your overall appearance.

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What is Eyelid Surgery?

You use your eyes to communicate all the time, and you do not want them to make you look tired or old. Surgeons can use eyelid surgery to address droopy upper eyelids or puffy lower eyelids. By removing the excess tissue and correcting wrinkles, the eyes can return to their more youthful appearance, making you look happier and well-rested and giving you the confidence you desire.

Significant eyelid wrinkles, folds, and bulging are some of the first indications of your age. Despite your best efforts, it is impossible to completely combat the effects of UV rays from the sun, gravity, and pollutants in the environment. The eyelid skin is the thinnest skin of the entire body, so signs of aging from reduced collagen often settle in this area first. In addition to the skin losing its youthful rigidity, small fat deposits around the eyes may bulge more easily and migrate downwards.

Dr. Salvador Castañares was the first surgeon to map out the exact anatomy of the eyelids in the 1950s, pioneering the first techniques to cosmetically rejuvenate them. ⁽¹⁾ Since this research roughly 60 years ago, surgeons have found newer, less invasive ways of creating similar, long-lasting results that harmonize with patients’ unique facial features.

Ideal Candidates

If you are considering eyelid surgery, you will first consult with Dr. Roham, who will go into detail about what qualifies a person for this surgery. The following may be characteristics of good candidates for eyelid surgery:

Good Health

Blepharoplasty candidates should enjoy good health and be free from eye diseases, such as glaucoma, as well as other medical conditions like hypothyroidism and diabetes. Additionally, candidates should be non-smokers. Smoking and tobacco use can have significant effects on health, but when it comes to surgery, this habit can slow down the healing process. If you do smoke, consider quitting temporarily before your procedure.

Realistic Goals and Expectations

Blepharoplasty is an excellent solution for enhancing your appearance and allowing you to feel more comfortable with the way you look. However, this procedure will not make you look like a totally different person or drastically change the structure of your face. Instead, you may find that you look like a younger, more refreshed version of your current self, which is a great improvement on its own. If you are looking for more dramatic results, speak with our experts about other procedures that they can perform in addition to or instead of blepharoplasty, such as a facelift, brow lift, or neck lift.

Significant Eyelid Sagging

Sagging eyelids can significantly change the way you look. In some cases, the extent of sagging is such that it causes the eyelids to droop into your field of vision; it can lead to issues with your seeing clearly. Eyelid surgery removes this excess sagging skin, allowing you to enjoy clearer vision.

Personal Consultation

During your consultation with Dr. Roham, he will listen intently to your dissatisfactions with your eyelid contours and assess if eyelid surgery is appropriate for your needs. He will evaluate your medical history, current conditions and medications, and the extent of your eyelid aging to help him decide what kind of treatment you could benefit from. If he thinks that an upper or lower eyelid lift (or both) could positively revitalize your appearance, he will go over what you need to know to prepare for your procedure. He will ensure that you know everything involved with the recovery and aftercare so that you can make an informed decision that affects your health and aesthetics. If you have any remaining questions, you should ask him so that you will feel comfortable and confident going forward.

Taking the first steps toward improving your aesthetics and reversing years of aging can be daunting, but both Dr. Tim Roham, Dr. Ali Roham, and their staff are ready to support you. Get in touch using our contact form or call one of the following numbers to get started today.

Procedure Steps

Dr. Roham will perform eyelid surgery in our Orange County office under local anesthesia, oral sedation, I.V. sedation, or general anesthesia which generally takes between 1 to 2 hours. Dr. Roham makes tiny incisions in the natural creases of your eyelids to leave virtually no visible scarring. He will remove excess skin and remove or reposition fatty deposits. The overall effect is a tightening of the lids to produce a youthful appearance. The results of upper and lower eyelid surgery are dramatic! Our patients look many years younger. Finally, You will be able to go home on the same day of your procedure.

Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty/ Lateral Brow Lift

During the upper eyelid lift procedure, Dr. Roham will remove excess skin, muscle, and sculpt the fatty tissue from the upper eyelids. He uses a combination of a fine blade and the CO2 laser to do his procedure in order to minimize bleeding and optimize recovery. This upper eyelid surgery incision is hidden in the natural creases above the eyelids. He will close the incision with one fine stitch that he will remove at a later date.

We often incorporate a lateral brow lift procedure with our upper eyelid surgery to enhance and bring about a lifted and brighter look to your eyes. This is done through a small incision well hidden in the temporal hairline which allows us to elevate and lift the eyebrows to an appropriate position that matches the eyelid anatomy. This is an important step in order to create a very welcoming, harmonious, and balanced look to the eyes and the overall face. More importantly, this additional step prevents the brow from drooping and falling down several months after the removal of the upper eyelid skin.

Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty

The latest advances in lower blepharoplasty involve conservative removal of herniated fat and skin with CO2 laser resurfacing of wrinkly skin. Dr. Roham will make the incisions in the natural creases under the eyes- about 1 mm underneath the lash line- that are practically invisible. He will modify and tighten the lower lid tarsoligamentous complex, a layer of connective tissue that provides support and shape for the lower lid. ⁽²⁾ If puffy lower eyelids and under-eyes are a concern, he may use liposuction techniques in this area. To close the incision, he will place a tiny absorbable stitch.

Most importantly, he believes in replenishing lost volume around the eyes using your own fat (fat transfer to the face) or dermal fillers (Restylane, Juvéderm). Dr. Roham uses this combined approach with lower eyelid surgery to avoid the operated look and to create a naturally youthful shape for the eyes.

Recovery and Results

You may return to light activities the day after eyelid surgery. There may be mild discomfort and bruising, but Dr. Roham’s prescriptions will help you easily manage these effects. The recovery from this procedure is minimal; he will remove stitches after 5 to 6 days, and you will be able to resume normal activity within one week. If you only undergo a lower eyelid lift, you will not need to return for a stitch removal appointment- they will slowly dissolve within a week to two weeks. As with all surgery at Roham Advance Laser & Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, Dr. Roham will give you detailed before and after-surgery instructions, and he will be available to answer questions and guide you along the way.

Your eyelids will appear naturally enhanced permanently. As the aging process continues, wrinkles and saggy skin will reappear gradually. You may consider nonsurgical treatments, such as CO2 laser skin resurfacing, or a TCA chemical peel to prolong the rejuvenated appearance after cosmetic surgery.

Cost of Eyelid Surgery in Orange County

The cost of your eyelid lift will depend on various surgical factors that Dr. Roham will discuss with you during your consultation. This may include surgical fees, medications during recovery, follow-up appointments, and applied techniques. If you are interested in more affordable options for this procedure, consider applying for a payment plan with Cherry Financing or CareCredit.

At Roham Advance Laser & Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, you can feel like the most attractive version of yourself with blepharoplasty. To learn more, fill out our contact form, or call our offices in Southern California.

If you would like to learn more about other procedures we offer at our practices, read through our blog.

FAQ

References

1. Espinoza GM, Holds JB. Evolution of Eyelid Surgery. Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America. 2005;13(4):505-510. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsc.2005.09.001
2. Rebowe RE, Runyan C. Blepharoplasty. PubMed. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482381/