Saggy Eyelids & Under-Eye Bags (Blepharoplasty)

What is Blepharoplasty?

Every year many men and women chose to have corrective eyelid surgery or Blepharoplasty. As skin loses elasticity, excess skin and fat can build up around the eyes, causing sagging upper eyelids, hooding, and puffiness or bags under the eyes. Unlike ptosis, there’s no muscle weakness involved, this is purely excess skin and fat. It can also simply be a feature of eyelid shape from a young age, not just an age-related change. Droopy lids can also interfere with vision. Blepharoplasty corrects these problems through removing puffiness and bags under the eyes.

Symptoms

• Sagging or hooded upper eyelids
• Puffiness or bags under the eyes
• A tired or heavy appearance around the eyes
• In more pronounced upper lid cases, excess skin obstructing the upper or outer field of vision

Diagnosis

A clinical examination of the eyelid skin and fat, and where vision may be affected, a visual field test to confirm any obstruction.

Treatments

• Blepharoplasty — removes excess skin and repositions or removes fat, correcting sagging, hooding and under-eye bags; incisions follow the eye’s natural creases to keep scarring minimal, with dissolvable sutures typically used

Outcomes

Blepharoplasty is effective at improving the appearance of the eye area and, in upper lid cases, restoring peripheral vision where it was affected. It’s a cosmetic procedure, it won’t address dark circles, fine lines, wrinkles, or sagging eyebrows.