Upper Eyelid Lift

An upper eyelid lift, also known as an upper blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to remove excess tissue, fat, and skin from the eyelids. This procedure continues to be one of the most popular facial procedures each year. ⁽¹⁾

If you are ready to rejuvenate your eye appearance, look no further than Zannis Plastic Surgery! Dr. John Zannis is a board-certified plastic surgeon and the founder of Zannis Plastic Surgery. He is trained in numerous plastic surgery aspects and has helped thousands of patients achieve their appearance goals through prioritizing safety, refined techniques, and personalized, attentive care.

To speak to a member of our team or schedule a consultation over the phone, please call our New Bern office at (252) 633-1197.

About Upper Eyelid Lifts

The upper eyelid lift is a procedure that removes excess skin and fat from above the eyes, primarily for cosmetic reasons. In some cases, however, the procedure may improve one’s field of vision as well. ⁽²⁾ The skin around the eyelids is thinner than other areas, and it is often among the first facial areas to be affected by aging. As we age, the skin becomes less elastic and fat pads may descend, often leading to a drooping or puffy appearance. An upper eyelid lift aims to address each of these concerns, restoring a youthful-looking appearance and improving confidence!

Benefits

Patients can see numerous benefits from an upper eyelid lift, including:

Suitable Candidates

Candidates for an upper eyelid lift include those who are experiencing sagging or drooping eyelid skin and wish to reduce it to improve the appearance of the eyelids. Patients with excessive puffiness above their eyebrows, as well as individuals with weakened eyelid muscles, also make suitable candidates for an upper eyelid lift.

All interested candidates should be in good overall health and free from any underlying medical conditions that may impair healing. Patients should also keep realistic expectations regarding what this procedure can accomplish. Dr. Zannis will determine each patient’s candidacy during their consultation.

Personal Consultation

Each patient is asked to attend a personal consultation before their upper eyelid lift. During this consultation, Dr. Zannis will explain the procedure details to each patient before discussing their medical history, medications, concerns, and ideal aesthetics. He will also perform an evaluation of the eyelids and overall facial anatomy.

Using this information, Dr. Zannis will confirm each patient’s candidacy and craft their treatment plan, tailoring aspects of the procedure to address each of their concerns. Preoperative and postoperative instructions will also be provided, as well as a cost estimate. Each patient is encouraged to prepare and ask questions, as this consultation is meant to be informative, collaborative, and empowering.

To schedule a consultation over the phone or speak to a member of our team, please call (252) 633-1197.

Preparation

In preparation for an upper eyelid lift, Dr. Zannis will provide preoperative instructions to each patient. To prepare for an upper eyelid lift, patients will need to discontinue using medications or supplements with blood-thinning properties. Alcohol should be avoided for several days before and after the procedure, and nicotine use should be fully stopped several weeks in advance.

As upper eyelid lifts are typically performed as outpatient procedures, patients will need to arrange transportation home after the procedure, as well as time off from work to focus on their recovery. It is also recommended to arrange for assistance around the house throughout the initial recovery period.

Procedure

Each procedure will begin with the cleansing of the skin before anesthesia is administered to ensure comfort throughout the process. Dr. Zannis will then make an incision on the eyelids that follows the natural crease of the upper eyelid. From there, he will remove excess skin, reposition or remove fat, and tighten tissues around the upper eyelids to create a refreshed appearance.

Recovery

Following their procedure, each patient will be released home to begin the recovery process. It is common to experience swelling, discomfort, or local bruising, but these effects are temporary and can be managed with pain medications prescribed by Dr. Zannis. Patients should sleep with their heads elevated during recovery.

Most patients can return to work within one to two weeks, but any high-intensity exercise or physically demanding activities should be avoided for several more weeks or until Dr. Zannis approves. Dr. Zannis sees patients for follow-up appointments to monitor results. Any further postoperative instructions will be provided during the consultation.

Results

After their recovery, patients will be able to enjoy a renewed, fresh appearance. The eyes will appear more alert and youthful, and many patients appreciate a more symmetrical and proportionate facial balance. Scars are barely visible due to Dr. Zannis’ discreet placement, and they often fade significantly over time. Patients also often report an improvement in their self-esteem after their procedure, as they now look as awake and alert as they feel.

Results from this procedure are typically considered to be long-lasting, with many patients continuing to benefit from visible rejuvenation for 5-10 years or longer.

Corresponding Procedures

Dr. Zannis can perform many procedures in conjunction with upper eyelid lifts for more comprehensive rejuvenation. The most common procedures to pair with an upper eyelid lift include a lower eyelid lift, brow lift, and/or a facelift.

Lower Eyelid Lift

A lower eyelid lift can be performed during the same blepharoplasty appointment. This procedure addresses sagging or puffy bags beneath the eyes. Combining this with an upper eyelid lift can completely rejuvenate the appearance of the eyes, making one appear well-rested and youthful.

Brow Lift

A brow lift is a procedure designed to remove excess skin and reposition the eyebrows to reduce the appearance of frown lines, creases, wrinkles, and other visible signs of facial aging. There are multiple different approaches for performing a brow lift, each method providing unique advantages for the patient.

Facelift

A facelift, also referred to as a rhytidectomy, is a procedure designed to revitalize one’s facial appearance by removing excess skin and fat and repositioning the underlying layers of tissue and muscle. Dr. Zannis can perform different variations of this procedure to address different levels of concern, including the traditional facelift, mini facelift, and AllureLift™.

Cost of Upper Eyelid Lifts in New Bern

The cost of an upper eyelid lift depends on multiple factors, as each procedure is fully tailored to address the anatomy and goals of each individual. Dr. Zannis will disclose the pricing of each procedure to the patient as soon as their treatment plan is established.

Additionally, Zannis Plastic Surgery has partnered with both CareCredit and Propster Healthcare Lending to offer various financing plans to qualifying patients. Our patient coordinators will be happy to answer any questions you have about either our accepted payment methods or financing options.

To learn more about the cost of your upper eyelid lift, please call (252) 633-1197.

FAQ

References

1. Rebowe RE, Runyan C. Blepharoplasty. PubMed. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482381/
2. Patel BC, Malhotra R. Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty. PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537078/