Most commonly, eyelid surgery is performed on adult men and women who have healthy facial tissue and muscles, and have realistic goals for improvement of the upper and/or lower eyelids and surrounding area. Good candidates are:

• Healthy individuals who do not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing
• Non-smokers
• Individuals with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for improvement through eyelid surgery.
  

In addition, the following medical conditions are essential to disclose if you are considering eyelid surgery:

• Eye disease such as glaucoma, dry eye or a detached retina
• Thyroid disorders such as Graves' disease and under or over-active thyroid
• Cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure or other circulatory disorders or diabetes
  

My eyelid surgery

Like any cosmetic procedure, eyelid surgery requires an individualized approach. Dr. Barnthouse will evaluate your anatomy, the condition you wish to have corrected, what is causing the condition and your realistic goals for improvement. Eyelid surgery can offer dramatic improvement in the upper and lower eyelids and surrounding regions. This degree of correction of drooping eyelids, puffiness or bags can only be achieved surgically, by repositioning muscle, redistributing fat that has settled into contours, and when necessary by removing excess skin.

Skin resurfacing techniques may be recommended to further improve the tone and surface appearance of skin surrounding the eye, and in some cases as a substitute for excision of minimal excess lower eyelid skin. Where a low positioned brow or crows' feet at the outer corner of the eyes contribute to the aging appearance of the eyes, a browlift may be more appropriate than, or recommend in conjunction with eyelid surgery. In addition, a brow lift can also smooth a lined or furrowed forehead.

A midface lift, one that corrects sagging in the cheek region and pronounced nasolabial folds (creases from the nose to the outer corner of the mouth) may be performed through the same incisions as blepharoplasty. A facelift and neck lift may also be performed at the same time as eyelid surgery.