Eyelid Lift Surgery | Upper Blepharoplasty

Our Salt Lake City eyelid lift surgery – or upper blepharoplasty – is the most common cosmetic surgery procedure Dr. Eftekhari performs. Our upper and lower eyelids have the thinnest skin on the body. This delicate area is susceptible to sagging and slackening of support muscles, which is why many people choose eyelid lift surgery. Aging in the upper eyelids usually happens before the rest of the face. In many cases, hooded eyelids are genetic and passed down from our parents. An eyelid lift can restore the natural appearance of your eyes to be able to see your eyelashes again, and to get rid of that tired, heavy feeling above your eyes.

Dr. Eftekhari is a board-certified eyelid doctor who performs eyelid plastic surgery to rejuvenate the eyes and the face. He has completed specialized training in eyelid surgery and is a member of the prestigious American Society for Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, one of only 750 members in the world.

What is eyelid lift surgery?

Eyelid lift surgery at our Salt Lake City clinic, also known as upper blepharoplasty, mainly addresses the sagging that is prevalent in the upper eyelids. Incisions are made to allow for removal of excess skin and to reposition fat. Dr. Eftekhari often repositions fat, rather than removing it. This creates the most natural looking results and avoids a hollow appearance.

While upper blepharoplasty is often a cosmetic procedure, sometimes excessive extra skin above the eyes blocks your vision. In these cases, the procedure can be covered by insurance.

Who is a good candidate for eyelid lift surgery?

Many patients have issues with sagging skin and loosened muscles on their upper eyelids. This can give you a hooded appearance and ages your eyes, often beyond your actual years.

Our Salt Lake City cosmetic surgery and eye lift operations are popular with both women and men (the breakdown is about 60 percent female and 40 percent male). Men often notice that their upper eyelids “stick together” or feel hooded or tired all the time.

Most people over the age of 40 could benefit from these surgeries with Dr. Eftekhari. Many patients have Dr. Eftekhari perform blepharoplasty on the upper eyelids and lower eyelids in the same procedure, since the downtime for each surgery is the same. Combining both procedures saves patients from having to endure downtime twice and gives the best aesthetic result.

How is upper eyelid lift performed?

The goal of our Salt Lake City eyelid lift procedure is to remove excess upper eyelid skin and reposition muscle and fat to give the most natural result. Dr. Eftekhari makes the incision in the crease of the upper eyelid, which makes the incision virtually invisible. Excess skin is removed, fat repositioned or removed, and the underlying muscle tissue tightened.

Dr. Eftekhari’s focus as an eyelid specialist ensures that the rejuvenation he achieves will appear natural and not hollow. The skin is closed with sutures.

How should I prepare for upper eyelid lift surgery?

Upper lid lift surgery is minor surgery, so there is little needed to prepare for this procedure. You’ll need to stop taking blood thinners, anti-inflammatory medication, and most supplements for one week prior to your surgery with Dr. Eftekhari because these can worsen bruising. If you smoke, you’ll need to stop for at least two weeks prior to and following your procedure, as smoking inhibits wound healing.

What will my recovery be like after lid lift surgery?

Recovery from eyelid lift surgery is not difficult. After your surgery with Dr. Eftekhari, you will return home and begin cold compress and eye ointment. If you’re diligent with the compress, you can minimize bruising and swelling. Pain is not acute, and it is manageable with over-the-counter pain medication. At this point, your eyes will look great, and this is the majority of any recovery you need to plan for. You may have some light swelling at times moving forward, but this completely resolves in a few weeks. Most patients can return to work within 72 hours.

What are the risks with upper blepharoplasty?

Our Salt Lake City upper blepharoplasty procedure is a delicate surgery, and that’s where you’ll appreciate Dr. Eftekhari’s specialization and training in these procedures. He has extensive experience with the anatomy, muscular structure, and the best methods for rejuvenating the eyes. 

Still, upper eyelid surgery is still that…surgery. As such, there are the potential risks and complications of any surgery: infection, bleeding, and poor wound healing. There can be some eyelid specific complications such as dry eye and, very rarely, problems closing an eyelid. Dr. Eftekhari takes great measures to avoid this complication and often sees patients who have had too much skin removed elsewhere. Revising prior surgery can be very difficult to correct.

What will my results be like after upper eyelid lift surgery?

These are very satisfying procedures for our patients. They deliver dramatic, yet completely natural-looking results. Unless you tell your friends and co-workers, they won’t have any idea you’ve had this surgery; they’ll only know that you somehow look refreshed, more alert, and younger. And who couldn’t use a little of that?