Eyelid Lift
Consultations offered at our two convenient locations in La Jolla and Carmel Valley, San Diego
An eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, is a procedure that removes the drooping skin from the upper eyelids (upper blepharoplasty) and/or treats fat pockets, bags, and sunken features under the eyes (lower blepharoplasty), to create an open, bright, vibrant, and youthful appearance.
As normal aging occurs, your face will reveal your years more than any other part of your body. Your eyelids are one of the most telling features and often the most memorable aspects of your appearance. Even a minimal change to your eyelids holds the power to dramatically improve your overall appearance. These procedures can be combined or done singularly to deliver a more rejuvenated and refreshed look.
Dr. Daniel Brown is a leading board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeon who specializes in facial rejuvenation and delivers refreshed, natural-looking, and remarkable results. He leads his practice with more than 20 years of experience and the goal of providing patients with life-changing results that fit their unique anatomy. An eyelid lift, for example, can significantly benefit both men and women who want to improve their upper and/or lower eyelids. At his practice, with three different and convenient locations in La Jolla and Carmel Valley, California, we ensure that each patient receives top-tier care and beautiful results.
To learn more about how a blepharoplasty can freshen your appearance and treat signs of facial aging, contact us online or call our office at (619) 461-1500 to schedule your personal consultation!
Contents
Before and After Photos
About Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty may correct minor aesthetic defects of the eyes caused by aging. An eyelid lift involves the removal of excess skin and/or shifted or diminished fat from the eyelids. (1) This procedure can improve facial symmetry, enhance eyelid definition, and rejuvenate undesirable effects of the aging process.
Excess, drooping upper eyelid skin or large pouches under your eyes can give the appearance of chronic exhaustion, regardless of how well-rested or young you are. Both men and women with these issues say that others tell them that they always look “tired” or “angry.” A blepharoplasty can help individuals regain a youthful appearance and renew their confidence in life. Whether you have been unhappy with the appearance of your eyes for years or are simply frustrated with the natural results of the aging process, an eyelid lift can revitalize your upper and/or lower eyelids.
Different Types of Blepharoplasty
- Upper Eyelid Lift: Corrects drooping or sagging upper eyelids by gently repositioning or removing fatty tissue and excess skin. (2)
- Lower Eyelid Lift: Improves the appearance of the lower eyelid by tightening excess skin and muscles with fat removal in the lower eyelid area. (3)
- Transconjunctival Lower Eyelid Surgery: This technique improves cosmetic lower eyelid concerns but utilizes an incision behind the lower eyelid and leaves no visible scar.
Benefits
An eyelid lift may completely transform your facial appearance and deliver life-changing results through effects such as:
- Refreshing upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both
- Eliminating excess skin and wrinkles of the lower eyelid
- Removing protruding fatty deposits that make the eyelids appear droopy or swollen
- Lightening deep, dark circles under the eyes
- Repairing upper eyelid folds created by sagging skin to improve the upper eyelids’ natural contours
- Erasing bags and puffiness under the eyes
- Smoothing wrinkles or depressions around the eyes
- Reshaping the eyelid to reflect a more natural and aesthetically pleasing contour
Ideal Candidates
If you are experiencing under-eye bags, shifted fat pads, drooping eyelid skin, or other eye-region cosmetic concerns, an eyelid lift may be an ideal solution for you. This procedure can also benefit patients whose vision has been obstructed by drooping skin. To qualify for treatment, patients should be in good general health, hold realistic expectations for their results, and be willing to collaborate with Dr. Brown to form their treatment plan. During your personal consultation, Dr. Brown will evaluate your candidacy and help you explore your treatment options.
Personal Consultation
At your personal consultation, Dr. Brown will perform a comprehensive examination of your facial structure and specific concerns and review your aesthetic goals to determine which type of eyelid lift will achieve optimal results. Dr. Brown will provide a direct recommendation customized to your unique anatomy in order to create outstanding, natural-looking results. He will also address any questions or concerns you may have regarding your treatment. He provides confidential, private service and is dedicated to helping you feel the most confident and secure while obtaining the results you are wishing to see. If you are ready to receive an eyelid lift, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Brown by contacting us online or by calling our office at (619) 461-1500.
Preparation
Prior to your procedure, Dr. Brown may ask you to complete other medical tests specific to your case, make lifestyle adjustments, and arrange logistics or adjust your schedule. Despite variations for treatment-specific details and patient medical history, preparation generally requires you to:
- Refrain from smoking or consuming other forms of nicotine (if applicable)
- Stop taking blood-thinning medications and supplements
- Pick up any prescribed medications
- Arrange transportation home and caregiver assistance for at least 24 hours after your procedure
- Take time off work (about three to five days)
Procedure
Depending on your specific concerns and aesthetic goals, your procedure will address the upper and/or lower eyelids. Should you have concerns elsewhere on the face, you can pair your procedure with others; notably, blepharoplasty and brow lifts are a powerful combination.
At the beginning of your procedure, you will receive local anesthesia with oral sedation, but there is an option for general anesthesia as well. If addressing the upper eyes, Dr. Brown will then make an incision along the natural fold of the eyelid to remove any sagging skin, extra fat, or muscle. For concerns below the eyes, Dr. Brown can make an incision either in the lash line or behind the lower eyelid. These incisions allow him to remove or redistribute puffiness and bags, ensuring to tighten the adjoining musculature that surrounds the eyelids. Lastly, he will carefully close incisions, making sure to minimize scar formation and keep incisions hidden in natural eye contours. The total duration of the procedure will be about one to two hours, though this can vary for each patient and their specific concerns.
Recovery
After your procedure, Dr. Brown recommends a week of downtime to recover. He will provide you with a detailed post-operative instruction guide to make the process smooth and enhance outcomes. It is important to avoid sun exposure and wear darkly tinted sunglasses until your healing is complete. It is normal to experience mild bruising, irritation, swelling, and dry eyes as you heal, but these side effects are temporary and will subside with time. He also recommends that you utilize over-the-counter pain medications, compresses, and ointments to reduce discomfort, minimize swelling, and keep incisions moist and clean during your recovery period. You will most likely feel ready to return to work and resume your daily routine after a week.
Results
By removing excess tissue and reducing puffiness, your eyelid lift can result in a more rested, alert, and youthful appearance. An upper eyelid lift reduces the heavy, hooded skin on your eyelids, creating an alert and happier-looking appearance while simultaneously clearing obstructions from peripheral vision. A lower eyelid lift may smooth the under-eye bags, reduce puffiness from protruding fat, and soften teartrough shadows. Blepharoplasty yields long-lasting results, meaning you can enjoy your rejuvenated, refreshed look for several years.
Corresponding Procedures
Patients frequently pair their blepharoplasty with additional procedures to enhance outcomes. Common pairings are brow lifts to raise the eyebrows or laser skin resurfacing to reduce scar formation and boost post-procedure skin health.
Brow Lift
A brow lift is a procedure that raises low-set eyebrows to rejuvenate and create a more youthful appearance. Although an eyelid lift can raise the upper eyelid, a brow lift can proportionally raise low-set eyebrows to enhance outcomes. By raising the eyebrows, the appearance of forehead wrinkles is reduced, and the effects of blepharoplasty become more pronounced.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing is a treatment that can refresh your skin by removing the damaged outer layers, stimulate collagen production, and more. Patients frequently use it in conjunction with blepharoplasty to further reduce wrinkles, age spots, acne scarring, and other unwanted blemishes, emerging from treatment with a dermal glow that matches their energized, rejuvenated eyes.
Cost of Eyelid Lifts in Carmel Valley and La Jolla
The cost of your eyelid surgery depends on your goals, the scale of the procedure, whether the upper, lower, or both eyelids are addressed, whether you undergo additional procedures, and more. To learn more, schedule a personal consultation online or by calling our office at (619) 461-1500 and meet with Dr. Brown and receive a quote.
FAQ
- How many years of plastic surgery training have you had?
- How many eyelid surgeries have you performed?
- Where will my procedure be performed?
- What eyelid surgery techniques do you recommend for me?
- Am I a good candidate for eyelid surgery?
How long do the results of an eyelid lift last?
Both upper and lower eyelid lifts can be very long-lasting. Some people may need an upper eyelid lift revision five to seven years after their initial procedure. You can preserve your results with an active, healthy lifestyle, sun protection, effective skincare habits, and proper eye protection.
Who is not a good candidate for eyelid surgery?
If you have pre-existing eye conditions such as chronic dry eye, thyroid eye disease, glaucoma, or a detached retina, you may not be an ideal candidate for an eyelid lift and may need an alternative treatment. You should let Dr. Brown know if you have any of these conditions or other medical conditions so he can assess your candidacy for blepharoplasty.
What is an ideal age to receive eyelid surgery?
Most individuals who receive eyelid surgery are over the age of 40, as this procedure targets visible signs of aging such as skin laxity, wrinkles, and eyelid drooping. However, people who are younger than 40 who are experiencing impaired vision due to drooping eyelids may also be good candidates for this procedure.
How do I find a qualified plastic surgeon for an eyelid lift near me?
To select the best eyelid plastic surgeon near you, first verify your medical credentials online before moving on to viewing before and after photos, reading customer testimonials, and finally setting up a consultation with your top one or two picks. During your consultation, you should have questions prepared, such as these, to make a final and informed decision.
What is the average cost of eyelid surgery?
The cost of your eyelid surgery will depend on many factors, such as the type of procedure you will receive; whether you will need an upper blepharoplasty, lower blepharoplasty, or both, and whether you will be combining your eyelid surgery with other facial rejuvenation procedures. To receive an accurate cost estimate for your eyelid surgery, schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Brown.
References
- Naik M, Honavar S, Das S, Desai S, Dhepe N. Blepharoplasty: An overview. Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery. 2009;2(1):6. doi:10.4103/0974-2077.53092
- Goh ASC, Yong GY. Minimally Invasive Eyelid Lift: A Skin Preservation Upper Blepharoplasty. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. 2025;7. doi:10.1093/asjof/ojaf107
- Bhattacharjee K, Ghosh S, Ugradar S, Azhdam AM. Lower eyelid blepharoplasty: An overview. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. 2020;68(10):2075-2083. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_2265_19