Blepharoplasty
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Lake Forest, Glenview and Grayslake, IL
Blepharoplasty is a procedure that rejuvenates the eyelids by addressing excess skin, puffiness, and under-eye bags. By removing excess skin and fat, this procedure can help you achieve a more youthful and refreshed look. If you are looking to enhance your upper and/or lower eyelids, our skilled surgeons provide personalized care to meet your aesthetic goals.
At Northwestern Medicine, we have helped many patients improve their appearance with personalized face and body procedures and cutting-edge techniques that provide natural-looking results. Our team of board-certified plastic surgeons is well known for helping patients achieve beautiful, life-changing results. Dr. Liza M. Cohen is board-certified by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and is an American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) fellowship-trained ophthalmic plastic surgeon. She specializes in periocular reconstructive and aesthetic surgery at Northwestern Medicine Aesthetics. Dr. Karthik Shastri is a board-certified, fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon also experienced with blepharoplasty procedures. Dr. Cohen or Dr. Shastri can rejuvenate the eyelids to make you appear younger, happier, and more well-rested, so you no longer need to be concerned about looking tired or angry when you are not.
To schedule an appointment, contact one of our Chicago-area offices in Glenview, Grayslake, or Lake Forest.
Contents
- 1 Before and After Photos
- 2 About Blepharoplasty
- 3 Benefits
- 4 Personal Consultation
- 5 Procedure
- 6 Recovery
- 7 Results
- 8 Possible Concurrent Procedures
- 9 The Cost of Blepharoplasty in Chicago
- 10 FAQ
- 10.1 Will I have scarring after blepharoplasty?
- 10.2 How long will the results of blepharoplasty last?
- 10.3 How can I maintain my blepharoplasty results?
- 10.4 How do I know if an upper, lower, or quad blepharoplasty is best for me?
- 10.5 Can I combine blepharoplasty with other procedures?
- 10.6 Are there non-surgical alternatives to blepharoplasty?
- 11 References
Before and After Photos
About Blepharoplasty
Droopy skin, fine lines, and wrinkles around the eyelids are some of the first signs of aging. (1) Blepharoplasty can address signs of aging around the eyes to help you achieve a smoother, more youthful appearance. Your surgeon can also remove or reposition the underlying fat beneath or above the eyes for a comprehensive approach to achieving a more awake, alert appearance.
In 2023, specialists performed this effective procedure more than 120,700 times to help patients enhance their appearance. (2) There are several different types of eyelid surgery your surgeon can perform depending on your needs:
- Upper: We can remove excess skin and fat from the upper eyelids to rejuvenate your appearance.
- Lower: We can remove excess skin and/or remove or reposition the underlying fat pads beneath your eyes to improve the appearance of under-eye bags that make you look tired.
- Quad: We can perform both an upper and lower eyelid lift to enhance your appearance and smoothen your eyelid contour.
Canthoplasty
Canthoplasty is a procedure that repositions the corner of the eyelid to balance its appearance. If you have experienced changes to your appearance from aging or were naturally born with asymmetrical eyes, Dr. Cohen can potentially combine canthoplasty with an eyelid lift.
To learn more about our additional facial enhancement procedures, see the blog!
Benefits
There are several benefits of blepharoplasty, including:
- Smoother skin: Tightening the skin can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for smoother, more youthful-looking skin.
- Customizable procedure: Depending on your needs, we can enhance the appearance of the upper and/or lower eyelids.
- Lasting results: Since we permanently remove excess tissue, you can enjoy long-lasting results. Results for this procedure last on average 10-20 years.
- Increased confidence: Many patients find that the procedure improves their self-esteem.
Personal Consultation
During your consultation, we will examine your eyelids and eyes to create the best treatment plan for your needs. We will also ask about your medical history and current medications. Please come prepared with any questions you may have.
We will consider your skin type, aesthetic goals, and underlying facial structures to create a personalized treatment plan for you. We can combine blepharoplasty with ptosis surgery, canthoplasty, brow lift, facelift, dermal fillers, or wrinkle relaxers to help you achieve a smoother appearance and reduce overall fine lines and facial wrinkles.
To learn more, explore our services!
Procedure
On the day of your procedure, you should arrive with a clean face without makeup or skincare products. We will cleanse your skin and administer anesthesia, and your surgeon will make guiding markings to prepare for the surgery.
During an upper blepharoplasty, your surgeon will make a hidden incision along the natural upper eyelid crease to remove excess skin and reposition or remove bulging fat pads. During a lower eyelid lift, your surgeon can make an incision on the inside or outside of the lower eyelid to reposition the fat pad, remove excess tissue, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Recovery
After a monitoring period, your surgeon will approve for you to go home. During recovery, it is normal to experience swelling and bruising of the eyelids for 2-3 weeks. You may also experience irritation and itching of the eyes and eyelids. While you recover, we recommend that you take any medications as prescribed and gently cold compresses for the first 3 days and then switch to warm compresses. You will also need to keep your head elevated while you rest and avoid strenuous exercise until your surgeon indicates it is okay for you to do so. We will let you know when to follow up with the office so we can monitor your progress.
Results
The results of blepharoplasty will depend on your specific treatment plan and whether you receive an upper, lower, or quad blepharoplasty or additional facial procedures. Once the swelling subsides, you can enjoy the full results.
After blepharoplasty, you can enjoy a more refreshed appearance of the eyelids. We recommend that you take good care of your skin and wear sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun after you heal. Ultraviolet light is responsible for approximately 80% of skin aging, so it is important to avoid excessive sun exposure to prevent more fine lines and wrinkles from forming. (3,4)
Possible Concurrent Procedures
Facelift
A facelift removes loose, droopy skin for smoother facial contours. As you age and the collagen in your skin declines, it is common to experience jowls, fine lines, and facial wrinkles that make you look older than you are. With a facelift, we can tighten the skin with well-hidden incisions for a firmer, lifted appearance.
Brow Lift
A brow lift lifts the brows to a more youthful position. It can also subtly lift the skin above the eyes, complementing the results of an upper blepharoplasty.
The Cost of Blepharoplasty in Chicago
The cost of blepharoplasty will depend on your personalized procedure plan and whether you undergo an upper, lower, or quad blepharoplasty. Whether you incorporate any additional treatments during your appointment can also impact the cost. During your consultation at our office, we can discuss the best treatment plan for your needs and provide an all-inclusive quote.
Contact one of our Chicago offices to schedule an appointment in Glenview, Grayslake, or Lake Forest.
FAQ
Will I have scarring after blepharoplasty?
Your surgeon will make well-hidden incisions along the eyelids for a natural appearance and minimal visible scarring. For a lower blepharoplasty, the incisions can be made inside the eyelids to further reduce visible scarring.
How long will the results of blepharoplasty last?
On average the results last 10-20 years. If you take good care of your skin and your general health, the results will be longer-lasting. However, it is important to note that the skin around the eyes will continue to age over time, and the fat will continue to prolapse over time. It is possible to repeat the surgery in the future should this occur.
How can I maintain my blepharoplasty results?
To prolong your results, we recommend that you take good care of your skin and avoid excessive sun exposure, which could cause more wrinkles and fine lines to appear around the eyes.
How do I know if an upper, lower, or quad blepharoplasty is best for me?
During your consultation, we will examine your eyelids to determine the best treatment plan for your needs. If you have more sagging skin or bulging fat above the eyes, we may recommend an upper eyelid lift. If you primarily experience sagging skin or bags beneath your eyes, a lower eyelid lift may be best for you. If you have concerns in both of these areas, a quad blepharoplasty can help you reduce signs of aging around the eyes more comprehensively.
Can I combine blepharoplasty with other procedures?
Yes, it is common to combine blepharoplasty with other surgical procedures. These procedures include ptosis surgery, which lifts the upper eyelid, and canthoplasty, which tightens the corner of the eyelid. There are also facelifts, which typically address the lower and middle portions of the face. Because a facelift does not address the tissue around the eyes, patients can choose to receive a blepharoplasty during their facelift procedure to experience more comprehensive rejuvenation. A brow lift also complements blepharoplasty procedures, as a blepharoplasty does not typically address the forehead. A brow lift can reduce the appearance of wrinkles in the forehead and lift the brows to a more youthful position.
Are there non-surgical alternatives to blepharoplasty?
Yes, various non-surgical options exist, including injectable fillers and neuromodulators, which may help with minor eyelid concerns but do not provide the same long-lasting structural enhancements as surgery.
References
- Miotti G, Zeppieri M, Pederzani G, Salati C, Parodi PC. Modern blepharoplasty: From bench to bedside. World Journal of Clinical Cases. 2023;11(8):1719-1729. doi:https://doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v11.i8.1719
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons ® Endorsed Partner. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2023/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2023.pdf
- Manríquez JJ, Cataldo K, Vera-Kellet C, Harz-Fresno I. Wrinkles. BMJ Clinical Evidence. 2014;2014. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4278179/
- D’Orazio J, Jarrett S, Amaro-Ortiz A, Scott T. UV radiation and the skin. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2013;14(6):12222-12248. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms140612222