Eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, can refer to the upper or lower eyelids.
Who is a good candidate?
Loose or excess skin of the upper eyelid
Puffiness of the upper eyelid
Reasonable expectations
The best candidates are healthy and don’t have active eye problems.
Before
After
Before
After
How is the surgery performed?
Upper eyelid lift is performed by our Minneapolis facial plastic surgeon in an operating room under mild sedation. The procedure takes about 45 minutes. Dr. Prischmann always marks the incision prior to surgery with the patient awake. This ensures that the correct amount of skin is removed. The incisions are meticulously planned and often rest perfectly in the natural eyelid crease. Dr. Prischmann spends time closing the incisions and uses very small sutures to minimize scarring. Sutures are on the outside and are removed in the office 6 or 7 days after surgery.
What is the recovery?
There are two types of downtime associated with upper eyelid lift: overall downtime and “visual” downtime.
Overall downtime (time away from work) is approximately 7 days. Visual downtime refers to time that your vision will be blurry. Because we use ointments on the incisions and in the eye to prevent dryness, you can expect visual downtime to be about four days. During this time, you should avoid driving.
Between 10 and 14 days after surgery, our advanced practice esthetician performs lymphatic massage and uses medical-grade makeup to conceal bruising. We find that patients feel more confident after this appointment. In most cases, you can expect to resume wearing contacts and eye makeup in about two weeks.
I really enjoyed having you as my doctor. I couldn’t have asked for a better doctor! I enjoyed all my appointments with you. You made me feel special like I just wasn’t any other patient. Anyone is lucky to have you.
Thanks for everything,
Lynzie
More Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
For your convenience, Dr. Prischmann has provided some answers to frequently asked questions about eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). If you have additional questions, or if you would like to schedule a consultation, please contact us today.
I have an unevenness in my eyes. What could have caused this asymmetry in the eye area?
No human face is perfectly symmetric. Often, we don’t realize this until we start the process of thinking about surgery. Many times, an eyelid lift can improve the appearance of asymmetry (for example, if one eyelid is more hooded than the other). Other times, it does not change it at all. Your surgeon should be able to set appropriate expectations prior to surgery.
Will my insurance cover my blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty can be covered by your insurance company if there is a functional problem. In other words, if the sagging skin of your upper eyelid is blocking your peripheral vision.
We very commonly refer our patients for visual field testing. In this very simple and quick test, we can numerically measure the degree of peripheral obstruction. After reviewing the test results, we can advise whether insurance is likely to provide coverage or if we need to submit for a “prior authorization” from your insurance carrier.
How important is aftercare following eyelid surgery?
Aftercare is critically important following eyelid surgery. We teach our patients how to care for incisions to ensure the best result. We also have a very elaborate protocol for lubricating the eyes during the first few weeks after surgery to prevent complications associated with dry eye symptoms.
Dr. Prischmann can answer all of your questions and address any concerns you may have during an initial consultation to discuss your goals. If you would like more information on eyelid surgery, please contact us today.
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