An eyelid lift is a complex procedure that rejuvenates the appearance of the eyes and the area around the eyes. Surgeons often perform eyelid lifts on patients whose vision is limited by droopy upper eyelid skin. As a result, this skin may infringe on peripheral vision and make the face look aged. Patients with extra skin and/or eye bags under the lower eyelids can also benefit from this surgery.

For an upper eyelid lift, surgeons aim to make subtle incisions within the concave crease above the eyelids, so any fine scarring does not interfere with the quality of the results. For a lower eyelid lift, they will either make the incision along or within the waterline, so that when swelling recedes, it will heal in the most natural-looking way possible.

An eyelid lift at Wolin Plastic Surgery Center is a comprehensive procedure that usually involves two to three visits with Dr. Andrew Wolin to discuss your specific concerns as well as plan out the specific surgery needed. Dr. Wolin is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with nearly 40 years of experience, providing the most results that flatter each individual’s unique face shape and features. During your consultation at his practice, you will be able to communicate your aesthetic goals and receive the attentive care you deserve with such an intricate procedure.

To begin your transformative experience with Dr. Wolin’s personalized solutions, call his Scottsdale office at (480) 945-8440 or submit your inquiry with his online form, and a staff member of his practice will get in touch with you as soon as possible.

Before and After Photos

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What is an Eyelid Lift?

An eyelid lift is both a cosmetic and functional procedure that reduces excess tissue and fat around the eyes. An upper eyelid lift is perfect for people who are bothered by the appearance of drooping eyelids that hinder eyesight, make makeup application difficult, or are unattractive. Surgeons can also perform an eyelid lift to remove excess skin and bags. Surgeons can also perform a fat transfer to add volume to the hollow rim around the upper and lower lid to soften and blend the eyelids into the surrounding eye socket.

We have all heard the saying “The eyes are the windows to your soul.” Signs of premature aging can undermine self-confidence and make you look older, worn, and tired. By enhancing your look, Dr. Wolin can help change how you feel about yourself.

Dr. Wolin has a unique approach to this surgery. He looks at not just the eyes but also the surrounding facial features and how they are impacting the appearance of your eyes. His goal is to make your eyes appear beautiful by not only removing extra skin but more importantly, also making the eyes harmonize with the rest of the upper half of the face. Dr. Wolin will analyze the cheek, temple, brow, and nasal borders of the eyes during your consultation. An artistic result is only achieved when the artist sees the entire canvas!

An eyelid lift is commonly referred to as a blepharoplasty, but Dr. Wolin applies a comprehensive treatment that goes beyond the traditional lift. He focuses on long-lasting results that will help you retain a balanced, youthful appearance.

Ideal Candidates

Individuals who are bothered by under-eye bags or droopy eyelids are great candidates. Prospective patients should be in good health and have realistic expectations for what an eyelid lift can accomplish for them. Dr. Wolin may refrain from performing on patients with unmanaged high blood pressure, thyroid eye disease, unmanaged diabetes, or a blood clotting disorder. ⁽¹⁾ Aside from health concerns, we recommend that prospective patients look through our eyelid lift before and after photos to get an idea of how Dr. Wolin performs these cosmetic procedures; patients should also conduct some of their own research.

Personal Consultation

A blepharoplasty is a more complete approach to eyelid rejuvenation since it targets the skin, muscles, and fat of the eyes and upper face. As a minimally invasive procedure that requires such comprehensive changes, a pre-surgical analysis that includes multiple visits is necessary to ensure optimal results. During your consultation- your first appointment- Dr. Wolin will evaluate your candidacy and go over the basics of preparing and recovering from the surgery. You will have the opportunity to learn all about how Dr. Wolin performs eyelid lifts. This meeting will allow you to ask questions, voice concerns, and learn more about Dr. Wolin’s experience and credentials. He will also ask about your medical history, medications, and current lifestyle to decide if an eyelid lift is a healthy solution for you.

Together, you and Dr. Wolin will determine what techniques will provide your best, long-term improvements. Call his office located in Scottsdale at (480) 945-8440 or fill out his contact form to get started.

Preparation

There are a few steps to take to ensure you can achieve the best results. Arrange for rides to and from your appointment. If Dr. Wolin performs the procedure on all four eyelids at the same time (quad blepharoplasty), we recommend having a friend stay with you for your first night to help you get what you need and move around. You will also need to adjust your current medications and pause any smoking habits in preparation for your treatment. Dr. Wolin and his staff will place health first and set you up for a safe surgery. If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call.

Eyelid Lift Procedure Steps

Dr. Wolin will remove excess skin from the upper and lower lids and may remove fat and tighten muscle to help you attain a fresher, more alert eye expression. The length of the procedure will depend on the techniques he applies, but he will give you an estimate of your surgery’s length during your personal consultation.

Removing Excess Tissue

Making beautiful eyes is about more than just lifting the eyelids. Dr. Wolin will tighten the outer third of the brow and temple to further improve the appearance of the eyes. The goal is to relieve the eyes of any lax tissue of the temple and outer brown region pushing down on the upper lids. Doing so can even help prevent patients from experiencing headaches due to consistently overusing the frontalis (forehead muscle) to lift the eyelid skin. ⁽²⁾

For the lower eyelids, Dr. Wolin will make an incision along the waterline, the lower opening of the eyelid. He will pull this small tissue down to make changes to the tiny fat pads in the area as well as tighten this area. He will also tighten the lower lid tarsoligamentous complex, a thin layer of connective tissue that provides support for this area below the eyes. ⁽¹⁾

Framing

Lifting and adding micro fat with fat transfer will add support to the corner of the brow and temple so that these areas do not slide down into the eye frame. The addition of fat makes the whole face appear as a single sculpted unit with smooth continuous surfaces. He can round out the circle surrounding each eye, making sure he fills depressions to achieve a natural appearance. Dr. Wolin can easily carry out this relatively minor adjunctive procedure during the upper lid skin removal.

Some patients only require little skin removal and tightening from their eye area, whereas other patients will require additional adjunctive techniques such as filling in the cheek, lower lid, corner of the eye, and brow to enhance eye framing. Dr. Wolin will customize the procedure to your individual facial form to ensure he achieves the best outcome. He does not simply pull skin back as tight as he can like many traditional methods applied by other surgeons.

Eyelid Lift Recovery and Results

After surgery, your eyes will be swollen and sensitive. Dr. Wolin’s prescribed pain medications will help control any discomfort. You should keep your head elevated to reduce swelling and go on brief walks when you feel comfortable. Short walks will also improve your circulation and help speed up your healing process. You will be ready to return to work or light activity in 7 to 14 days.

Your results will be noticeable right away and only improve as swelling and bruising decline. The outcome that Dr. Wolin can achieve will be long-lasting and impressive. He approaches each treatment with a scientific understanding and an artist’s eye. To maintain your results and keep them natural-looking, you will need to implement a healthy lifestyle and skincare routine.

Consistent Follow-Up

Dr. Wolin follows his patient’s recovery carefully by communicating on a daily basis through patient-generated smartphone photos to his private phone messaging system. No one should ever feel that their doctor is too busy to communicate. Dr. Wolin has found that this is an invaluable service and helps the recuperative process in all patients.

Complementary Procedures

To achieve the best results, Dr. Wolin may also recommend other procedures. He may combine blepharoplasty with fat transfer to under the eyes and temple areas, deep peeling techniques using the latest in Croton oil skin peeling, laser skin resurfacing, browlift, and possibly a facelift.

Browlift/Temple Lift

Dr. Wolin may recommend a brow lift alongside an eyelid lift. To find out if you need this combination surgery, look directly into the mirror and lift your outer brow with one finger. If you find that this erases your problem with hanging outer lid skin, then you are most likely a candidate for a brow/template lift. If Dr. Wolin does not address this redundant skin during an eyelid lift, then the brow and temple may descend and cause renewed hooding of the outer eyelid. Dr. Wolin will carefully evaluate this area and make you aware of your best options.

Cost of an Eyelid Lift in Scottsdale

The cost of an eyelid lift varies for each patient. We tailor the techniques used to your aesthetic results to meet your expectations and flatter the natural beauty of your eyes. To learn more about eyelid lifts and how Dr. Wolin uses advanced methods to truly impact the appearance of your face for years to come, schedule a consultation. You can also give us a call at (480) 945-8440 to talk to our office staff and schedule a meeting over the phone. We look forward to talking with you!

References

1. Rebowe RE, Runyan C. Blepharoplasty. PubMed. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482381/
2. Patel BC, Malhotra R. Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty. PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537078/