Patients who have sagging or drooping eyelids may benefit from undergoing a procedure known as lower blepharoplasty. As we age, most people lose some tissue elasticity around the eyes, and the resulting sagging creates a tired, aged appearance. Lower blepharoplasty can help to tighten the area under the eye, removing fat and excess tissue, creating a more youthful look. Having lower blepharoplasty will not eliminate wrinkles from under the eye, although it can make the skin smoother in appearance.

Most people who have lower blepharoplasty have upper blepharoplasty as well, but it is possible to treat only the under eye area. The surgery for a lower blepharoplasty can take between one and three hours, and if an upper as well as a lower blepharoplasty is required, then the procedure may take even longer. The incisions that a surgeon will use in performing a lower blepharoplasty will follow the natural lines and creases of the eyelids. If the patient requires only a lower blepharoplasty, then a transconjunctival blepharoplasty may be performed instead, with the incision made in the inner portion of the lower lid. The surgeon will separate the skin from underlying fatty tissue and muscle, removing the excess fat. In more recent lower blepharoplasty surgeries, the fat may be repositioned rather than removed, allowing more flexibility in case a future procedure is needed.

After a lower blepharoplasty, the surgeon will apply ointment to the eyes and may use a pressure bandage to promote proper healing. For the first day or so following the lower blepharoplasty, the eyes may feel tight, hot, and very tender. A pain reliever will usually eliminate discomfort. To aid recovery from a lower blepharoplasty, patients should keep their heads elevated and avoid any activities that will jar the face. Most lower blepharoplasty patients return to work within a week or ten days, although it can take as long as three weeks for full recovery.

Undergoing a lower blepharoplasty can take years off of patients' faces, making them look more rested, younger, and friendlier. To find out more about lower blepharoplasty and to discuss the requirements for a good surgical candidate, contact a board-certified plastic surgeon below by clicking on your state.

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