Blepharoplasty: when the eyes communicate tiredness

Blepharoplasty is the procedure that corrects excess skin and fatty deposits on the upper and lower eyelids. It is one of the most requested facial surgery procedures, because the periocular area is both the most expressive and the earliest to show signs of aging.

Over the years, the extremely thin eyelid skin loses elasticity and tends to fold; at the same time, the fat that protects the eye can push forward, forming so-called “bags.” Underlying this is often blepharochalasis, an excess and loosening of the eyelid skin. It’s worth noting that this is a phenomenon linked to the natural aging of tissues, not a flaw to be treated as an emergency.

Telling the problems apart

Not everything involving the eyelids is a matter of aesthetics. Blepharoplasty corrects excess skin and bags; eyelid ptosis, a drooping eyelid caused by a weakened muscle is instead a functional problem that reduces the visual field and is addressed with a different technique. Contrary to what is commonly believed, identifying which of the two conditions predominates is the exam’s first task.

The preliminary evaluation examines eyelid position and excess skin, distinguishing the aesthetic aspect from the functional one.

How it is performed

The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia, sometimes with mild sedation, and lasts between forty-five and ninety minutes. Incisions are hidden within natural folds: in the crease of the upper eyelid and, for the lower eyelid, just below the lashes or inside the conjunctiva, leaving no visible scars. Stitches are removed within a few days, and bruising fades over one to two weeks.

Who it is suitable for

It is indicated for those with genuine excess skin or noticeable bags who wish for a more rested look. It should be considered with caution in the presence of significant dry eye or eye conditions, which require a preliminary discussion with an ophthalmologist. The mistake to avoid is promising a change in expression: blepharoplasty does not “transform” the face, it frees it from a veil of tiredness.

Here too, then, moderation is everything. The goal is not a “redone” eye, but a look that once again matches how the person feels, within an approach built around their specific anatomy.