As women and men age, they commonly experience drooping of their upper eyelids and bags of their lower eyelids, features that make you look older and more tired than you actually feel. Upper eyelid surgery addresses the excess skin and soft tissue of the upper eyelids, while lower eyelid surgery addresses the excess skin, fat (bags), and rhytids of the lower eyelids. It does not address crow’s feet, dark circles, or sagging of the eyebrows. Many patients opt to have both upper and lower lids done at the same time; however, the option of separating upper and lower eyelids is always available.
While it can add an upper eyelid crease to Asian eyes, Dr. Liang will not erase evidence of your ethnic or racial heritage. Blepharoplasty can be done alone, or in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures such as a facelift or browlift.
Sometimes, upper lid skin drooping is so excessive it effects the vision fields of individuals, this is commonly referred to as dermatochelasis or blepharochelasis. In these cases, it is important to see an ophthalmologist prior to your consultation to have an ‘untapped and taped visual fields exam’ to determine if you have enough excess skin affecting your visual fields that it may be covered by your insurance. In an individual who has a previous history of ocular disease, like detached retina or glaucoma, it is important to retain a clearance from your ophthalmologist.