How a Blepharoplasty/Eyelid Surgery Can Take 10 Years Off of Your Face

There is an old proverb that states that, “Eyes that see do not grow old.” That’s a lovely sentiment. But if you’re currently in your 40s or 50s, you may respectfully disagree.

You probably feel like your eyes are one of the first parts of your body to age. The skin around your eyes starts to get saggy or puffy. Crows feet, frown lines, worry lines, laugh lines. They’re all just lines to you. They’re all just different types of wrinkles around your eyes.

These lines can make you look much older (or more fatigued) than you actually are. When they’re combined with bags or puffiness under the eyes, it can easily add 10 or 15 years to your appearance. A 45-year-old could now easily be mistaken for a 55-year-old. Some people will pull the skin back around their temples with both hands to simulate the way they used to look—the way they want to look again.

But what is the best way to achieve that look? Is it going to see our Toronto Plastic Surgeons for Botox? Is it getting a facelift? Those could certainly work. But if your main gripe is the amount of ageing showing in the local areas around your eyes (and less so your cheeks, chin, or neck), a blepharoplasty could be a more targeted and effective approach.

This blog will cover the basics of upper and lower blepharoplasty, what the experience is like, and who it can really help.

What is Blepharoplasty?

Simply put, upper and lower eyelid surgery can reduce the unwanted and unsightly excess skin that can give the entire face an aged and sagging look. It basically gives the patient a more youthful and energetic look by focusing on those areas.

The blepharoplasty was actually the 2nd most popular plastic surgery in North America in 2020, with 352,112 successful procedures. It trailed only rhinoplasty’s 352,555 procedures. We can tell you that blepharoplasty in Toronto has never been more popular than it is right now.

How is Blepharoplasty Performed?

Your surgeon will surgically trim away loose skin in the eyelids, while also expertly tightening the muscles around your eyes. The end result gives you a well-rested look and a more youthful appearance. You can basically subtract 10 to 15 years from your face in 1 to 2 hours, with very little downtime.

Blepharoplasty is a blanket term that can also include:

• Upper blepharoplasty (also called upper lid blepharoplasty or upper eyelid blepharoplasty)
• Lower blepharoplasty (also called lower lid blepharoplasty or lower eyelid blepharoplasty)

As you can imagine, each of these surgeries targets a different part of the eyelid.

Upper Blepharoplasty

Sagging in the upper eyelid can cause more than a fatigued or aged look. It can also cause vision problems. The upper lid may droop down and narrow the field of vision, which can be both bothersome and dangerous!

The upper lid blepharoplasty removes the unwanted fat and the skin that is currently making the patient’s eyes look heavy, or obscuring the patient’s vision.

The surgeon makes an incision in the upper eyelid crease and then closes it with sutures. This gives you a notable improvement and a very subtle scar in the eyelid crease.

There is also a subtle difference in how this procedure is performed in men and women. In the male upper blepharoplasty, more of the lid’s skin is preserved. Meanwhile, the lower lid retains some lines so as not to look too plastic or overdone.

Lower Blepharoplasty

The typical lower eyelid blepharoplasty patient is someone that is looking to address the bags or puffiness under their eyes. These things can give you a rundown (even exhausted) look, no matter how much sleep you got the night before.

Your surgeon will remove the unwanted fat deposits, muscle, and skin through an incision under your lower lashes. Your plastic surgeon may also utilize a technique with no external incision at all. Trans-conjunctival lower blepharoplasty is made through the inner surface of the lower eyelid, which leaves no visible scar.

Who is the Ideal Blepharoplasty Candidate?

Upper and lower eyelid procedures are perfect for anyone that wants to take an active role in how they’re ageing. There is no finite age, per se. If you’re starting to see any unwanted lines or sagging in your face as you age, you’re probably ready to talk to a plastic surgeon.

This typically happens to people in their early and mid-40s, but the Millennial generation is starting to get eyelifts (and other facial procedures) in their 30s when the first signs of ageing are starting to show up. It’s a pre-emptive attack on ageing, before fine lines really start to assert themselves. It has been dubbed Prejuvenation.

They are also the first generation to show the surgeon exactly what they are looking for with the help of their smartphones. Older Generation X or Baby Boomer patients would have to talk to their surgeons in abstract terms, or maybe show their surgeon a picture in a magazine and say, “Make me look like this.” But Millennials can show their surgeon a filtered or touched-up selfie and say, “Make me look like this.” This is leading to clear expectations and amazing results.

There are no steadfast criteria. This is a great option for anyone that feels they look older than they are. The mental health benefits of plastic surgery are well documented and well known. But blepharoplasty is particularly effective in helping you feel younger.

The eyes are the windows to the soul. So, if your eyes look tired all the time, that’s how you’re going to come off to other people. This can have a serious impact on how you feel about yourself. On the other hand, if your eyes look more energetic, youthful, and alert, that’s how people are going to see you. That will have a direct impact on how you feel about yourself, as you attack each day with renewed zest and energy.

At the same time, if you’re slowly noticing your upper eyelid starting to creep into your field of vision from above, it could be time to book a consultation. You will want to look into this issue now before it becomes a major problem with your vision.

Looking Better on Zoom Calls

Right now, we’re seeing a surge of people looking to get eyelid surgery (and other facial procedures) because they’re starting to really notice the signs of ageing on Zoom calls while working from home. People in the plastic surgery industry are calling this the Zoom Effect or The Zoom Boom.

A recent survey of North American facial plastic surgeons revealed that 70% of respondents reported an increase in business during the pandemic, and 83% attributed this growth to the so-called Zoom Boom. Another 65% reported an increase in blepharoplasty procedures during this time.

Being on a Zoom call in bad lighting can really cause you to zoom in on your own face at the bottom of the screen. You start to notice the fine lines and the sagging. You wonder, “When did I start looking this old?”

This is why roughly half of all surveyed people admit that they spend more time than they like obsessing over their own faces on video calls—and those are only the people that admit it.

Blepharoplasty Alternatives

Of course, eyelid surgery is far from the only surgical or cosmetic procedure that can help you take a few years off of your face.

Here are a few of your options:

Surgical Options

You might also consider getting a facelift procedure. This could be your best bet if you’re looking to address more than just your eyes. If the signs of ageing have worked their way into your forehead, cheeks, mouth, neck, and chin areas, you might want to go with the more comprehensive surgery.

A facelift targets all of those areas, with a much broader focus. You could also consider a cheek lift (also called a mid-face lift) to focus on the fine lines under your eyes and in your cheek area.

Non-surgical options

If you’re looking for a non-invasive and non-surgical solution, you have plenty of options.

You could consider Botox injections to tighten the skin in your face. However, if your particular gripe is with your eyelids, your best bet is likely to go with a blepharoplasty procedure. Botox is very effective in helping to reduce the signs of ageing in other parts of your face (The eyebrow and forehead areas, for example), but this is not the best use case for these injections.

At the same time, Botox injections don’t last nearly as long as an actual surgical facial procedure. A Botox treatment can last you a few months before starting to fade. On the other hand, a blepharoplasty procedure will often last for at least 5-7 years before showing the effects of natural ageing.

This is one of the reasons that more people have been opting for full-blown surgeries during the pandemic lockdown. A few years ago, they may have considered a non-surgical procedure because they were afraid of the downtime, or they may not have wanted to book a week or more off of work. But now, they can recover discreetly from surgery while working from home, so they are more likely to go all-in on an anti-ageing surgery while they have this window.

How Much Does Blepharoplasty Cost?

Like all of our procedures, the price will depend on a number of factors. But to give you a general idea:

•   An upper eyelid blepharoplasty would start at $6,999, which also includes a post-op anti-ageing skin rejuvenation program
•   Both upper and lower blepharoplasty procedures can start as low as $9,999

If you’re debating something like a less-costly Botox treatment, you will want to consider the long-term value of the procedure you’re about to get. Non-surgical treatments are typically more affordable because there is less work involved than an actual surgery. But a surgical solution is typically going to last for several years, instead of months. Be sure to discuss all of your anti-ageing options with your surgeon.

We also offer procedure financing to make things as affordable as possible.

Two of Canada’s Finest Blepharoplasty Surgeons

We’re proud to offer our clients two world-class surgeons working at the same clinic under the same roof.

Dr. Bell’s reputation for subtle and beautiful blepharoplasty outcomes is known all over the world. He was trained in cosmetic blepharoplasty, Asian blepharoplasty, and facial surgery by the acclaimed Hawaiian plastic surgeon, Dr. Bob Flowers, during his Post Graduate Fellowship.

If you would like to learn more, we invite you to schedule a consultation to see what’s possible and see how our surgeons can help you.

Are You Ready to Take 10 Years Off of Your Face?

Our team believes that the best results come from customized plans. We don’t offer cookie-cutter solutions. We succeed by getting to know our clients and properly assessing their unique goals.

Let us show you how much younger you can look. You can start your journey right now by clicking the Schedule a Consultation button at the top of the screen, or you can call us at (647) 723-3739.