Achieve Brighter, More Vibrant Eyes With Blepharoplasty in St. Louis

With age and sun damage, the delicate eyelid tissue can loosen and weaken. This can result in a hooded eyelid appearance, bags under the eyes, and a generally tired appearance. Eyelid surgery in the St. Louis area at Renaissance Plastic Surgery can refresh your appearance by trimming the excess tissue from the upper or lower eyelids. Your plastic surgeon can even address both your upper and lower lids in one procedure, providing comprehensive eye rejuvenation.

What Is Eyelid Surgery?

Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, is a cosmetic surgical procedure performed to refresh and enhance the appearance of the eyes. This surgery can be used to address various cosmetic issues, including the following:

  • Bags under the eyes
  • Loose or excess skin hanging down from the upper eyelid
  • Puffiness around the upper eyelids
  • Drooping lower eyelids
  • Crepe paper wrinkles around the lower eyelids

Benefits of Eyelid Surgery

Blepharoplasty is a potentially life-changing procedure that can provide all of the following benefits:

  • More alert, vibrant eyes
  • Improved facial symmetry
  • Elimination of “tired eyes” appearance
  • Removal of under-eye bags or dark circles
  • A more youthful facial appearance
  • Improved field of vision
  • Increased self-confidence
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Blepharoplasty Before & After

What to Expect During Your Eyelid Surgery in St. Louis

Blepharoplasty is a very precise procedure. It begins with injections of a local anesthetic. You may also receive a sedative to help you relax during your surgery. Another option is to undergo blepharoplasty in an outpatient surgery center where general anesthesia is used. During your initial consultation with one of our skilled plastic surgeons, anesthesia will be a topic of discussion. You and your surgeon will determine which method is ideal for you, and they’ll work with you to curate a personalized treatment plan.

After the tissue around the eyes is numb, your surgeon will make an incision in the eyelid. Upper eyelid incisions are made in the natural crease. The doctor will tighten the eyelid from the incision, trim excess skin, and place tiny stitches to close the incision before moving on to the other eye. 

Lower eyelid incisions are often made just inside the lower eyelid. In this procedure, the surgeon may use special instruments to reposition or reduce the fat pads under the eyes. Eyelid tissue is pulled upward until smooth, and the excess skin is trimmed. If small, fine stitches are placed, they will dissolve in a matter of days.

After your procedure is complete, you’ll be moved to a recovery room, where our team will monitor you for a few hours. After that, you’ll be able to return home with a friend or family member driving you.

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What Is the Recovery Like After Blepharoplasty?

There is relatively little downtime associated with eyelid surgery. You can expect to be ready to go back to work and engage in social activities after roughly 10 to 14 days. However, you’ll want to wait at least three to four weeks to engage in strenuous exercise or physical activity. We also advise that makeup not be worn for the first seven days after surgery while you continue to heal. It can take up to three months for complete healing, but the remnants of post-op side effects are very subtle after two weeks.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Blepharoplasty in St. Louis?

Chances are, you are a good candidate for blepharoplasty in St. Louis at Renaissance Plastic Surgery if you’ve got heavy, loose, or protruding eyelids. Eyelid surgery can also be an effective option if you have significant bags or dark circles beneath your eyes. The surgical procedure is fairly conservative and often does not require general anesthesia. However, you must be in good health to safely undergo this procedure. Your surgeon will review your medical history, health, and lifestyle to ensure that you can achieve an optimal surgical outcome.

It’s important that ideal candidates for blepharoplasty meet the following criteria:

  • Be in good overall physical health
  • Not be currently pregnant or nursing
  • Be a non-smoker or willing to temporarily quit
  • Have realistic expectations for the procedure
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Upper vs. Lower Eyelid Surgery

When considering eyelid surgery, you and your surgeon will determine whether upper or lower blepharoplasty is ideal for you. Alternatively, you may be able to have both procedures performed simultaneously.

Upper blepharoplasty

Upper blepharoplasty is performed to remove excess fat and skin from the interior corner to slightly beyond the outside corner of your lid. This is typically where the incision is placed, and once the tissue is removed, the skin is closed with sutures.

Lower blepharoplasty

Lower blepharoplasty is similar to the upper eyelid procedure and is performed to help with those puffy bags under your eyes. Incisions are placed on the natural lines of your lid and any fat and skin are then removed. A laser may also be used to tighten and firm the skin, and sutures will be used to close the incision.

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Why Choose Renaissance Plastic Surgery for Blepharoplasty in St. Louis?

At Renaissance Plastic Surgery, your eyelid surgery will be performed by one of our four board-certified plastic surgeons, all of whom are renowned for their precision and attention to detail. We strive to provide each patient with personalized care and exceptional, natural-looking results with every procedure. If you’d like to learn more about blepharoplasty or schedule your initial consultation, reach out to us by calling 636-896-0600 or by submitting an online contact form. Our caring team of professionals will set you up with a consultation with one of our talented physicians.

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Eyelid Surgery FAQ

Is eyelid surgery covered by insurance?

How soon after eyelid surgery will I see the full results?

Are the results of blepharoplasty permanent?

Is eyelid surgery covered by insurance?

If your vision is obscured, eyelid surgery can be performed for medical reasons and may be covered by your health insurance. However, insurance will typically not cover the procedure if it’s being performed purely for cosmetic reasons.

How soon after eyelid surgery will I see the full results?

You will see changes in your eyelids soon after surgery. Shortly after the procedure, though, swelling will obscure the new contours of the eyes. It can take one to two weeks for the swelling and redness to subside enough to begin seeing significant effects of the procedure. Usually, the complete results of the surgery are visible after about four to six weeks.

Are the results of blepharoplasty permanent?

Although the results of eyelid surgery aren’t necessarily permanent, they are typically very long-lasting. With upper blepharoplasty, the results usually last for around five to 10 years. However, the results of lower blepharoplasty can often last for decades or even a lifetime.

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