Upper Eyelid Skin Excision (Upper Blepharoplasty)

Treatment details: Upper Eyelid Skin Excision (Upper Blepharoplasty)

The amount of skin removed from the upper eyelid is decided with the patient sitting upright and looking straight ahead, because the marking changes when lying down. Taking too much leaves the eye unable to close fully, so the resection is deliberately conservative. The incision sits in the natural fold and is closed with fine suture. At three months the scar has flattened and faded, and the eye opens more easily than before surgery. Patients whose upper lid skin has been resting on the lashes often report that the eye feels lighter afterwards rather than simply looking different, which is the functional side of this operation.

Swelling and bruising of the upper lids are heaviest for three to five days and largely resolve within two weeks. The incision follows the crease and forms a red line that softens over six to twelve months, though it stays visible on close inspection. The two lids often heal differently and can look uneven for a time. Removing too much skin makes closing the eye difficult and causes dryness, while removing too little leaves residual hooding, and revision may be needed.