Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, is an outpatient procedure designed to reshape and tighten the tissues around the eyes. Puffy, swollen or uneven eyelids can cause someone to suffer from extremely low self-confidence, so the procedure is designed to improve aesthetics and self-esteem. As laser eyelid surgery becomes more common and technology advances to make the process even less intrusive, many people are turning to this elective procedure.

Eyelid surgery requires a patient to be put under general anesthesia for the duration of the procedure, which can last anywhere from one to three hours, depending on the patient and the procedures involved. Most surgeries are outpatient surgeries, meaning the patient goes home for recovery the same day as the procedure. In rare occasions, the surgeon may require the patient to stay overnight for monitoring.

When a surgeon performs a blepharoplasty surgery on a patient, he makes an incision on the upper eyelid in the outer crease. This is the least inconspicuous place for the minor scarring that will occur. The surgeon will remove any muscle or fat that is causing the droopiness around the eye. The new ends are sutured together to tighten the tissues surrounding the eye. The technique on the lower eyelid is similar, only the incision is generally made along the upper lid near the lash line or even inside the lower eyelid in some cases.

After cosmetic eyelid surgery, the patient is placed in recovery; after three to five hours, the patient is discharged to the care of a family member or friend. Immediate recovery requires cold compresses on the eyes, loose bandages, lubrication drops for the incision and sunglasses whenever the patient is outdoors.

The patient can resume regular activities after 10 to 14 days, while strenuous activity is prohibited until at least 3 to 4 weeks.

Expect to pay several thousand dollars out of your own pocket for eyelid surgery; most insurance plans don’t cover the procedure for cosmetic reasons. Unless the eyelid surgery is a reconstructive surgery, plan on at least $3,000 for an average procedure.