Lower Blepharoplasty

What Causes Bags Beneath the Eyes?

As we age, the skin on our faces loses its elasticity. Facial skin often ages quicker than the skin on other parts of the body as it is constantly exposed to environmental elements; being the thinnest skin on the face, eyelid skin is the first to show signs of deterioration.

As skin loses elasticity it stretches. In the case of the lower lids, the thinner skin cannot effectively hold back the fat behind it – allowing it to bulge forward and thus creating the appearance of bags. This doesn’t mean there is necessarily ‘excess fat’; it just means the lower lid can no longer hold it in place as it once would have.

Blepharoplasty Services in Atlanta, Georgia

At Milan Eye Center, our oculoplastic surgeons perform blepharoplasty for two distinct reasons:

• Cosmetic or reconstructive procedures: rejuvenate puffy bags, sagging or tired-looking eyes by removing excess fat, skin, and muscle from the upper eyelids to give a more youthful appearance
• Sight improvements: patients whose field of vision is being affected by drooping eyelids can undergo a blepharoplasty procedure after a consultation with one of our doctors

What To Expect In The Pre-operative Consultation?

During a pre-operative consultation, our Milan Eye Center blepharoplasty specialists in Atlanta will thoroughly evaluate the area around your eyes, including your eyelids, to determine whether a surgery for your upper eyelid, lower eyelid, or both eyelids is beneficial.

In addition, they will explain what can be expected during the surgery and throughout the recovery process. If eyelid surgery is not the right option for your unique situation, the doctors at Milan Eye Center, will help you determine the best options for you.

What to Expect During Surgery?

Blepharoplasty surgery is an outpatient procedure. After a general anesthesia, incisions are made along the eyelids in inconspicuous places (in the creases of the upper eyelids and just below the lashes on the lower eyelids). Dr. Sajja and Dr. Patel then remove excess tissue through these incisions and stitch them closed with fine sutures.

In the case that no skin needs to be removed, they will likely perform a transconjunctival blepharoplasty, where the incision is made inside the lower eyelid and there are no visible scars.

Lower Eyelid Surgery

When it comes to the lower eyelid, stretching is caused by the fat behind it, resulting in the appearance of bags. Therefore, to reduce the appearance of these bags, excess fat is removed during surgery.

As mentioned above, lower eyelid surgery generally involves an inconspicuous incision below the lower lash line. If no excess skin is being removed, the incision is made on the inside of the lower lid – therefore leaving no visible scarring.

Recovery Time

The surgery itself is usually a day procedure performed under a local anesthesia and sedation.

Following surgery, you will be instructed to rest, keep your head elevated, and apply ice to the affected area to keep swelling and bruising to a minimum. Although the final results of the eyelid procedure will take several months to appear, the results of your eyelid lift surgery and rejuvenation will provide you with a more youthful, rested appearance.

How Much Does Eyelid Surgery Cost?

Since lower lid surgery is generally a cosmetic procedure to reduce the appearance of bags beneath the eyes, it is rarely covered by insurance.

To make quality care accessible to everyone in our Atlanta offices. Milan Eye Center offers zero-down financing options with approved credit through Wells Fargo, CareCredit, and Alphaeon. We also accept all FSA/HSA plans.

See Financing Options