Eyelid Surgery in Chicago and Vernon Hills, IL

How it Works

The Consultation

At RL Center for Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa, each initial patient consultation is different.

Although eyelid surgery is considered a minor procedure, a consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeons is still key to its success. Consultations are an opportunity to explore a procedure in great depth with one of plastic surgeons by your side.

We’ll discuss your surgery goals, medical conditions, drug allergies, previous surgeries, any issues concerning your eyes, and past medical treatments. It’s also crucial to tell your doctor about your alcohol, tobacco, and drug usage, as these may increase the risk of complications.

Upper eyelid aging occurs due to skin that hoods the crease of the upper eyelid.  An evaluation of your eyebrow position and upper eyelid function will be done to make recommendations.  Lower eyelid “bags” are fat pockets that bulge.  They are not related to your overall weight and are addressed by controlled removal of the fat to improve the contour.

After a thorough evaluation, our doctors will create a customized treatment plan for your Blepharoplasty. The topics of the discussion will include the type of anesthesia, potential risks, probable outcomes, and the recovery period typically involved in a Blepharoplasty. Come prepared with questions to ask our surgeons to ensure that both of you are on the same page with regards to your eyelid surgery.

The Procedure

Blepharoplasty is generally performed under local anesthesia or sedation. This procedure takes about 1 hour for an upper blepharoplasty to 2.5 hours for an upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty. If you’re combining your eyelid lift with other treatments, more time in the operating room may be necessary.

After anesthesia is administered, the doctor will make a precise incision in a predetermined location on the eyelids. The placement of the incision depends on the location of any excess tissue we’ll be removing. Incisions are always carefully placed to minimize the appearance of scarring while providing the best possible results.

During upper eyelid surgery, an incision is made within the natural folds of the upper lids to conceal scars. For lower eyelid surgery, the incision is placed below the lower lashes.

If your blepharoplasty requires the removal of excess fat, your surgeon may make a second tiny incision inside each of your lower eyelids. The fatty tissues are removed through this hidden incision. If necessary, your surgeon may redistribute fat in the lower eyelids or transfer/graft fat harvested from your abdomen or thighs to blend the cheek and lower eyelid region for a smooth appearance around the eyes. Other corrections, such as tightening muscle laxity, may be performed before the surgeon closes the incisions. When we’re confident that we’ve achieved a great result, the surgeon will close the incisions using sutures or adhesive tape.

The Recovery

In general, it takes several weeks to fully recover from eyelid surgery. Recovery is a process and you’ll progress through the stages at your own pace.

We ask patients to rest their eyes for a week after surgery. This means limiting screen time and avoiding straining activities like reading small print. Stitches are typically removed within two to seven days. After your blepharoplasty, you may experience redness and swelling, but they will subside within a few days. Most patients can return to work 10 days after a blepharoplasty. A majority of the swelling will be gone within two weeks, but it takes up to six months to see the final results of an eyelid lift. Any blepharoplasty scars in the crease of the eyelid or just under the lash line on the lower lid should fade within the year, until they’re barely visible.

While you will see some results immediately after your eyelid lift, the most dramatic changes will begin to manifest after postoperative redness, swelling, and bruising subside.