“People ask me if I am feeling OK or if I am tired.” This is often the way a consultation starts for eyelid surgery. It’s understandable; how many times have you looked in the mirror in the morning and thought, “I look tired,” even though you just woke up? If this describes you, it might be time to think about eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty.
The Eyelid Concerns I Hear Every Day
Patients say “I feel this heavy weight on top of my eye” all the time. That’s really the excess eyelid skin hanging down. Sometimes it even lays on top of the lashes! All of these complaints are correctable with upper eyelid surgery.
And then there’s the “baggage” below. The lower eyelids are one of the first areas to show aging. The signs range from just a mild tear trough concavity to bagginess in the tear trough and dark circles. If these are your issues—don’t go grabbing the tissues just yet—there is hope!
These are just a few of the questions and concerns I hear from patients considering eyelid surgery. Let’s walk through some of the most common ones—including insurance coverage, recovery, and how we decide the best treatment for your eyes.
Upper Eyelid Surgery: the Gateway Procedure
Upper eyelid surgery is what I call the “Gateway Procedure” because you do it and are happy and hooked, ready to do more! It is not a hard procedure for you to undergo, and it doesn’t hurt afterward. It will require about a week of hiding out or working from home if possible—but it is totally doable.
Since it doesn’t hurt, you will not require pain medicine, and you are able to sit at your desk and work—just keep the ZOOM video setting off! Take a look at some of my patients’ before and after pictures below to see the terrific results we can achieve:
In some cases, you may also want to pair eyelid surgery with other facial rejuvenation procedures. We’ll discuss your facelift, dermal filler, and other options during your consultation and make a plan to help you achieve the youthful look you want. In the meantime, check out my related blog post, Facelift—Is It Time? to learn more about the signs you may be ready for a facelift.
Will Insurance Cover an Eyelid Lift?
There is a subset of patients that have such a large amount of skin weighing down the upper eyelid that it actually obstructs their peripheral vision. If this looks like it might be the case with you, we will work together with our optometrist (conveniently located next door to the office) to get your visual field studies. If it is truly impacting your vision—insurance will cover the procedure! Naturally, the lower eyelids are not obstructing vision and are not covered by insurance.
After we get the visual field test done and the test indicates your vision is diminished due to your upper eyelids, we can begin the process of obtaining approval from your insurance company. You will need to come into the office to have photographs taken that are uploaded with your medical records. When we get the approval, we will schedule your surgery.
We hope your insurance will cover the upper lids, and you can think about adding your lower eyelids to be done at the same time. This makes sense to have only one recuperation. Also, when both upper and lower eyelids are addressed at the same time, the whole eye area is rejuvenated as a facial unit. This is important for harmony in the outcome.
What Is the Best Treatment for Lower Eyelids?
The best treatment for lower eyelids depends on several considerations:
- Are there bags?
- Is there a tear trough?
- Is the skin crepey and wrinkled due to loss of elasticity?
- Does the lower eyelid seem loose?
All of these questions need to be answered to determine the right lower eyelid treatment for you.
Tear Troughs
For the patients that are “innies”—with a concave lower orbit—sometimes filler can be added to the tear trough to camouflage it. But if it is more severe, adding filler to the tear trough only adds volume, which looks like puffiness in an area that is already puffy. In these cases, surgery is the answer to remove the excess fat and release the tear trough. This is a more permanent solution and also treats the problem, instead of just camouflaging it.
Crepey Skin
For crepey under-eye skin, some type of skincare program is normally suggested, along with resurfacing using a laser or chemical peel.
So again, the answer to the lower lids is dependent on the diagnosis. When you have your consultation, this will be determined so your treatment plan can be formulated.
Can Upper and Lower Eyelid Surgery Be Performed at the Same Time?
Yes. Many patients choose to have upper and lower eyelid surgery during the same procedure to create more balanced rejuvenation. Treating both areas at once also means you only go through 1 recovery period instead of 2. During your consultation, I’ll evaluate your concerns and anatomy to determine whether addressing the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both will help you achieve the most natural-looking, refreshed appearance.
What Is Eyelid Surgery Recovery Like?
The recovery from eyelid surgery is one of the easiest for many reasons, including the very minimal discomfort and the ability to carry on with daily activities while you are healing. If you have a desk job that you can do from home, you usually only need 2 days off.
There will be sutures that are under surgical Steri-Strip™ tape. These stay on for the whole week to promote perfect healing. The bruising can be unpredictable after blepharoplasty, so having 10 to 14 days off the social grid is recommended.
Will I Have a Noticeable Blepharoplasty Scar?
The scar from eyelid surgery is almost invisible after a few months. In fact, sometimes even when I am wearing my “readers” that are the highest magnification, I cannot see the scar on my patients.
How Soon Can I Wear Makeup After Eyelid Surgery?
You can apply eyeshadow and liner after a week, and cover-up foundations can obscure the bruising if there is any. For those who usually wear eyeshadow or eyeliner—you will be able to see both.
Will People Be Able To Tell I Had Eyelid Surgery?
Friends and family often notice that my patients look more alert or energetic without being able to pinpoint exactly why. When eyelid surgery is tailored to your anatomy, the result should enhance your natural appearance, not change it.
The best compliment my patients can get after this procedure is when someone says to them, “You look good; what are you doing?” The fact is—no one really knows you have done it—you look like yourself, just better. And rested. And more alert. These are just a few reasons eyelid surgery is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in the country, according to The Aesthetic Society.
How Long Do Eyelid Surgery Results Last?
Many of my patients enjoy their refreshed appearance for years after surgery, although their eyes will continue to age naturally over time. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, protecting your skin from the sun, and following a good skincare routine can help preserve your results.
Get Started With a Complimentary Consultation
If you are considering eyelid surgery, the best thing to do is to schedule a virtual, no-charge consultation at my practice, Aesthetica Surgery & Spa, near Columbus, OH. You will send us photos to be evaluated, and if it looks like insurance may be an option, we will go over this process. And if not, you will be set up for one of our informative seminar consultations. You can request a consultation using our online form or call us at (614) 569-2649.
We look forward to helping you on this journey and know that you will be thrilled with how easy this whole operation is for you.
This post was originally published in September 2022 and updated in July 2026.
Leave a Reply