What is an Upper Eyelid Lift?

An upper eyelid lift, also called an upper blepharoplasty, is a minor cosmetic facial procedure to lift saggy eyelids up. It’s a quick procedure, that can be done in hospital or in rooms with the help of local anaesthesia.

The upper eyelids tend to droop as we age. This is medically called “eyelid ptosis” or “ptotic eyelids”. It happens when eyelid skin becomes lax as the years pass, and your upper eyelid starts to drop down, especially on the outer half of the eye.

Upper eyelid ptosis makes the eyes appear less open and gives you a sleepy, tired, and old look. The ptotic eyelids can also fall down over your pupils and block your field of vision. In addition to drooping, ageing eyes can also become puffy as fat accumulates in your eyelids.

Blepharoplasty can help fix that. Excess fat and a small amount of skin are precisely cut out from the upper eyelids, improving your vision, making your eyes appear younger and wider, and giving you an alert and energetic look. Cutting out the perfect amount of eyelid skin is the key to success.

Who Needs an Upper Eyelid Lift?

How do you know if you need to have your eyelids lifted? Here are some criteria

  • Your upper eyelids appear puffy
  • Your upper eyelids have too many skin folds
  • Your upper eyelids are droopy
  • Your eyes look closed, sleepy, tired, and old
  • Your saggy upper eyelids are blocking your vision
    Eyelid surgery is usually straightforward and simple. It’s a quick surgery that’s not too demanding. It’s surgery to make your eyes wider, younger, and more energetic. It’s also a way to make people stop asking why you look tired all the time.

You can have an upper eyelid lift at any age. However, the best age to have blepharoplasty is between 40 and 60 years of age. By this age, most people will have some degree of eyelid ptosis and will benefit most from an upper eyelid lift in their prime years.

Benefits of Eyelid Lift

There are a lot of benefits of upper blepharoplasty, and that’s why it’s such a popular surgery. Here are some of the advantages that an upper eyelid lift can give you:

  • Can dramatically change your overall appearance
  • Could make you look more alert and energetic
  • Improves your field of vision (of the eyelid ptosis is blocking your sight)
  • Gets rid of sleepy eyes
  • Widens your eyes and brings them out
  • Tightens your upper eyelid skin
  • Gets rid of puffy upper eyelids
  • It’s a simple and quick surgery
  • Can be done under local anaesthesia in rooms
  • Short recovery time
  • Long-term results (can stay up to 10 years)

Browse Before & After Images

Before & After Upper Eyelid Lift Photos

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Recovery after Upper Eyelid Lift

Since an upper blepharoplasty is not too invasive, recovery afterward is not too demanding. Some immediate post-op symptoms might include:

  • Double vision
  • Burning sensation in the eyes
  • Sensitivity to light
    Watery eyes
  • Itching of the eyes
  • Slight pain

You can usually go back home directly after your upper eyelid lift. It’s not recommended that you drive after a droopy eyelid lift. Your vision might be compromised after the procedure, so you’ll need to have someone pick you up.

You can go back to work 2-3 days after your blepharoplasty. Keep in mind, however, that bruising and swelling will be apparent and will gradually decrease over 3 weeks following your eyelid surgery.

You can wear sunglasses to keep your eyes protected and hide the bruising for the first few days after your upper eyelid lift surgery.

Risks Associated with Upper Blepharoplasty Surgery

Upper blepharoplasty surgery has few risks. Complications only occur very rarely with an eyelid lift, and these can include:

  • Wound infection
  • Bleeding from the wound
  • Prolonged eye irritation
  • Inability to properly close the eyes (if the eyelids are lifted too much)
  • Problems with eye movement (due to eye muscle injury)
  • Extremely rarely, sustained vision problems

Risks of saggy eyelid surgery can be significantly reduced by choosing an experienced plastic surgeon. Dr Turner is one of the top plastic surgeons in Sydney and NSW. He routinely performs upper and lower blepharoplasty using the most effective and best-studied surgical techniques.

For more detailed information read the risks and potential complications of surgery page.

Next Steps

Your Cosmetic Plastic surgery consultation

During your consultation, Dr Turner will discuss your goals, and provide an in-depth explanation of your desired surgery and what that means for you. He can also discuss different surgical techniques, benefits, and risks of procedures available.

Most importantly, however, this is the time for you to have all of your questions answered and to be completely listened to and understood by your surgeon. We ask that you please come prepared with any questions you may have for Dr Turner, and look forward to discussing your individualised plan.

1

Research

Ensure you have done your research, both on your desired surgery, as well as your surgeon.

2

Book a consultation

Submit an enquiry through our website or give us a call before booking your consultation. To ensure you are a suitable candidate for your desired procedure, Dr Turner asks to review your images before making a booking. This saves time and money if you are not a suitable candidate, in which case our lovely team will help direct you to an alternative procedure.

3

Meet with Dr Turner

Once your images have been approved and your consultation has been booked, we ask that you prepare any questions you may have for Dr Turner, as well as some images of desired outcomes for your surgery, this helps ensure you and Dr Turner are on the same page when discussing realistic results.

4

More questions?

Looking for more information before your consultation? You can book an additional 15min complimentary consultation with one of our patient liaisons here https://calendly.com/patients-bookings/patient-consult?month=2023-02

5

Keep up-to-date

Keep up-to-date with what’s happening in Dr Turner’s clinics around NSW by following our Instagram @faceplus.aesthetics and @drscottjturner

Other procedures commonly combined
with a Upper Eyelid Lift

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions aboutUpper Eyelid Lift Surgery

What is upper blepharoplasty?

Upper blepharoplasty is the medical term for the procedure to have saggy upper eyelids lifted. It’s one of the most commonly performed facial cosmetic procedures. It leads to bigger and more alert-looking eyes.

What is the best way to lift the upper eyelids?

The best, and the only way to lift the upper eyelids is an upper blepharoplasty. It’s a minor procedure that reduces your upper eyelids and lifts them up. Blepharoplasty leads to wider and more energetic eyes.

Why do my eyes always look sleepy?

One of the main reasons why you might look sleepy is eyelid ptosis. Eyelid ptosis is the medical term for droopy eyelids. It’s a common sign of ageing that usually develops after 40 years of age. Sagging upper eyelids can drop down on the eyes, making them look closed. This consequently makes you look tired and sleepy all the time. An upper eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, is the best way to rejuvenate old-looking eyes.

What causes the upper eyelids to drop?

Ageing and the constant pull of gravity are the main cause of eyelid ptosis. As we grow older, our skin loses elasticity. The eyelids become softer and fluffier, and they start to drop downward, sometimes even partially blocking the eyes.
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Can you lift the eyelids without surgery?

No. Drooping eyelids develop due to excess eyelid skin and fat. This means that there are no alternatives to eyelid lift surgery since tissue needs to be cut out and removed. Blepharoplasty is thus the only way to get rid of droopy eyelids.

Is upper blepharoplasty painful?

Upper blepharoplasty is not particularly painful. The surgery is done under local anaesthesia, so you should not feel any pain during the procedure. During recovery, any eyelid pain can usually be controlled with off-the-counter painkillers.

About Dr Scott Turner FRACS (Plas) – Specialist Plastic Surgeon

Dr Scott J Turner has spent a lifetime acquiring the qualifications, education, training, and hands-on surgical experience to perform superior cosmetic plastic surgery to give you  beautiful results. He is one of Sydney’s great Specialist Plastic Surgeons with a focus on face surgeries in New South Wales.
Achieving this personal goal requires not only in-depth knowledge of human anatomy and refined surgical techniques but an ongoing commitment to learning the latest procedures around the world. This is why Dr Turner regularly attends both local and international surgeon meetings – discussing these advances with the leaders around the world in order to offer you the most effective and safest surgical procedures. 
Dr Turner and his highly trained staff will do everything to ensure that you are fully informed, while providing exceptional cosmetic plastic surgery, in a personal and caring environment.