Loose, sagging, and aging skin in the eyelid area hinders vision and impacts our appearance, making the face look tired, angry, or older. Blepharoplasty or eyelid lift surgery helps restore the eyes for a more youthful overall appearance and correct functional concerns. As a popular, rejuvenating procedure, blepharoplasty offers an ideal solution for patients looking to refresh the appearance of their eyes. But how long do the results from blepharoplasty last?
At Daugherty Plastic Surgery, we want you to feel your bright-eyed best. With Dr. Robyn Daugherty, we’ve gathered information to answer your questions about the factors that affect blepharoplasty results and what you can do to extend your results.
What Factors Influence the Longevity of Blepharoplasty Results?
Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, removes excess skin and fatty tissues and tightens the muscles of the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both. The procedure can also remove loose or sagging skin that hinders vision. The delicate skin around the eyes is one of the first places to show signs of aging, making blepharoplasty a popular choice for those looking to restore the appearance of the eye area for a well-rested, refreshed look.
Many factors can impact the longevity of an eyelid lift, including:
- Healthy Lifestyle Habits help maintain blepharoplasty results, including getting enough sleep, wearing sunscreen, consuming a balanced diet and steady exercise routine, and staying hydrated. Habits like smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, sun exposure, and poor nutrition choices can shorten the duration of your results.
- Environmental Factors like excessive sun exposure age the skin around the eyes very quickly. Wear dark sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, and sunscreen (SPF 30+) daily. Use moisturizers and specific eye creams to avoid the effects of weather-related dry skin.
- The Blepharoplasty Type and extent of your procedure impact the longevity of your results. Dr. Daugherty will discuss your expected results and estimate their duration.
- Your Age when you have an eyelid lift impacts the result duration. Youthful skin is more resilient due to higher collagen levels. Collagen and elastin production slows down considerably in our 50s, which leads to wrinkles and sagging, dry skin around the eyes.
Comparing Upper and Lower Blepharoplasty: Which Lasts Longer?
Upper blepharoplasty removes excess skin to sharpen the upper eyelid crease and create more space above the lash line. Lower blepharoplasty addresses undereye bags by removing fat pockets and excess skin with a thin incision at the lash line or inside the lower lid.
Typically, the results of lower eyelid surgery last longer than upper eyelid surgery. Lower eyelid surgery permanently removes excess fat, leading to long-lasting results. Upper eyelid surgery results generally last about 10 years before the skin may begin to sag due to forehead or brow sagging.