For those who are seeking a procedure to make their gaze look younger and less sleepy, a blepharoplasty is the best option. But before you book a consultation, it’s important to consider that this eyelid surgery isn’t a one-size-fits-all procedure, as it divides into two types: upper and lower blepharoplasty. In this article, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Fodero from Morris County, NJ, tells you about the differences between these surgeries and which one tailors to your needs.
Blepharoplasty 101
Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, is performed to improve the appearance of the area surrounding your eyes. Through this procedure, you can remove the excess skin from either your lower or upper eyelids, giving your eyes a youthful appearance. Most patients seek this procedure due to the effect of the aging signs on their skin, as it gradually loses its elasticity and ends up collecting in the surrounding areas.
During a blepharoplasty, the surgeon removes or repositions excess skin, as well as muscle and underlying fatty tissue. Although many consider blepharoplasties a cosmetic surgery, this procedure improves the field of vision of patients whose sagging upper eyelids obstruct their eyesight.
Types of Blepharoplasty
Upper Blepharoplasty
During an upper blepharoplasty, the surgeon will perform an incision in the natural crease of your upper eyelid. Excess skin and protruding fat are removed, opening your visual field and improving your appearance. The scarring will not be visible when you open your eyes.
Lower Blepharoplasty
In a lower blepharoplasty procedure, your plastic surgeon will make an incision right below the lower eyelash line. Then, the excess skin is removed. If needed, the provider may also perform an incision inside the lower eyelid, known as the transconjunctival incision to redistribute excess fat.
Blepharoplasty’s Impact in Morris County, NJ
For patients in Morris County, NJ, undergoing a blepharoplasty is both a cosmetic and wellness-based choice. They often prefer to go with a plastic surgeon that understands their needs, whether it’s approaching the aging signs that start to show in their eyes as wrinkled skin, an impaired vision field, or eye fatigue due to the weight of the excess skin. If you’re seeking a plastic surgeon that provides you with a tailored approach and natural-looking results, board-certified Dr. Joseph Fodero is ready to assess your cosmetic needs.
Helping You Choose Between Upper & Lower Blepharoplasty
Choosing which blepharoplasty to get depends on more factors than the procedure process, it’s about what are your concerns on your eyes, and if they are located above or below them. Before you book your eyelid surgery consultation, it’s important to take these facts into consideration:
Why You Should Choose Upper Blepharoplasty
Through an upper blepharoplasty procedure, you address issues like the heaviness from excess skin in the upper eyelids. Patients notice that this sagging skin folds over the eyelid crease, hooding near the outer corners of the eye, which often gives a “tired” appearance and damages the peripheral vision.
Another common cosmetic problem addressed by upper blepharoplasty is drooping eyebrows. As you age, your forehead and brows start to descend, the tissue gradually falls down onto the upper eyelids, and as a result, you get additional heaviness around the eyes. Daily actions like facial expressions or applying makeup become difficult or uncomfortable as well, leading to constant frustration. These factors combined are the most common reasons for patients to choose an upper blepharoplasty.
Why You Should Choose Lower Blepharoplasty
What makes lower blepharoplasty different is that the targeted area involves more than the eye bags, as the lower eyelid is closely connected to the cheeks, midface, and the structure that supports the eyes. Most patients who seek this procedure want to correct eye aging, which is usually caused by the structural changes that happen in these areas surrounding the eyes. The most notorious aging sign is the loss of volume beneath the eyes, which creates hollowing and an appearance of fatigue.
Modern lower blepharoplasty is focused on preservation, contour balance, and lower eyelid support. In many cases, fat is conservatively repositioned or reshaped to soften the transition between the lower eyelid and cheek, maintaining natural support and muscle movement. Patients often seek this surgery to reshape their eye bags, obtaining a youthful, natural, and smoother look.
A Successful Blepharoplasty Result in Morris County, NJ
In this real-life example, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Fodero performed an upper blepharoplasty, helping his patient achieve a youthful and energetic look in her gaze.
See more in our Before & After gallery