Eyelid Surgery

Heavy upper lids and under-eye puffiness are often the first signs of aging that patients notice. They do not notice the change in the mirror each morning, but in a photo where the angle doesn’t forgive. Hollows that cast shadows across your face compound the effect. For some, this is purely a cosmetic concern. For others, excess eyelid skin has started to interfere with peripheral vision, making everyday tasks like driving or reading more difficult than they should be.

At Northstate Plastic Surgery in Chico, CA, Dr. Kevin D. Myers performs eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, to restore a more alert, refreshed appearance while addressing functional concerns when they exist. Because eyelid tissue is some of the most delicate and complex anatomy on the face, the procedure calls for a surgeon who understands precision at a structural level, not just an aesthetic one.

What Is Eyelid Surgery?

Also known as an eye lift or blepharoplasty, this surgical procedure removes or repositions excess skin, fat and muscle around the eyes. It can be performed on the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both, depending on your anatomy and goals. The result is a smoother, more open eye area that looks rested and more youthful.

How Eyelid Surgery Works

The skin on your eyelids is the thinnest skin on your entire body, layered directly over muscle that controls blinking and eye closure, with the eyeball sitting just beneath. That combination is why eyelid surgery rewards the same anatomical precision used in reconstructive procedures, not simply cosmetic judgment. 

Dr. Myers approaches blepharoplasty with training that spans both disciplines, having completed a fellowship in hand and microsurgery at the Buncke Clinic in San Francisco, one of the most respected reconstructive microsurgery programs in the country, in addition to his cosmetic surgery training. That background shapes how he plans every incision and every millimeter of tissue removed.

Types of Eyelid Surgery

Upper Eyelid Surgery

Upper blepharoplasty targets excess, hanging skin and fat that create a hooded appearance or, in more advanced cases, droop far enough to obstruct your field of vision. Incisions are placed within the natural crease of the eyelid, so resulting scars are well concealed once healed.

Lower Eyelid Surgery

Lower blepharoplasty addresses puffiness, under-eye bags, and loose or crepey skin below the eyes. Depending on whether skin, fat or both need to be corrected, incisions are placed just below the lash line or inside the lower eyelid.

Combined Upper and Lower Eyelid Surgery

Many patients have concerns in both areas. Addressing the upper and lower lids together produces a more even result in a single recovery period.

When to consider eyelid surgery:

• If you have excess, hanging skin covering the natural fold of the upper eyelids
• If you have loose skin hanging down from the upper eyelids over the eyelashes
• If your upper and lower eyelids appear puffy, making your eyes look tired and aged
• If you have deep grooves under your eyes

Benefits of Eyelid Surgery

A More Alert, Rested Appearance

Removing excess skin and fat opens up the eye area, softening the tired or heavy look that hooded lids and under-eye bags create.

Improved Vision and Comfort

When upper eyelid skin droops into your line of sight, everyday tasks like driving, reading, and navigating stairs become harder than they need to be. Blepharoplasty clears that obstruction.

Long-Lasting Results

Once healed, the effects of eyelid surgery typically last for years, often a decade or longer, since the excess tissue has been permanently removed.

Better Fit and Comfort with Glasses or Sunglasses

Excess or drooping eyelid skin can interfere with how glasses and sunglasses sit against your face, causing discomfort or smudging from constant contact. Removing that excess tissue often makes eyewear fit more comfortably day-to-day.

A Head Start on Facial Aging

Addressing the eyes early, before skin laxity becomes severe, often means a more conservative procedure with an easier recovery than waiting until concerns are more advanced. It also gives Dr. Myers a clearer baseline for planning any future facial rejuvenation you may consider.

One Recovery for Multiple Concerns

When upper and lower eyelid surgery, or eyelid surgery and a brow lift, are addressed together, you go through a single recovery period instead of spacing procedures out over separate surgeries. This is often more efficient for patients balancing surgery with work and family schedules.

Functional vs. Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery

Not everyone considers eyelid surgery for the same reason. Blepharoplasty can be pursued for cosmetic improvement, functional correction, or both at once.

Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery

Cosmetic blepharoplasty focuses on appearance. Patients typically want to soften hooded upper lids, reduce under-eye puffiness or smooth crepey eyelid skin to look more rested and youthful.

Functional Eyelid Surgery

Functional blepharoplasty addresses upper eyelid skin that has drooped far enough to obstruct your peripheral or upper field of vision. During your consultation, Dr. Myers will evaluate whether your concerns are cosmetic, functional or both. This distinction can also affect insurance coverage.

Often Combined With Eyelid Surgery

Because the upper face ages as a unit, eyelid surgery is often paired with other procedures to achieve a more balanced result.

Brow Lift

Sometimes what looks like heavy upper eyelids is actually a drooping brow pressing down on the lid. Dr. Myers will assess your brow position during consultation, and if brow ptosis is contributing to your concerns, a brow lift performed alongside blepharoplasty can achieve a more complete rejuvenation than eyelid surgery alone.

Facelift

As the midface loses volume and elasticity with age, hollowing and shadowing around the eyes can become more pronounced. Patients addressing broader facial aging often combine eyelid surgery with a facelift so the eyes and midface are treated as one plan rather than two.

What to Expect With Eyelid Surgery

Before Your Procedure

Your first step is a consultation with Dr. Kevin D. Myers, where he will evaluate your eyelid and brow anatomy, review your medical history and discuss your goals in detail. Every consultation is individualized. Dr. Myers takes the time you need to understand your options and feel confident in your surgical plan, rather than moving through a rushed, standardized process.

During the Procedure

Eyelid surgery is typically performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia, depending on your needs. Incisions are placed within the natural creases of the upper eyelid or just below the lash line or inside the lower eyelid, so scarring stays minimal and settles into the natural fold as it heals. Excess skin, fat and muscle are then carefully removed or repositioned.

Initial Recovery Process

Most patients go home the same day. Mild swelling and bruising around the eyes are normal in the first days following surgery and improve steadily with rest and cold compresses.

Long-Term Results

As swelling resolves over the following weeks, the eyes take on their final, more open and rested appearance. Results are considered permanent, since the excess tissue removed does not return.

Recovery and Downtime After Eyelid Surgery

Healing after blepharoplasty follows a fairly predictable timeline, though it varies from person to person. Most visible signs of surgery fade within two to three weeks, while subtle refinement continues for a few months after.

First Few Days

Expect swelling, bruising, and mild discomfort around the eyes in the first 48 to 72 hours. Keeping your head elevated and using cold compresses helps manage swelling during this period.

1 to 2 Weeks

Bruising and swelling continue to fade noticeably. Sutures, if used, are typically removed within the first week, and many patients feel comfortable returning to light activities or remote work by 7 to 10 days.

Early Healing Phase

Over the next two to three weeks, most residual bruising typically resolves, and normal activities, including light exercise, can resume with Dr. Myers’s approval.

Long-Term Results

Final results generally settle within a few months, though subtle improvements in skin texture can continue for up to a year. Once healed, results require no special maintenance beyond your normal skincare routine.

Preparing For Eyelid Surgery

To support a smooth surgery and recovery, you may be asked to stop smoking, since it slows healing and increases complication risk, and to avoid certain medications and supplements that thin the blood. Depending on your health history, lab work or medical clearance may be required beforehand. Plan to have someone drive you home and stay with you the first night, and prepare a comfortable resting space at home with your head elevated.

Risks and Considerations For Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid surgery has a strong safety record, but like any surgical procedure, it carries some risk. Temporary side effects can include swelling, bruising, dry or watery eyes, and mild numbness around the incisions. 

Less common risks include infection, asymmetry or difficulty fully closing the eyes. Precise, conservative tissue removal is what keeps those risks low. Dr. Myers’s reconstructive training plays a direct role in minimizing these risks, since preserving eyelid function is treated with the same care as achieving the aesthetic result.

Cost of Eyelid Surgery

The cost of eyelid surgery varies from patient to patient, depending on whether you need upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery, or both, along with the type of anesthesia used and whether the procedure is combined with a brow lift or facelift. Because functional blepharoplasty addresses a medical concern such as vision obstruction, it may be partially covered by insurance, while cosmetic blepharoplasty typically is not.

Dr. Myers will provide a personalized quote during your consultation once your goals and surgical plan are clear. Northstate Plastic Surgery accepts CareCredit financing, which allows you to spread the cost of your procedure into manageable monthly payments.

Frequently Asked Questions About Eyelid Surgery

Is there an ideal age for eyelid surgery?

There is no single ideal age. Some patients pursue blepharoplasty in their 30s or 40s for early signs of hooding or puffiness, while others wait until their 60s or beyond. Candidacy depends more on your anatomy and goals than on a specific age.

Will I have visible scars?

Incisions are placed within the natural eyelid crease or along the lash line, so resulting scars are typically well hidden and fade significantly over time.

How long do results last?

Results from eyelid surgery are long-lasting, often a decade or more, since the excess skin and fat removed does not return. Natural aging continues, but the improvement holds well over time.

Why Choose Northstate Plastic Surgery For Eyelid Surgery?

Eyelid surgery sits at the intersection of aesthetics and anatomy, which is why surgical judgment matters as much as artistic eye. Dr. Kevin D. Myers is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, with training from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, an integrated residency at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and a fellowship in hand and microsurgery at the Buncke Clinic in San Francisco. That reconstructive background is uncommon among cosmetic-focused practices, and it shapes the precision Dr. Myers brings to delicate periorbital anatomy.

Take Your Next Step Toward Eyelid Surgery in Chico, CA

If drooping eyelids, under-eye puffiness, or vision obstruction have been affecting your confidence or your daily life, eyelid surgery may be worth exploring. Dr. Kevin D. Myers and the team at Northstate Plastic Surgery are here to guide you from your first consultation through full recovery.

To schedule a consultation, call us at 530-345-5900 or contact us online. We are proud to serve patients in Chico and throughout the Northstate region.

For more information, visit The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.