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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffBlepharoplasty (BLEF-uh-ro-plas-te) is surgery to repair droopy eyelids by removing excess skin, muscle and fat. As you age, your eyelids stretch, and the muscles supporting them weaken. As a result, excess fat may gather above and below your eyelids, causing sagging eyebrows, drooping upper lids and bags under your eyes. Besides making you look older, severely sagging skin around your eyes can impair your vision. Blepharoplasty can reduce or eliminate such impaired vision.
Blepharoplasty is usually done on an outpatient basis. To help decide if blepharoplasty is right for you, find out what you can realistically expect, and take time to explore the benefits and risks of blepharoplasty.
- Kim EJ, et al. Blepharoplasty. In: Lalwani AK. Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw Hill Medical, 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2833075. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Surgery of the eyelids. American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. http://www.aafprs.org/patient/procedures/blepharoplasty.html. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Eyelid surgery for women. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Accessed June 12, 2009.
- Trussler AP, et al. MOC-PS CME article: Blepharoplasty. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2008;121:1.
