Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin, muscle, and sometimes fat from the upper and/or lower eyelids. For patients over 65, this procedure is often recommended not purely for cosmetic reasons but to restore vision that has been gradually obstructed by sagging eyelid skin — a change that happens so slowly that many patients don't realize how much their sight has been affected until after surgery.
The procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia with sedation, and recovery generally takes one to two weeks, with most swelling and bruising resolving within that window. Many patients are surprised by how quickly they return to normal activities and how significant the improvement in both appearance and peripheral vision can be. When drooping is affecting daily function, blepharoplasty may be partially or fully covered by Medicare or other insurance.