Eyelid Surgery
Conveniently located to serve Charleston, SC

Double-board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jason Ulm offers eyelid surgery in Charleston, SC, at Ulm Plastic Surgery. Also known as blepharoplasty, the eyelid lift, or undereye bag surgery, eyelid surgery is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures available. This technique addresses sagging upper-eyelid skin and wrinkled or puffy lower eyelids. 

Eyelid Lift

The eyelid lift is a surgery used to rejuvenate the eyelids. As the eyes are some of the most prominent features on the face, an eyelid surgery can have a huge impact on one’s looks. Eyelid surgery can also be performed in combination with a facelift as a way to provide more comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

Why Do People Come In for Eyelid Lifts?

• Drooping eyelids can be corrected by trimming away excess skin
• Eyelid puffiness can be resolved by removing/repositioning excess fat
• Fine lines and wrinkles can be smoothed away by tightening the skin
• Besides choosing it for cosmetic reasons, some patients undergo blepharoplasty in order to improve their vision. Sagging eyelids can droop into the field of vision, and removing this excess skin can improve this issue.

Read More Testimonials

Ideal Candidates for Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid surgery is perfect for patients who want to enhance their facial aesthetics. It is suitable for patients who are in good overall health and have realistic goals. Ideal candidates have no post-surgery healing issues. The best candidates do not have serious eye conditions, glaucoma, or diabetes.

Patients who are non-smokers are preferred; smokers will be required to stop smoking for weeks leading up to their eyelid surgery. This is because smoking increases the risk of surgical and post-surgical complications and also prolongs the healing process.

Your Consultation

You can tell your concerns and goals for eyelid surgery to Dr. Ulm during a consultation. Your eyelid area will be thoroughly examined to determine if eyelid surgery is the ideal solution or if a different procedure would be more ideal. Dr. Ulm will create a surgical plan that can best achieve your goals.

Next will be the discussion for the steps of the surgical plan. This includes information about the surgery session, the recovery process, and the results. Feel free to ask questions at this time. The eyelid surgery will then be scheduled.

What to Expect During the Surgery

The eyelid surgery will last around 2 hours; the exact duration will depend on the surgical plan. Anesthesia is administered so that the patient does not feel any pain or discomfort during the eyelid lift. Either general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation can be used. This choice will be made during the eyelid-lift consultation.

After this, the tiny incisions are made. Upper-eyelid surgery, or upper blepharoplasty, involves the creation of an incision at the natural crease between the upper eyelid and the eyebrow.

Lower-eyelid surgery, or lower blepharoplasty, can involve one of two incision methods. It can either require the transconjunctival incision or the transcutaneous incision. The transcutaneous incision is made at the lash line of the lower eyelid and allows for adjustment of excess skin and fat. The transconjunctival incision is made on the inside of the eyelid and does not allow for trimming of excess skin.

Once the incisions have been created, drooping muscle tissue is tightened, sagging skin is tightened, and excess fat is repositioned and/or removed. If the upper and lower eyelids are being corrected during the course of a single procedure, the upper lids will be treated first.

After adjustment of tissues, the incisions are sewn closed using surgical sutures. Typically, the sutures will be removed in 5-7 days.

The Recovery Period

The patient will need to arrange for a ride home from a friend or family member, because they will not be able to drive that day. The patient can also hire the services of a healthcare professional for their daily needs during the recovery process. Once home, the patient should rest and recover for a time.

It’s best to follow the post-operative care directions given by Dr. Ulm in order to ensure a comfortable and safe recovery. There will be a degree of temporary swelling and bruising in the area for a time. To help control these issues, patients can use cold compresses.

Rigorous activities like sports and heavy exercise will not be allowed for a time. Rubbing the eye area is also prohibited. The patient must avoid sun exposure while healing.

Eyelid Surgery Cost

Functional blepharoplasty may be covered by the patient’s health insurance provider. Cosmetic eyelid lifts are not covered, however. Their price is determined by the techniques used and many other factors. For those concerned about eyelid surgery cost, we offer financing through Prosper Healthcare Lending.

Arrange Your Blepharoplasty Consultation

For a consultation regarding eyelid surgery in Charleston, SC, with Dr. Ulm, contact our office and schedule an appointment. You’ll be able to ask questions, look at before-and-after photos, and learn more about the procedure and recovery.