Skip to main content


Home/Facial Plastic Surgery/Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Eyelid surgery is designed to smooth the contours surrounding the upper and/or lower eyelids, giving patients the opportunity to look more energetic and youthful. The eyes are often considered the most expressive part of the face—unfortunately, signs of aging or exhaustion in the delicate area surrounding the eyes can belie messages about how you feel. If your eyelids are droopy, puffy, or rimmed by dark circles, you may appear tired, unhappy, or even angry. At our practice, eyelid surgery—medically referred to as blepharoplasty—can remove excess fat and droopy skin from the upper and lower eyelids, typically resulting in a brighter, more rested appearance.

What are the Benefits of Eyelid Surgery?

Our Santa Barbara plastic surgeon, Wesley Schooler, MD, performs blepharoplasty to rejuvenate the eyes and achieve a more refreshed, youthful facial appearance. The procedure can address the upper and/or lower eyelids for very natural-looking results. The benefits of the procedure are usually contingent on your aesthetic goals, but eyelid surgery can generally:


When skin and fatty tissue become increasingly lax and the upper eyelids begin to sag into your line of sight, this is known as upper eyelid “hooding.” Blepharoplasty can be used to correct hooding of the eyelids and restore the full scope of your vision. Depending on the extent and location of the upper eyelid hooding, Dr. Schooler may recommend a brow lift combined with blepharoplasty. In certain cases wherein drooping eyelids obstruct a patient’s vision, medical insurance may be able to provide partial or full coverage for eyelid surgery.

How is the Eyelid Surgery Procedure Performed?


Upper Eyelid Surgery

When treating the upper eyelids, blepharoplasty is performed to tighten drooping skin, fat, and musculature while correcting upper eyelid “hooding.” The procedure can provide a smoother look in the upper eyelids by addressing tissue laxity and reducing crow’s feet, which can both contribute to an aging appearance. During upper blepharoplasty, the incision is discreetly placed within the natural crease of the eyelid. From this point, Dr. Schooler will recontour the eyelids to create the desired aesthetic. Loose skin and excess fat will be removed while lax musculature will be tightened.

Lower Eyelid Surgery

Blepharoplasty can also treat signs of tiredness in the lower eyelids, such as puffiness, eye bags, and drooping skin. Like treating the upper eyelids, lower eyelid surgery also utilizes an inconspicuous incision—except it’s generally hidden on the inside of the lower eyelid during lower blepharoplasty. After the incision is made, excess lower eyelid fat will be repositioned to smooth eye bags and minimize puffiness. Depending on your cosmetic goals, lax skin can also be addressed. Our plastic surgeon works to make incisions as undetectable as possible for a natural-looking final outcome.

What is Recovery From Eyelid Surgery Like?


bna-sample Before
bna-sample After
View Details

How Long Do Eyelid Surgery Results Last?

While blepharoplasty will not stop the natural aging process, eyelid surgery is intended to provide results that can last years, if not decades. The best ways to preserve the rejuvenation achieved with the procedure is to always use sun protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, or a hat) when outdoors, and to utilize professional skin care products when necessary to help facilitate healthy-looking skin. The delicate tissues around the eyes will continue to be affected by factors like gravity and age, but these measures can help you maximize the longevity of your eyelid surgery results. Our medical spa services may also be pursued to “touch up” the outcome of surgery over time. Remember, you will generally always look younger after blepharoplasty than you would if you had never undergone surgery.

How Much Does Eyelid Surgery Cost?



Can I Get an Eyelid Lift Without Surgery?

A surgical blepharoplasty procedure is typically considered the most effective way to minimize age and exhaustion in the eyelid region. There is unfortunately no non-surgical technique that can exactly replicate the powerful results achieved with eyelid surgery. That said, certain non-surgical cosmetic treatments can be performed to improve some of the concerns traditionally addressed with an eyelid lift. These med spa services will not produce the same quality of results as blepharoplasty, but they can help you rejuvenate your appearance and/or provide some enhancement before an event or a special occasion.

There are many alternative treatment options that may benefit your needs if you cannot (or prefer not to) undergo eyelid surgery. We offer hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, CO₂ laser skin resurfacing treatments, and medical-grade skin care to supplement our surgical options. With injectables, products like BOTOX® Cosmetic can smooth crow’s feet and other wrinkles around the eyes caused by repetitive facial expressions. Dermal fillers can also be injected to restore lost volume under the eyes and improve the lower eyelid contour.

Depending on your concerns, our advanced resurfacing treatments and skin care products can be utilized to enhance your complexion, as well as treat common conditions like rosacea, wrinkles, acne scarring, and hyperpigmentation. All of these minimally invasive treatment options can be pursued according to your goals in place of, or in addition to, blepharoplasty.
