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Hurvitz Plastic Surgery (562) 595-6543

Upper and Lower Eyelid Surgery
Conveniently located to serve Long Beach, Los Alamitos and the South Bay

Eyelid surgery (also called blepharoplasty, the eye lift, or undereye bag surgery) is a cosmetic surgical procedure to improve the appearance of the eyelids. It entails the removal of excess skin and fat on the upper and lower eyelids. Eyelid surgery can be performed strictly for cosmetic reasons or to correct vision impairment or other medical problems. Visit Hurvitz Plastic Surgery if you are interested in getting blepharoplasty in Long Beach.

Anesthesia Type: Local or general if combining with other procedures

Facility Type: In-office surgery suite or outpatient surgery center if done under general

Recovery Time: A few days up to 1 or 2 weeks depending on amount of bruising

What to Expect During Recovery: Bruising, mild swelling, some redness or itching along incision site

Before
After

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Deciding to Have Eyelid Surgery

If you are considering upper eyelid surgery or lower eyelid surgery, read through this section to become educated about the procedure, then call our office to schedule a private consultation with Dr. Hurvitz at his Long Beach, CA. office.

During your visit, let Dr. Hurvitz know what bothers you about your eyes and what you would like to change. Dr. Hurvitz will examine your eyes, brow, temple and other facial features, followed by explaining how specific changes will enhance your appearance. He will also let you know if your expectations are realistic and achievable.

During your consultation, Dr. Hurvitz will review your overall health and discuss with you the risks, recovery time, and costs involved with having a blepharoplasty. All of this information will help you decide whether having eyelid surgery is right for you.

About Upper and Lower Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid surgeries such as upper and lower blepharoplasty are fairly straightforward and relatively easy to recover from in comparison to other cosmetic procedures. Whether you want to improve your appearance or have functional problems with your eyelids, eyelid surgery can rejuvenate the eyes and surrounding areas.

The procedure involves the creation of very small incisions. For upper blepharoplasty, the incision is made in the natural crease at the top of the lid. For lower blepharoplasty, the incision is either made below the lash line (transcutaneous) or within the lid (transconjunctival).

Once incisions are made, excess skin is trimmed away, sagging muscle tissue is tightened, and fat is removed and/or repositioned as needed. Finally, the incisions are carefully closed.

The Benefits of Eyelid Surgery

Eyelid surgery improves:

  • Loose or sagging skin that creates folds or disturbs the natural contour of the upper eyelid, sometimes impairing vision due to severe hooding
  • Fatty deposits that appear as puffiness in the eyelids
  • Bags under the eyes
  • Droopy lower eyelids that cause the lid to pull away from the eye

With modern advances, plastic surgeons such as Dr. Hurvitz  can perform eyelid surgery under local anesthesia as an in-office procedure. General anesthesia is always available, however it is much easier to recover from a local anesthetic. It is also cost effective and carries less risk. If Dr. Hurvitz combines multiple procedures into one surgery, he may recommend general anesthesia.

Anesthesia Options

General: Administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist in an outpatient surgical facility. Patient is put completely asleep. Usually groggy for several hours after surgery and may feel nauseous.

Local: Typically performed in-office. Patient is given a sedative to relax then the surgical site is injected with a local anesthetic to completely numb the area before surgery. This option is very similar to having dental work done that requires numbing of the area. Patient is coherent after surgery and rarely, if ever, gets sick afterwards.

Recovery Following Upper and Lower Eyelid Surgery

Once your blepharoplasty is complete, a friend or family member will need to drive you home, since you will not be able to drive for a time. Following this, it will be necessary to rest and heal. You will need to take some time off from work as well.

During blepharoplasty recovery, the eyes often become dry. Prescription eyedrops will help moisturize the region. Wearing sunglasses will help to protect the eyes from wind and pollution. Additionally, sunglasses will help protect the tissues of the eyelids, which will be temporarily weakened and susceptible to sun damage. Wearing proper sunscreen is recommended.

How Much Does Blepharoplasty Cost?

In some cases, severe eyelid hooding (sagging skin which droops over the eyelid) could be causing vision impairment. If this is the case, the cost of the eyelid surgery may be partially covered by the patient’s health insurance provider. Speak with Dr. Hurvitz or his staff to find out if your surgery could be deemed a medical necessity.

Health insurance does not pay for procedures that are performed strictly for cosmetic reasons. The price of cosmetic blepharoplasty is dependent on how long the procedure takes to perform, the amount of tissue removed, and many other factors.

Scheduling Your Informative Consultation

To schedule a consultation regarding blepharoplasty in Long Beach, contact our office today. Acclaimed double-board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Keith Hurvitz will be available to go over blepharoplasty before and after photos and can answer any questions you may have.