FACESURGICAL
Eyelid Surgery in Murrieta
Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin, muscle, and sometimes fat from the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both. The procedure can improve drooping eyelids that may impair peripheral vision, reduce puffiness and under-eye bags, and restore a more rested, youthful appearance to the eye area.
At a Glance
- ASPS member surgeons performed over 120,000 eyelid surgery procedures in 2024, making it one of the top five cosmetic surgical procedures[2]
- Orbital hemorrhage, the most serious complication of blepharoplasty, has an estimated incidence of 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 25,000 cases[5]
- Upper eyelid blepharoplasty may improve visual field obstruction that affects daily activities such as driving, reading, and computer use[3]
- Bruising and swelling from blepharoplasty typically resolve within 10 to 14 days, and most patients resume normal activities within 24 to 48 hours[3]
Overview
Blepharoplasty is one of the most commonly performed facial cosmetic procedures. ASPS data indicates that eyelid surgery consistently ranks among the top five cosmetic surgical procedures in the United States, with more than 120,000 procedures performed by ASPS member surgeons in 2024.
The operation may involve the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both during the same surgical session. Upper blepharoplasty removes excess skin that can fold over the eyelashes and obstruct peripheral vision. Lower blepharoplasty addresses puffiness, protruding fat, and loose skin beneath the eyes.
Eyelid surgery may be cosmetic, functional, or both. Functional blepharoplasty addresses excess eyelid skin, known as dermatochalasis, that measurably obstructs the visual field. Cosmetic blepharoplasty changes the appearance of the eye area without a documented visual deficit.
What to expect
- Consultation to discuss goals, review medical history, and evaluate eyelid anatomy including margin reflex distance and levator function
- Pre-operative evaluation including visual field testing, eyelid measurements, and photography
- Administration of local anesthesia with sedation; general anesthesia may be used when combined with other procedures
- Precise marking of the eyelid crease and determination of skin and tissue to be removed
- Incision along the natural upper eyelid crease or along the lower lash line
- Careful removal of excess skin, orbicularis muscle, and protruding fat pads
- Repositioning or redistribution of remaining fat to achieve smooth contours
- Closure of incisions with fine sutures, tissue adhesive, or surgical tape
- Application of antibiotic ointment and cold compresses
- Post-operative instructions including head elevation and ice compress use
How a eyelid surgery works
- For upper blepharoplasty, the natural eyelid crease is marked and the amount of skin available for removal is established with precise measurements. Approximately 20 mm of skin has to remain between the lower edge of the eyebrow and the eyelash margin to preserve normal eyelid function and closure. Dr. Banthia marks the lid against that limit. The amount removed is therefore a measurement, not a preference, and an over-resected lid from an earlier operation is much harder to address than an under-resected one.
- The upper-lid incision follows the marked crease and may be made with a scalpel, CO2 laser, or radiofrequency instrument. Excess skin, orbicularis muscle, and protruding preaponeurotic and nasal fat are carefully removed.
- For lower blepharoplasty, the incision is typically placed just beneath the lower lash line or inside the eyelid through a transconjunctival approach. Excess fat may be removed, redistributed, or repositioned to smooth the junction between the lower eyelid and cheek.
- Incisions are closed with fine sutures, tissue glue, or surgical tape. When an upper-lid incision is placed in the natural eyelid crease, the scar typically becomes inconspicuous once healed.
- Upper- and lower-lid blepharoplasty are separate operations with separate recoveries, but they are often performed during one surgical session. This replaces two anesthetics and two recovery periods with one. What a patient needs is determined at the examination, and treating only the upper lids is a common outcome of that assessment.
- Removing eyelid skin and repositioning fat does not address every concern around the eyes. Crow's feet at the outer corners come from muscle movement, while pigment lies within the skin; neither is excised during blepharoplasty. Those concerns are addressed with neuromodulators and resurfacing, which are not offered on this surgical menu because there is no cosmetic-injectable or med-spa service. Dr. Banthia distinguishes what the operation reaches from what it does not during the examination.
When it's recommended
- Excess upper eyelid skin that obstructs peripheral or central vision
- Drooping or sagging upper eyelids creating folds that disturb the eyelid contour
- Fatty deposits appearing as puffiness in the upper or lower eyelids
- Under-eye bags caused by fat herniation
- Excess skin and fine wrinkles on the lower eyelids
- Drooping lower eyelids that reveal scleral show below the iris
- Headaches and brow ache from overworked frontalis muscles compensating for heavy lids
- Chronic dermatitis caused by redundant eyelid skin
Is a eyelid surgery right for you?
Reach out to learn more from Dr. Vishal Banthia.
Recovery & aftercare
- Cold compresses are applied continuously for the first 2 to 3 days to minimize swelling and bruising
- Head elevation at 45 to 60 degrees is recommended during recovery
- Most patients resume normal daily activities within 24 to 48 hours
- Bruising and swelling typically resolve within 10 to 14 days
- Nonabsorbable sutures are removed in approximately 5 to 7 days
- Contact lens wear may resume after approximately 1 week
- Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should be avoided for 2 to 4 weeks
- Postoperative eyelid numbness typically resolves within 2 to 4 months
- Final results continue to improve as subtle swelling resolves over several weeks to months
Alternatives
- Non-surgical skin tightening procedures for mild eyelid laxity
- Injectable fillers to address under-eye hollowing
- Botox injections to reduce crow's feet and brow positioning
- Laser skin resurfacing for fine lines around the eyes
- Chemical peels for surface skin texture improvement
- Brow lift for upper eyelid heaviness caused by brow descent
Frequently Asked Questions
- Eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty, removes excess skin, muscle, and sometimes fat from the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both. It can improve drooping skin that obstructs vision and reduce puffiness and under-eye bags, giving the eye area a more rested, youthful appearance.
- Eyelid surgery is typically performed with local anesthesia and sedation, so discomfort during the procedure is minimal. Tightness, mild soreness, swelling, and bruising may follow surgery. Discomfort is usually managed with acetaminophen and cold compresses.
- Blepharoplasty is generally considered safe when performed by a qualified surgeon. Complications are infrequent, and most are minor and temporary. Orbital hemorrhage is the most serious complication and has an estimated incidence of 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 25,000 cases. As with any operation, its risks are discussed during consultation.
- Most patients resume normal daily activities within 1 to 2 days. Bruising and swelling typically resolve within 10 to 14 days, and sutures are removed in about 5 to 7 days. Strenuous exercise is avoided for 2 to 4 weeks. Results continue to improve over several weeks as residual swelling subsides.
- Yes. Upper and lower blepharoplasty can be performed during the same surgical session. Combining them typically adds to the total operating time but avoids a second anesthetic and recovery period. Whether both areas are treated is determined by the eyelid examination and the patient's goals.
- Eyelid surgery may not be appropriate for someone with dry eye syndrome, compromised blink function, active smoking or nicotine use, an uncontrolled bleeding disorder or unmanaged anticoagulation therapy, or a thyroid eye condition such as Graves disease. The pre-operative evaluation determines whether blepharoplasty is suitable for the individual.
- The decision depends on where the heaviness begins, which is measurable rather than a matter of taste. Dr. Banthia assesses brow height, the amount of upper-lid skin, and how much of the lid platform remains visible when the forehead is relaxed. A lowered brow and a heavy eyelid can produce the same complaint but require different operations, and sometimes both are present. The brow lift page explains that procedure in full.
- It can when upper-eyelid skin extends far enough to block the upper visual field. That obstruction is established through examination rather than judged at home. Dr. Banthia checks for it during the assessment and explains whether the concern is functional, cosmetic, or both. The operation is the same in either case, but its documentation is different.
- Consultations for eyelid surgery are available at Dr. Banthia's Murrieta office (39755 Date St, Suite 105, Murrieta, CA 92563); Dr. Banthia's Carlsbad office (2390 Faraday Ave, Carlsbad, CA 92008). Contact the office to schedule an appointment at the location most convenient for you.
Eyelid Surgery risks & candidacy
Who should avoid this
- Dry eye syndrome or compromised tear production
- Compromised blink function or pre-existing lagophthalmos
- Active smoking or nicotine use (impairs wound healing)
- Uncontrolled bleeding disorders or unmanaged anticoagulation therapy
- Active infection at the planned surgical site
- Graves disease or thyroid eye disease (requires special evaluation)
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Unrealistic expectations regarding surgical outcomes
Possible risks
- Temporary bruising, swelling, and discoloration around the eyes
- Dry eyes or increased tearing (epiphora)
- Temporary blurred or double vision
- Infection at the incision site
- Difficulty closing the eyes temporarily (lagophthalmos)
- Asymmetry between the two eyelids
- Visible scarring, scar hypertrophy, or inclusion cysts
- Numbness or altered sensation around the eyelids
- Postoperative ptosis (drooping) of the upper eyelid
- Orbital hemorrhage (rare but serious, estimated at 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 25,000)
- Need for revision surgery
Your practitioner
Dr. Vishal Banthia, MD, FACS
Dr. Vishal Banthia is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon practicing in Murrieta and Carlsbad, California. He is certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. His practice is surgical and face-only: facelift, neck lift, eyelid surgery, and rhinoplasty. He lectures internationally, has published peer-reviewed research indexed in the National Library of Medicine, and received the American Academy of Otolaryngology's Humanitarian Travel Award for cleft lip and palate surgery in Honduras.
Sources & references
This article draws on 5 sources, including peer-reviewed research, leading medical institutions.
Government & research
Medical institutions
Medically reviewed by Dr. Vishal Banthia, MD, FACS · Last reviewed: 2026-09-22