Makeup counters and drugstores feature countless creams and gels to counteract droopy, puffy eyes and eyelids. But at his Key West plastic surgery practice, Dr. Loessin offers eyelid surgery (also called “blepharoplasty”) as a longer-lasting solution to restore the skin around your eyes and give you a fresher appearance.

Blepharoplasty is usually an elective surgery that is recommended to reverse the signs of aging of the lower and upper eyelid. In some cases, eyelid surgery can even improve the patient’s field of vision that was impaired by sagging eyelids. Blepharoplasty usually takes one to two hours to complete, and swelling and bruising normally resolve within one to two weeks

When performing eyelid surgery, Dr. Loessin makes an incision along the eyelid and trims away excess fat, muscle, tissue, and skin. He then lifts the remaining skin and, depending on the case, may also reposition the muscle. The incisions are closed with sutures, and the patient recovers for a few days. Stitches are usually taken out two to five days after surgery.

During the recovery, eyelids may look swollen, bruised, or red; vision may be blurred; and the patient may tear up or experience sensitivity to light. However, these side effects usually subside within 10 days or less. Strenuous exercises should be avoided and bending from waist down is not permitted for about seven days following surgery.

Like any other procedure, the risks of having eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) are lessened if you are physically healthy and a non-smoker. In addition, it is important that you have a positive outlook and specific, but realistic, goals about the results of your surgery.