Eyelid Surgery
in Miami, FL

Upper Eyelid Surgery

The upper eyelid is the most common type of Blepharoplasty. This surgical procedure involves the resection of redundant skin and/or musculature of the upper eyelids. While they can be (and often are) performed together, this procedure is distinct from a brow lift in that it focuses solely on the trimming of skin, as opposed to elevating your eyebrows.

Upper blepharoplasty may be performed for cosmetic reasons, specifically reducing the signs of aging. During the evaluation process, careful attention is given to the eyebrow position, as brow descent may give the appearance of excess skin. An endoscopic Brow Lift may then be suggested in addition to (or instead of) removing eyelid skin.

Lower Eyelid Surgery

A Lower Blepharoplasty is a more complex procedure. In addition to prolapsed fat, stretched-out eyelid muscle, and skin may compromise the appearance of the the upper and lower eyelids together. Furthermore, cheek descent can worsen this appearance by creating a groove below the eyelid, often termed the “tear trough”.

These features may require a combination of approaches: fat may need to be removed or repositioned through an incision hidden on the inner surface of the eyelid (transconjunctival) or through an eyelid incision just below the lashes (subciliary) if removing skin and tightening muscle is also planned.

The main reason patients choose lower eyelid surgery is to eliminate the look of bags under the eyes. This can come with age or genetics, but our surgery can remove the excess fatty tissue, improving and smoothing the skin around the area drastically.

Canthopexy

This is a less invasive eyelid surgery technique that requires the meticulous placement of sutures to tighten and stabilize the lateral canthal tendon and orbicularis oculi muscle without detaching or reconstructing the tendon. This approach serves to support the external corners of the eyes and minimize the risk of wrongful eyelid position after a lower blepharoplasty.

Canthopexy is performed under local or general anesthesia in an outpatient setting and is almost always performed as an additional technique in conjunction with other eyelid procedures. In most cases, canthopexy is performed with a lower blepharoplasty to create extra support.

Canthoplasty

Canthoplasty surgery focuses on the outer corner of the eye where the upper and lower eyelids meet. For most individuals, this junction should be slightly above the area where the upper and lower eyelids meet near the nose to produce an almond-shaped eye, and a firm, smooth lower eyelid.

Canthoplasty is a more invasive procedure than canthopexy. It involves cutting through the orbicularis oculi muscle, detaching the lateral canthal tendon from the bone at the side of the eye socket, and shortening the lateral canthal tendon. The internal structure of the lower lid (tarsus) is then pulled over and re-attached to the lateral orbital rim at the appropriate height (often a small amount of skin is also trimmed at the time of surgery).

What’s the first step?

The first step to getting eyelid surgery is to call our clinic for a meeting with our Patient Care Coordinator, who will discuss your aesthetic goals and your candidacy. If this procedure is appropriate for you, you will then get to meet with Dr. Keyes. During the consultation, Dr. Keyes will assess your needs and desired outcome, and determine the best course of treatment. He will look over your medical history, and tell you more about the treatments he uses that can benefit you. The consultation is also your opportunity to ask questions about the surgery process, so that you know what to expect.

What to expect on the day of Eyelid Surgery surgery

On the day of your Eyelid Surgery, you will meet with Dr. Keyes and your Anesthesiologist, both of whom will discuss what to expect, including asking you about your health history. Dr. Keyes will make any markings he will use to perform your procedure, and the Anesthesiologist will administer your local or general anesthesia, depending on what was pre-determined.

Once sedated, Dr. Keyes will make an incision on the upper and/or lower eyelids where Dr. Keyes will focus his attention. The incision lines for eyelid surgery are designed so the resultant scars will be well concealed within the natural structures of the eyelid region.

When working on the upper eyelid, Dr. Keyes will make the incision in the natural crease of the lid to appear natural looking, and allow the best place to hide any scarring. The lower eyelid incision is usually made just below the eyelash line to appear natural. Once the incision is made, the fatty tissue will be removed.

Finally, Dr. Keyes will close the incision on the eyelids. Eyelid incisions typically are closed with sutures. Sutures are removed within one week. Once the surgical component is complete, Dr. Keyes and his team will move you into an area to rest and recover, before returning home.