Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty

A lower eyelid blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure performed to reduce the appearance of the lower eyelid bags.  Multiple changes occur in the tissues of the lower eyelids and cheeks that make these bags more noticeable over time, including the following: thinning and stretching of the lower eyelid skin; protrusion and shifting of the fat pads of the eyelids and eye socket; descent of the cheek; and loosening of the ligaments attaching the eyelids into the bones of the face.  The surgical plan for a lower eyelid blepharoplasty is tailored to each individual patient depending on the need to address one or more of these changes.  Incisions may be located on the inside of the lower eyelid or may be made in the skin just underneath the lashes of the lower eyelid.  This procedure is typically performed with local anesthesia and light sedation in an outpatient setting, and, because of the more complex anatomy of the lower eyelid, this surgery typically takes a longer amount of time to complete as compared to an upper blepharoplasty, In almost all circumstances, a lower eyelid blepharoplasty is considered a cosmetic procedure, and it is therefore not covered by medical insurance.