Blepharoplasty takes away excess skin, fat, or muscle from the eyelids. ‘Blepharon’ is the Greek name for eyelid, while ‘plasty’ means ‘to form’. The surgery itself takes between 45 minutes and two and a half hours, and then a recovery period that lasts around two weeks. Even if you’ve never heard the term ‘Blepharoplasty’ before, you’ve probably seen the results, as it’s the third most common procedure in the UK¹.

What causes hooded, heavy eyelids?

The skin around the eyes is one of the thinnest in the human body. Despite being thin, it comprises five layers, including skin, tissue, muscle, and membrane. Some of the parts of your eyelids have a specific function, such as draining tears or stopping your eyelids from sticking together when they close. In contrast, others contribute to how you look, specifically the skin and muscles.

The main muscles in the eyelid are the levator muscle and the orbicularis oculi, responsible for opening and closing the lids. Just like your leg muscles get tired if you’re standing all day, these muscles get tired too. Physiologists say that looking at a screen and not getting enough sleep can cause fatigue in the eyelids and eyebrows, giving them a heavy appearance². 

Another contributing factor to hooded eyes is ageing. As we age, muscles and skin are prone to losing elasticity due to a depletion of the protein called collagen, which plays a vital role in the body’s structure. By your mid-20s, the body can’t make collagen as quickly as it uses it, so levels drop, as reported by a recent BBC article. When the elasticity and tone start to go in your eyebrow muscles, it can cause drooping and may limit vision.

Long-term solution for hooded eyes 

Creams and lotions promise to reduce the appearance of hooded eyes. However, for a long-term solution, people consider a blepharoplasty. The simple procedure involves the removal of excess skin, muscle, or fat from the eyelids, resulting in a more open appearance of the eyes. 

Blepharoplasty is becoming increasingly popular. In 2024, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons noted a 13% rise in this surgery. The procedure can alter your appearance, but it is more than cosmetic. It reduces discomfort, tiredness, and vision problems associated with hooded, drooping eyelids. 

A straightforward surgery 

A blepharoplasty takes place under a local anaesthetic, so you’ll be awake for the procedure but won’t feel anything. Some surgeons will play music during the surgery to help distract you. 

You’ll be given anaesthetic eye drops and have your face cleaned with an antiseptic solution. Next, your consultant will inject a local anaesthetic under the eyelid, which can sting for a few seconds. Once the anaesthetic starts to work, you won’t feel any pain, just some pulling sensations. 

The surgeon takes away excess skin and closes the wound with stitches – the scar is undetectable under the eyelids’ natural crease. After the operation, you should be able to go home the same day. 

Tips to ease swelling and pain 

After the surgery, you’ll have eye pads on your lids and should keep them there until you’re told to remove them, typically after one hour. You may experience pain in your eyelids for up to 48 hours, which is manageable with painkillers such as paracetamol. In some cases, you will be given eye drops to take home and should follow the surgeon's instructions to prevent infection. 

Your eyes will be bruised and swollen, and you may need to take time off work depending on your job—bruising and swelling last up to two weeks. You can ease it by elevating your head with pillows when resting and using ice packs. 

You shouldn’t drive, operate machinery, drink alcohol, or take sedative drugs for 24 hours post-procedure. As you can’t drive, and may not want to take public transport, you should arrange for someone to help you get home. You may also want someone to stay with you for a day.

To aid your recovery from eyelid surgery, follow your surgeon's instructions, use cold packs, avoid smoking, and wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. 

Open your eyes to blepharoplasty

After the swelling from the surgery has reduced, your eyes should look and feel more open. In a recent article in The Telegraph, writer Ingeborg van Lotringen shares her experience of the surgery. She suggests that the procedure is undetectable to others and that it has set the clock back on her eyes by 20 years. 

Removing excess fat, muscle, or skin with a blepharoplasty at one of LivingCare’s state-of-the-art clinics in Yorkshire can give you a rested appearance and potentially improve vision problems from drooping, hooded eyelids. 

References: 

Eyelid surgery - NHS 

Blepharoplasty - During and after your surgery 

¹https://baaps.org.uk/about/news/1891/cosmetic_surgery_trends_2024_facial_rejuvenation_surges_while_mens_procedures_decline/

²https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-our-eyelids-get-heavy/