Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Correct drooping upper eyelids and puffy bags below the eyes by removing excess fat, skin, and muscle. Upper-eyelid surgery may be covered by insurance if used to correct visual field defects.

LENGTH 1 to 3 hours.

ANESTHESIA Usually locally with sedation or general.

IN/OUTPATIENT Usually outpatient.

RECOVERY Reading: 2 or 3 days. Back to work: 7 to 10 days. Contact lenses: two weeks or more. Strenuous activities, alcohol: about 3 weeks. Bruising and swelling gone: several weeks.

DURATION OF RESULTS Several years. Sometimes permanent.

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Side Effects & Risks

SIDE EFFECTS Temporary discomfort, tightness of lids, swelling, bruising. Temporary dryness, burning, itching of eyes. Excessive tearing, sensitivity to light for first few weeks.

RISKS Temporary blurred or double vision. Infection, bleeding. Swelling at the corners of the eyelids. Dry eyes. Formation of whiteheads. Slight asymmetry in healing or scarring. Difficulty in closing eyes completely (rarely permanent). Pulling down of the lower lids (may require further surgery). Blindness (extremely rare).

Facelift (Rhytidectomy)

Improving sagging facial skin, jowls, and loose neck skin by removing excess fat, tightening muscles, redraping skin. Most often done on men and women over 40.

LENGTH Several hours.

ANESTHESIA Local with sedation, or general.

IN/OUTPATIENT Usually outpatient. Some patients may require short inpatient stay.

RECOVERY Back to work: 10 to 14 days. More strenuous activity: 2 weeks or more. Bruising: 2 to 3 weeks. Must limit exposure to sun for several months.

DURATION OF RESULTS Usually 5 to 10 years.

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Side Effects & Risks

SIDE EFFECTS Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness and tenderness of skin; tight feeling, dry skin. For men, permanent need to shave behind ears, where beard-growing skin is repositioned.

RISKS Injury to the nerves that control facial muscles or feeling (usually temporary but may be permanent). Infection, bleeding. Poor healing; excessive scarring. Asymmetry or change in hairline.

Facial Implants

Change the basic shape and balance of the face using carefully shaped implants to build up a receding chin, add prominence to cheekbones, or reshape the jawline.

LENGTH 30 minutes to 2 hours.

ANESTHESIA Local with sedation, or general.

IN/OUTPATIENT Usually outpatient. Occasionally overnight hospital stay.

RECOVERY Back to work: about 1 week. Normal appearance: 2 to 4 weeks. Activity that could jar or bump face: 6 weeks or more.

DURATION OF RESULTS Permanent.

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Side Effects & Risks

SIDE EFFECTS Temporary discomfort, swelling, bruising, numbness and/or stiffness. In jaw surgery, inability to open mouth fully for several weeks.

RISKS Shifting or imprecise positioning of implant, or infection around it, requiring a second operation or removal. Excess tightening and hardening of scar tissue around an artificial implant (“capsular contracture”), causing unnatural shape.