Upper Eyelid Surgery Specialist in Fort Myers

Blepharoplasty, also called eyelid surgery, is a surgical procedure designed to improve and correct sagging in the skin of the upper and lower eyelids. If you are looking for an upper eyelid surgery specialist in Fort Myers, look no further than Elmquist Eye Group.

Patients in Fort Myers and Cape Coral have been visiting Elmquist Eye Group for 25 years for the highest quality eye care, including cataract evaluations and surgery, glaucoma evaluation and treatment, dry eye evaluation and treatment, and other eye conditions and diseases that affect people of all ages.

Ophthalmologist, Yasaira Rodriguez, MD, and optometrists, Kate Wagner, OD and Nina Burt, OD, offer wide-ranging expertise in eyelid surgery and the most up-to-date eyecare treatments.

During blepharoplasty, our surgeons remove loose skin and fat that is causing the eyelids to droop, sag or bulge. The procedure is most often a cosmetic one. Doctors will only recommend the procedure as a medical necessity if the upper eyelids droop so much that they interfere with vision.

Aging is the biggest reason why eyelids droop, so this cosmetic procedure can give you a more youthful look. Contrary to popular belief, blepharoplasty has nothing to do with vision correction. It only repairs the excess skin that causes the eyelid to droop.

Droopy eyelids occur as we age. While our faces may look young and wrinkle-free, eyelids are often the first to show signs of aging. The skin in both the upper and lower eyelids is much thinner than other facial skin, so, as sagging begins, eyelids can look droopy and begin to show our age. People lose elasticity in the eyelid skin, and the thin skin around the eyelids is particularly susceptible.

The lower lid can look puffy as well. This is caused by a bulge of the fat layer inside the eye. As the membrane that holds the fat in place weakens with age, the fat on the lower lid bulges forward.

The good news is that eyelid droop can be surgically repaired. However, because it is a cosmetic procedure, blepharoplasty is likely not covered by your insurance plan.

The procedure takes about two hours, and you will go home the same day. You will need to take it easy for about a week while your eyes heal, but gauze, ice packs, eye drops and over-the-counter painkillers are all that you will need during your recovery.

Most patients are good candidates for blepharoplasty. We perform the procedure on both men and women. During your initial consultation, we will ensure that your facial tissues are healthy enough for the procedure.

One of the most important aspects when considering this procedure is that you must have realistic expectations. This surgery does not correct vision, nor does it correct other wrinkles or sagging elsewhere on your face. It is a localized procedure on the eyelids only. We will talk to you at great length during the pre-surgical consultation to ensure that you have realistic expectations about what this procedure will achieve.

Dr. Rodriguez is your upper eyelid surgery specialist in Fort Myers. She is very experienced at blepharoplasty, so give us a call at (239) 936-2020 for an evaluation to find out if you are a good candidate for the procedure.