Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery) in San Jose & Palo Alto

The delicate skin around the eyes is very thin and sensitive, making it more susceptible to environmental and lifestyle factors than the rest of the face. Because of this, the eyes are usually the first area to develop signs of aging. A blepharoplasty in San Jose can help smooth these signs of aging from your face.

Rejuvenate Your Look: Expert Eyelid Surgery Techniques with Dr. Hessler

Fine lines, wrinkles, bags, and droopy eyelids often make the entire face appear older and less energetic and can occur in patients as early as their twenties. Dr. Hessler offers several leading techniques for eyelid surgery in San Jose, Palo Alto, and the Bay Area to restore a more youthful and attractive appearance.

What is blepharoplasty?

Blepharoplasty in San Jose (eyelid surgery) is a procedure that refreshes and rejuvenates the eyes. There is both upper eyelid surgery and lower eyelid surgery. They can either be performed as separate surgeries, or together for patients who have a significant amount of excess skin and deep wrinkles in the eye area. Blepharoplasty can also address excess eyelid skin that may be impacting a patient’s vision.

Woman sitting and smiling with her hands folded near her face

Key benefits of blepharoplasty in San Jose

Removes drooping skin and puffiness of the eyelids
Corrects under-eye bags
Softens fine lines around the eyes
Gets rid of excess skin that is obstructing vision
Delivers a more youthful, alert, friendly appearance

Results speak for themselves

Before and after Blepharoplasty in San Jose at Hessler Plastic Surgery

Before and after Blepharoplasty in Palo Alto at Hessler Plastic Surgery

Before and after Blepharoplasty in the Bay Area at Hessler Plastic Surgery

Blepharoplasty results in San Jose at Hessler Plastic Surgery

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Why get eyelid surgery?

When drooping or puffy skin around the eyes occurs with age, it can do three things: it can partially obscure your eyes, which are a very important feature; it can make you appear angry, tired, or sad; and it can obstruct your vision.

For these reasons, many individuals choose to undergo blepharoplasty. If you’re experiencing any of these issues, we invite you to visit our practice, where Dr. Hessler will provide an in-depth examination and discuss the cause of your eye concerns, and if eyelid surgery in San Jose is right for you.

Am I a candidate for blepharoplasty?

When drooping or puffy skin around the eyes occurs with age, it can do three things:

Partially obscure your eyes, which are a very important feature
Make you appear angry, tired, or sad
Obstruct your vision.

For these reasons, many individuals choose to undergo blepharoplasty in San Jose & Palo Alto. If you’re experiencing any of these issues, we invite you to visit our practice, where Dr. Hessler will provide an in-depth examination and discuss the cause of your eye concerns and how eyelid surgery can help you.

The best candidates for eyelid surgery are persons who:

Are in good general health.
Are nonsmokers (or are willing to cease smoking before and after the procedure).
Would like a refreshed, rejuvenated, and more youthful appearance to their eyes.
Are typically between the ages of about 45 and 65.

Blepharoplasty procedure details

Blepharoplasty is performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with mild sedation. It generally takes 1 to 2 hours. For upper eyelid surgery, Dr. Hessler will make incisions in the natural creases of the eyelids, through which she will either remove or re-adjust fat, excise excess skin, and tighten the muscles. The incisions will then be gently closed with sutures. For lower eyelid surgery, Dr. Hessler will make incisions under the eyelash line or inside the lower eyelids. With lower blepharoplasty, no skin is removed; however, some patients undergo a fat transfer to add volume here. This addresses under-eye bags. Upper and lower eyelid surgery in San Jose can be done as stand-alone procedures respectively, or they can be done together for optimal results.

What can I expect from my eyelid surgery consultation?

The consultation process is a time for the patient and the doctor to get to know one another. Dr. Hessler will listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and perform an in-depth physical examination and evaluation of your medical history. She will go over before and after photographs and explain the different technical approaches available for the procedure.

Using this information, along with her experience, skill, and sense of artistry, Dr. Hessler will create a personalized treatment plan for resolving your cosmetic issues and restoring an elegant, naturally beautiful appearance in the upper face.

How to prepare for a blepharoplasty in San Jose

Before your procedure, stop taking any medications that thin the blood, such as aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs and medications or herbal supplements and vitamins. Any blood-thinning effects could interfere with healing after your procedure.

If you smoke, stop smoking at least two weeks prior to your surgery.

Arrange for a close friend or family member to drive you home after your procedure and provide help and care for a day following your blepharoplasty in San Jose.

Eyelid Surgery Recovery

During recovery from eyelid surgery in Palo Alto and San Jose, patients may experience minimal pain, blurred vision, redness, tired eyes, swelling, dry eyes, and/or bruising. These side effects are not dangerous, and will subside quickly.

If you wear contact lenses, you will not be able to wear them for two weeks. We recommend a week off of work and regular activities. After one week, your sutures can be removed.

Eyelid Surgery Results?

While results may vary from patient to patient, most clients can expect to see a brighter, more open, and alert eye appearance after blepharoplasty. The surgery will correct sagging skin and help create a more youthful, inviting facial expression overall. Friends, family members, and co-workers may notice how well-rested and vibrant you look, but they may not necessarily be able to tell that you’ve undergone a cosmetic procedure. This is thanks to Dr. Hessler’s talent for nuanced, natural-looking outcomes. While minor swelling may initially obscure your results, you’ll be able to see your full changes within 4-6 weeks.

What are the risks involved with blepharoplasty?

By practicing a meticulously detailed and conservative approach, Dr. Hessler is able to minimize the risk of complications while reducing downtime and scarring. However, every surgical procedure does come with inherent risks. These include infection, bleeding, irritation, muscle or nerve injury, skin discoloration, temporarily blurred vision, and anesthesia risks. Dr. Hessler will go over all risks and benefits of a blepharoplasty in San Jose during your private consultation.

Hessler Plastic Surgery for Blepharoplasty

If you’re interested in blepharoplasty in Palo Alto, San Jose, or the Bay Area, Hessler Plastic Surgery is the perfect place for you. Eyelid surgery is one of our top procedures, and is also one of Dr. Jill Hessler’s areas of focus. We are a comprehensive center of leaders in the industry, and a trusted resource nationally. Dr. Hessler is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon with over a decade in practice, and she currently holds a position as Chair of the Women on the Facial Plastic Surgery committee at the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Under her guidance at Hessler Plastic Surgery, you will experience a team of highly trained registered nurses and staff who make it their goal to take excellent care of you, from your first consultation to your last follow-up. To learn more or schedule a consultation, please contact us.

Blepharoplasty FAQs:

What procedures can I combine with eyelid surgery?

For a more comprehensive approach to full facial rejuvenation, eyelid surgery in San Jose can be done in combination with other facial plastic surgeries including a facelift or neck lift or even rhinoplasty. Patients who would like more improvement specifically in the upper face and forehead region will benefit from eyelid surgery in conjunction with a brow lift.

How much does blepharoplasty cost?

A Blepharoplasty in San Jose is priced during a personal consultation with your plastic surgeon and we would be happy to provide you an exact cost. The exact cost will depend on the extent of surgical work required and whether the upper and lower eyelid are both being operated on.

Is blepharoplasty covered by insurance?

Blepharoplasty done for cosmetic reasons is not covered by insurance, but when the procedure is indicated for health reasons, some or all of the surgery may be covered. Since it is done purely for cosmetic reasons, lower eyelid surgery is rarely covered by insurance but upper eyelid surgery may be covered, providing it is deemed medically necessary. We can assist you in determining how likely coverage might be.

What is my healing time?

There will be swelling and bruising that you can expect to dissipate within a few days of your surgery, and ultimately fade within a couple of weeks.

Is it common to need a revision for eyelid surgery?

This procedure is commonly done if the original surgeon botched the initial surgery. With a board-certified, experienced surgeon, the chances of this happening are greatly reduced. When done correctly, upper eyelid surgery lasts for seven years or much longer, while lower eyelid surgery is generally considered permanent.

When will my stitches be removed?

If dissolvable stitches were used, they will dissolve naturally on their own. If permanent stitches were used, they are generally removed within four days to a week.

When can I return to work?

While recovery time varies from person to person, within approximately one week, most patients’ swelling and bruising has subsided enough to the point where they feel comfortable enough to return to work.