Upper blepharoplasty in Lima: upper-eyelid surgery

Upper blepharoplasty is the surgery that removes excess skin from the upper eyelid and, when indicated, a small amount of the orbicularis muscle or the herniated fat that makes the eyelid look puffy. Its goal is to correct a heavy or "hooded" eyelid (that fold of skin that drapes over the crease and sometimes over the lashes) and the tired look that comes with it.

Over the years, the skin of the upper eyelid loses firmness and the fat around the eye can bulge forward. The result is a gaze that looks heavy, tired or older than you feel. Upper blepharoplasty restores a more open eyelid and a more rested expression, without changing the identity of your gaze.

In some cases, when there is a lot of excess skin, that overhanging skin can reduce the superior visual field; the surgery then serves not only an aesthetic purpose but also a functional one. Dr. Geldres, plastic surgeon, assesses this case by case at the consultation.

It is one of the most requested facial procedures because it works on a small area with a visible impact: a well-planned operation rejuvenates the expression of the whole face. It is part of the procedures of our plastic surgery unit in Miraflores.

Upper blepharoplasty is a precise, delicate surgery performed on an outpatient basis. In broad terms, these are the steps:

• Marking. With the patient seated and awake, Dr. Geldres precisely marks the excess skin to be removed and draws the incision along the natural supratarsal crease (the eyelid's own fold).
• Anesthesia. Local anesthesia is applied to the eyelid, with or without light sedation depending on the case, so the procedure is comfortable.
• Incision. The incision follows that natural crease exactly. Because it sits within the fold, the resulting scar stays hidden in the crease of the eyelid and is very inconspicuous once healed.
• Removal. The strip of excess skin is removed and, only when indicated, a small amount of orbicularis muscle or herniated fat that bulges the eyelid. The work is always conservative: the aim is to open up the eye, not to hollow it.
• Closure. The incision is closed with very fine sutures, designed for clean healing.

It is a procedure of limited duration that, being outpatient, lets you go home the same day with your aftercare instructions. The exact technique — how much skin to remove, whether or not to address fat or muscle — is defined according to your anatomy during planning.

It all begins with a free evaluation consultation, which is the entry point to any surgery at Elyzea. It is not a sales appointment: it is the moment when Dr. Geldres, plastic surgeon, examines your eyelids, listens to what you would like to improve and determines which procedure — and to what extent — makes sense for you.

At the consultation it is common to cover:

• Examination of the eyelid, the position of the brow and the dynamics of your gaze, to distinguish between excess skin, brow descent and ptosis.
• Your medical history: medications, allergies, habits such as smoking and eye conditions (dry eye, for example) that are worth knowing before surgery.
• The proposed surgical plan, what is reasonable to expect and what the surgery does not do.
• The exact price for your case, the aftercare and the follow-up visits.

It is important to know that surgery is planned after this evaluation and is not booked online: only the free consultation can be scheduled directly. This ensures every surgery responds to a genuine medical indication rather than a decision made blindly. If you would prefer to understand the non-surgical alternatives first, you can review our aesthetic-medicine treatments.

Recovery from an upper blepharoplasty is often more manageable than many people imagine, although swelling and bruising are a normal part of the process. Everyone heals at their own pace; this is a general guide:

• First few days. Expect swelling and bruising around the eyes, along with a feeling of tightness. Cold compresses and sleeping with your head elevated help reduce the swelling.
• Around days 5 to 7. This is usually when the sutures are removed. From then on, many patients feel comfortable returning to social activities, sometimes with the help of sunglasses.
• One to two weeks. Most of the visible swelling and bruising fades during this period, though subtle swelling can linger a little longer.
• Aftercare. Strict sun protection of the scar, avoiding strenuous physical activity for a brief period, and following Dr. Geldres's instructions at the follow-ups.

The final result settles over weeks and even months, as the tissues finish healing and the scar matures. It is wise to plan the surgery with a reasonable margin before any important event.

Upper blepharoplasty is a common surgery and, in the hands of a plastic surgeon, has a favorable safety profile. Even so, no surgery is free of risk, and we believe knowing the risks is part of an informed decision. Among the possible ones, all uncommon, are:

• Prolonged swelling and bruising, or slight asymmetry between the two eyelids during healing.
• Temporary dry eye or irritation, watering or light sensitivity in the first days.
• Less favorable scarring than expected in skin types prone to it.
• General risks of any surgery, such as infection or bleeding, which are rare with proper aftercare.
• Transient difficulty fully closing the eyelid, which in the vast majority of cases resolves during recovery.

There are situations where it is best to postpone or reconsider surgery: uncontrolled eye disease, certain thyroid or clotting problems, active smoking or expectations the surgery cannot meet. Dr. Geldres reviews all of this at the consultation and will tell you honestly whether or not you are a candidate at this time.

Upper blepharoplasty is often performed alongside other procedures in the eye area, because rejuvenating the gaze rarely depends on a single gesture:

• Lower blepharoplasty. When there are also bags or excess skin beneath the eyes, both surgeries are usually combined in a single surgical session for a more harmonious result. Learn more on the lower blepharoplasty page.
• Brow or forehead procedures. If the true cause of the droopy look is the eyebrow, a brow procedure may be considered instead of — or in addition to — the blepharoplasty.
• Complementary aesthetic medicine. Once the eyelid has healed, various non-surgical treatments can support the result around the eyes. We always assess this individually.

Combining procedures can optimize recovery and the overall result, but only when properly indicated. It is Dr. Geldres who, at the consultation, will define whether a single procedure or a combination is right for you, and why.