Blepharoplasty
Folsom, CA
Folsom, CA
Excess eyelid skin, puffiness, or droopy eyelids can leave you looking more tired or aged than you feel. Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery or an eyelid lift, is a precise facial plastic surgery procedure that restores a more youthful, rested appearance by removing or repositioning excess skin and fat from the upper or lower eyelids.
Blepharoplasty is especially helpful when skin laxity or excess fat leads to sagging upper lids, visible lower eyelid fat, or folds that impair your peripheral vision. The eyes are often the first place people look, and when that area is smoother, brighter, and more open, it creates a powerful shift in how you're perceived, and how you perceive yourself.
Fellowship-trained facial surgeon Dr. Scott Bueno tailors every blepharoplasty procedure to the patient’s unique anatomy and aesthetic goals, ensuring results that look smooth, balanced, and true to you.
Return to light activities in about two weeks
Dr. Bueno will discuss anesthesia with you, including sedation or local anesthesia, and determine the best option for your tolerance of pain and recovery
Improve sagging upper eyelids or reduce puffiness in the lower lids
The youthful effects of blepharoplasty surgery can last years
Discreet placement in the eyelid crease or inside the lid for minimal scarring
Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is a type of cosmetic surgery that improves the appearance and function of the upper and lower eyelids. Patients may seek blepharoplasty to rejuvenate the look of aging eyes or to correct sagging lids that obstruct vision. This outpatient procedure involves the surgical removal or repositioning of protruding fat bags, and occasionally removing excess skin as well.
Upper blepharoplasty (or upper eyelid lift) is commonly used to treat excess skin, puffiness from protruding fat, and droopy eyelids.
Lower blepharoplasty addresses under-eye bags, puffiness, and loose eyelid skin caused by aging or genetics.
Both procedures can be performed together if needed with a “quad blepharoplasty” to treat the upper and lower eyelids. This combination creates a fully refreshed look around the eyes. Patients who are seeking upper blepharoplasty are often also good candidates for a brow lift.
If you are considering blepharoplasty, your first step is a consultation. At this meeting, Dr. Bueno will listen to your goals, answer all of your questions, and help you decide whether blepharoplasty is a good fit for you. A personalized treatment plan is created based on your unique facial anatomy and concerns in the upper or lower eyelids.
Upper, lower, or combined blepharoplasty is performed as an outpatient surgical procedure under local anesthesia or sedation. For upper lid blepharoplasty, a fine incision is made within the eyelid crease, allowing Dr. Bueno to remove excess skin, adjust fat pads, and tighten the surrounding tissues.
In lower eyelid blepharoplasty, the incision may be made just below the lower lash line or within the eyelid itself—a technique called transconjunctival blepharoplasty—depending on your unique anatomy. Bulging fat bags are then removed or repositioned. This is often combined with ancillary procedures like facial fat grafting and skin resurfacing.
The process typically takes 1–2 hours, after which you will return home with a recovery plan in place.
Blepharoplasty is designed to correct a number of age-related and anatomical concerns, including:
For some patients, drooping brows (brow ptosis) are a contributing factor to heaviness in the upper eyelids. In these cases, Dr. Bueno may recommend combining blepharoplasty with a brow lift to provide better results.
Patients often say the blepharoplasty procedure helps them look like themselves again, just more rested and alert. Eyes appear brighter, more alert, and better defined.
Removing or repositioning puffiness and excess skin helps reduce that tired or heavy-lidded look, while also softening shadows or under-eye bags that can add years to the face.
Eyelid surgery can also improve symmetry between the eyes and clear the visual field when drooping lids obstruct sight. With Dr. Bueno’s emphasis on facial harmony and subtle, tailored outcomes, the results are designed to elevate your appearance, not alter it. The result is a natural-looking enhancement that helps you look rested, calm, and more confident in your everyday life.
If you’re bothered by excess skin causing your eyelids to droop or under-eye bags that make you look tired, you may be a good candidate for blepharoplasty. Ideal candidates are generally healthy, do not smoke, and have realistic expectations for surgery.
At your consultation, Dr. Bueno will review your medical history and goals. Patients with unmanaged conditions that could impact healing, or those with severe dry eye, may need to wait before undergoing surgery. If you're currently taking blood thinners or herbal supplements, you may need to pause them prior to your surgical procedure to reduce the risk of bruising or other possible complications. Dr. Bueno will guide you at each step, ensuring that cosmetic eyelid surgery is a safe and effective option for you.
After blepharoplasty surgery, most patients experience swelling and mild bruising for 7–10 days. You’ll be given detailed aftercare instructions, including how to keep the surgical site clean and when to resume normal activities. Ice packs and cold compresses help ease discomfort in the early days. You will need to avoid makeup, contact lenses, and strenuous activity until cleared.
Dr. Bueno will check your healing at post-op visits and remain fully available to answer questions or provide extra support throughout your recovery. Most people return to work and social events in about two weeks. Final healing and resolution of swelling may take several weeks, but early improvements in the eye area are noticeable within days.
As swelling subsides, your final, refined results come into focus. This can mean less sagging skin, a more defined eye contour, a smoother transition from under-eye to cheek, and a brighter, more alert appearance. Many patients share that they no longer get comments about looking tired or worn out, and instead feel like their outward appearance finally matches how energetic and vibrant they actually feel.
These improvements are designed to look natural and last for many years. Practicing good skincare, daily sun protection, and a healthy lifestyle helps keep the eye area looking refreshed. Some patients also have periodic follow-up treatments like laser skin resurfacing to prolong the benefits of surgery.
Dr. Scott Bueno is a board-certified, fellowship-trained facial surgeon. With advanced training in oculoplastic surgery from Dr. Amerson Pegram, a top Nashville oculoplastic surgeon, he offers a refined, multidimensional approach to blepharoplasty procedures.
Every surgical plan is personalized, and every patient receives boutique-level attention. If you’re ready to explore blepharoplasty in Folsom, we welcome you to schedule a consultation and experience the difference that precision, artistry, and care can make.
Yes, blepharoplasty is another term for eyelid surgery. It is sometimes also called an eyelid lift. It can involve the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both, depending on your needs.
Most patients feel socially presentable within 10–14 days. Final healing may take several weeks as swelling and bruising resolve.
Transconjunctival blepharoplasty is a technique for performing lower blepharoplasty, where an incision is placed inside the lower eyelid to access and manipulate the protruded fat. If excess skin is also present, then a skin incision is sometimes made.
Yes. Combining blepharoplasty with a brow lift is very common and can provide a more comprehensive upper face rejuvenation.
Due to its elective nature, cosmetic eyelid surgery is not covered.
Eyelid surgery incisions are placed in natural folds, like the eyelid crease, or inside the lid. When blepharoplasty is performed by a qualified facial surgeon, scars are minimal and often become imperceptible over time.
You will need to stop blood thinners, herbal supplements, and smoking prior to surgery. Dr. Bueno will review your full medical history to ensure a safe procedure and proper healing.
Lower blepharoplasty can improve dark circles that are caused by shadowing or puffiness. However, pigmented discoloration may require other treatment options, such as skincare or skin resurfacing.
Upper blepharoplasty addresses excess upper eyelid skin, while lower blepharoplasty typically addresses protruding fat bags and sometimes excess eyelid skin as well. Because of the different indications, timing can be variable. The best age to have your blepharoplasty is when the appearance of your eyelids bothers you enough to want to have them corrected.
Dr. Bueno is a board-certified, fellowship-trained facial surgeon with advanced training in facial aesthetic surgery and oculoplastic surgery.
