Upper blepharoplasty
Removes excess skin and, when needed, a small amount of fat through an incision hidden in the natural crease of the upper lid. It opens the eye and can improve a visual field that overhanging skin has narrowed.
Model Face · Eye rejuvenation
Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
Heavy upper lids and puffy lower lids make you look tired even when you’re not. Eyelid surgery removes or repositions the excess so your eyes look rested and open while your expression stays yours.
- SurgicalPerformed by Dr. Khan
- About an hourConsultation fees are currently waived
- Sugar Land, TXServing Greater Houston
About the procedure
Eyelid lift surgery (blepharoplasty) treats the excess skin, loosened muscle and bulging fat that make the eye area look tired or older. On the upper lids, that usually means removing the hooding that sits on the lashes and, in some cases, obstructs peripheral vision. On the lower lids, it means reducing bags, smoothing the transition into the cheek and tightening lax skin.
Dr. Khan performs both cosmetic and functional eyelid surgery. At consultation she looks at the whole upper face, because a low brow can mimic heavy upper lids and lower-lid bags often sit beside hollowing that fat grafting or fillers may address better than removal. The plan follows what your anatomy actually shows.
What it addresses
- Excess upper-eyelid skin and hooding
- Upper-lid skin that interferes with peripheral vision
- Under-eye bags and puffiness
- Loose, wrinkled lower-eyelid skin
- A tired or heavy appearance that makeup no longer hides
- Difficulty applying eye makeup because of overhanging skin
What it doesn't do
- Blepharoplasty does not lift a low brow. If the brow is the real cause of hooding, a brow lift may be recommended instead of, or alongside, upper-lid surgery.
- It does not erase crow’s feet, dark circles caused by pigmentation or thin skin, or fine lines across the lid. Botox, skincare or resurfacing address those.
- It does not treat true drooping of the lid margin (ptosis) caused by a weak lifting muscle, which is a different repair.
The Empowered approach
How Dr. Khan approaches eyelid surgery
Her priority is preserving the shape and function of your eyes. The eyelid is delicate, and removing too much skin or fat is a mistake that is hard to undo, so she plans conservatively: enough to open the eye and smooth the lower lid without hollowing, rounding or changing the way your eyes close. Upper incisions sit in the natural crease, lower incisions just beneath the lash line or inside the lid.
Both cosmetic and functional concerns get evaluated. When overhanging skin appears to be affecting your vision, that is assessed and documented at consultation, and Renuvion skin tightening may be discussed for mild laxity when it fits the plan.
Who it may suit
You may be a candidate if…
- You have excess upper-lid skin, hooding or under-eye bags that bother you or affect your vision.
- You are in good general health, without uncontrolled eye conditions such as severe dry eye, glaucoma or a detached retina history that needs clearance first.
- You do not smoke, or are willing to stop before and after surgery.
- You want a refreshed, natural result rather than a visibly different eye shape.
- Dr. Khan confirms candidacy in person after examining lid skin, fat distribution, brow position and the health of your eyes.
Candidacy is confirmed at your consultation, after an examination and a review of your medical history.
What to expect
- 01
Consultation
About an hour with Dr. Khan to examine your eyelids and brow position, discuss any vision concerns, review upper, lower or four-lid options, and look at before-and-after photos. Bring a recent eye exam or glasses prescription if you have one.
- 02
Your plan
A written plan covering which lids are treated, the technique, anesthesia planning, pre-operative instructions and what to arrange at home. Pricing is reviewed with your plan.
- 03
Surgery day
Incisions are placed in the upper-lid crease, just below the lower lashes or inside the lower lid. Excess skin is removed and fat is removed or repositioned before closure with very fine sutures.
- 04
Recovery and follow-up
Cold compresses and keeping your head raised limit swelling in the first days. Sutures are typically removed at an early follow-up visit, and established surgical patients have a direct way to reach Dr. Khan after hours.
Recovery
Healing takes time, and it varies.
Swelling and bruising peak in the first week and ease over the second. Most patients return to desk work within about one to two weeks, often sooner for upper lids alone, and feel comfortable socially within two to three weeks once residual discoloration can be covered with makeup.
Discomfort is usually mild. You’ll avoid strenuous activity and anything that raises pressure around the eyes early on, with a gradual return to exercise over the following weeks as Dr. Khan clears it. Incision lines look pink at first and fade over several months as the final result settles.
Risks and limitations
What you should know before deciding.
Every surgery carries risk. These are the ones most relevant to this procedure; Dr. Khan reviews your personal risk profile and the alternatives with you before anything is scheduled.
- Temporary dry, irritated or watery eyes, or difficulty fully closing the lids while swelling resolves
- Asymmetry between the two sides, or more or less skin removed than ideal
- Visible scarring, usually subtle given the placement, but it varies with healing
- A pulled-down or rounded lower lid (ectropion or lid retraction), uncommon but may need revision
- Hematoma (a collection of blood), infection or delayed healing
- Vision changes, which are rare but serious and must be reported immediately
- Reactions to anesthesia
Before & after
Before & after results.
Before-and-after photographs for eyelid lift are not currently featured on this page. Explore the patient gallery to view available results, or ask to see cases like yours at your consultation.
Every photograph in the gallery is one of Dr. Khan's own patients, shared with consent. Individual results vary.
FAQ
Eyelid Lift questions
Every answer here is general information. Your own plan, risks and recovery are discussed in person at your consultation.
Can an eyelid lift improve my vision?
Upper eyelid surgery can improve the visual field when excess skin hangs over the lashes and blocks peripheral vision. Some patients don’t realize how much their sight has narrowed until after surgery. If vision obstruction is suspected, it is assessed and documented at consultation. When upper-lid surgery is performed for a documented functional reason, some insurance plans may contribute to the cost; the team can discuss what that process involves.
What’s the difference between upper and lower eyelid surgery?
Upper blepharoplasty removes the excess skin and fat that create hooding, through an incision in the natural crease. Recovery tends to be quicker. Lower blepharoplasty addresses bags, puffiness and loose skin, either through an incision just below the lash line or from inside the lid, and often involves repositioning fat rather than removing it. The lower lid is more delicate and tends to swell longer. Many patients treat both at once.
Will I have visible scars after eyelid surgery?
Upper-lid incisions sit in the natural crease and are hidden when the eyes are open. Lower-lid incisions placed just below the lash line usually heal to a fine line, and the transconjunctival approach leaves no incision on the outer skin at all. Scars look slightly pink at first and fade over the following months. Sun protection and following aftercare instructions help them settle well.
How long is recovery after an eyelid lift?
Swelling and bruising are most noticeable in the first week, with cold compresses and keeping your head raised doing most of the work. Sutures are usually removed at an early follow-up visit. Many patients are back at desk work within one to two weeks and comfortable in social settings within two to three weeks. Exercise returns gradually, and the final result becomes clear as the last swelling resolves over a few months.
Should I have a brow lift or an eyelid lift?
It depends on where the heaviness is coming from. If the brow has dropped, it pushes skin down onto the upper lid and an eyelid lift alone can leave the brow looking lower still. If the brow sits well and the excess is in the lid itself, blepharoplasty is the answer. Some patients need both. Dr. Khan evaluates brow position as part of every upper-lid consultation so the right procedure is chosen.
Related reading
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- Planning Your Recovery: A Practical Timeline for Surgical PatientsHow to plan time off, help at home, compression garments, staged activity, months of swelling and scar maturation, and when to call after surgery.
Request a consultation
Talk through eyelid lift with Dr. Khan.
Consultation fees are currently waived. Plan on about an hour with Dr. Khan, in person in Sugar Land or virtually, to talk through goals, candidacy and the approach that fits you.
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Call (281) 716-3224 · Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sugar Land, Texas · Virtual consultations available