How do you know when it's time for an upper mini bleph for the eyelid area? (Photo)

Hello and thank you for your question. A formal evaluation would be needed to determine the best treatment. There are both surgical and non-surgical options to correct this, depending on the situation.

For less significant upper eyelid skin excess or more mild improvement, there are nonsurgical treatments: Radiofrequency (Thermage or Venus Legacy/Viva), injectable fillers, and a Botox brow lift can help contour the eyebrows and lift the eyelid skin.

Surgery (browlift and/or upper blepharoplasty) is a great option for more significant improvement- for example if the hooded eyelids have more excess skin present.

Dr. Donald Groves is an expert facial plastic surgeon that I work with, who specializes in these types of procedures. It is important that if you are considering surgery that you go to someone who is well trained and very experienced with these delicate operations to get the best results. I suggest getting a consultation with an experienced cosmetic dermatologist and facial sculpting expert, or an aesthetic facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Groves; we are both located right here in Los Angeles.

Best,
Dr. Emer

Gorgeous photo! For the upper eyelids, its very difficult to assess via photo but the best way to tell is by pinching the upper eyelid (along the crease) while the lid is closed, to know the amount that could be removed with an upper eyelid lift. I recommend scheduling an in person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon for more info!

As a cosmetic, upper blepharoplasty is an elective procedure, it would be up to you to decide when the laxity or excess skin of your upper eyes bothers you enough that you would like to undergo a very simple removal of that skin under local anesthesia. You can rest assured the surgery is minimally invasive, the risks are very low and the recovery fast. Speak with a board certified plastic surgeon. Best wishes.

An upper blepharoplasty is needed when there is excess upper eyelid skin or fat. Your photograph is inadequate to assess whether you would benefit from an upper blepharoplasty.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Based on your photo, you appear to be young. Full upper eyelids is an attractive feature. With aging, the upper eyelid skin can lower, closer to the lash line, and that is typically the time that we will advise upper blepharoplasty surgery. I hope that this helps and thank you for your question. Sincerely, Dr Joseph

That is just marketing talk to get you to think that you are going to have something that is no big deal. Blepharoplasty is not a nothing surgery. It is real surgery. Blepharoplasty removes skin, muscle, and fat, which is to say that it is primarily a subtractive surgery. You issue is not excess skin, muscle and fat. No, your issue is bilateral upper eyelid ptosis. Your upper eyelids are heavy. You would likely benefit from an anterior levator resection ptosis surgery with an anchor blepharoplasty. There is really no substitute for a detailed, in person assessment. Don't put up with surgeons to pretend to be too busy to spend time with your answering your questions. If you are using a lash growth serum, please stop that immediately. It is harmful to the eyelids. Your eyes can be your best feature.

You can consider improvement with an upper blepharoplasty when there is redundant, lax skin on the upper lids. This can make the eyes appear heavy and hooded. It's not possible to tell from the provided photo if you are a candidate. We recommend that our patients use medical grade skin care products like Transform MD and wear sunscreen every day. When in the sun wear a hat and sunglasses with UV protection.

The one picture you presented is inadequate in order to make a decision about a blepharoplasty procedure. Please post more photographs from different angles that are in focus to see if your candidate for the procedure. An upper Blepharoplasty procedure involves removal of skin and fat to rejuvenate the upper eyelids. The procedure can be done under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure.

When the condition of your upper eyelids bothers you enough that you’re willing to have surgical intervention, you can begin to consult with plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, or oculoplastic surgeons in your area.
Having surgical intervention should have a clear indication with healthy risk to benefit ratios.
Just wanting to look better is usually not sufficient reason to have surgery.
I suggest you allow providers to make an assessment regarding your own candidacy.
Providers will have different standards in regards to the appropriate or not of having surgery.
Recognize there is a financial motive for some to lean towards surgery.
For that reason I always recommend people have multiple in person consultations before selecting a provider or contemplating scheduling any permanent irreversible facial aesthetic procedure.
Best under the picture included I don’t think you need surgical intervention.
Having surgery when you’re not a good candidate for it will generally lead to lower overall patient satisfaction with an increase chance of disappointment and potentially worse.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD