Does the Muscle in Back of Lid Have to Be Cut During Eyelid Surgery?

Each person needs to be evaluated as in individual. Some only have extra skin in their eyelids to be removed. Some have extra fat,while others need their own extra "fat pads" moved to an adjacent area. Third, the muscles should be preserved but sometimes trimmed. The results should last 10 years or more and make you look more youthful and less tired. I suggest you seek out a specialist in facial surgery to determine what is best for you.

No, the muscle does not always need to be cut. Many plastic surgeons take only skin and leave the muscle untouched. It is very dependant on what you truly need. My personal take on the matter is that patients can request what parts of their face get operated on but they probably shouldn't request what techniques are used. Your surgeon should make the recommendation as to what is best but an educated discussion on the matter will clarify your comfort with your plastic surgeon as he should know a very clear and distinct answer to your question.
Best Wishes.

You may be talking about performing muscle surgery from a posterior (back of eyelid) approach in order to correct droopy eyelid, which is different than just excising skin from the front (blepharoplasty). They are each done for a separate reason, depending on the need: do you have excess skin or is it droopy or both. I routinely perform both procedures, if needed.