If You're Considering Eyelid Surgery...

Eyelid surgery (technically called blepharoplasty) is a procedure to remove fat--usually along with excess skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. Eyelid surgery can correct drooping upper lids and puffy bags below your eyes — features that make you look older and more tired than you feel, and may even interfere with your vision.

Eyelid surgery, however, won't remove crow's feet or other wrinkles, eliminate dark circles under your eyes, or lift sagging eyebrows. While it can add an upper eyelid crease to Asian eyes, it will not erase evidence of your ethnic heritage. Blepharoplasty can be done alone or in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures such as a facelift or browlift. To learn more, reach out to us at our Mount Airy office and set up your consultation with Dr. Cappuccino today.

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The Best Candidates for Eyelid Surgery

The best candidates for eyelid surgery are men and women who are physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in their expectations. Most are 35 or older, but if droopy, baggy eyelids run in your family, you may decide to have eyelid surgery at a younger age.

A few medical conditions make blepharoplasty riskier. They include thyroid problems such as hypothyroidism and Graves' disease, dry eye or lack of sufficient tears, high blood pressure or other circulatory disorders, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. A detached retina or glaucoma is also the reason for caution; check with your ophthalmologist before you have surgery.

All Surgery Carries Some Uncertainty and Risk

When eyelid surgery is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon like Dr. Cappuccino, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, there is always a possibility of complications, including infection or a reaction to the anesthesia. Dr. Cappuccino will also give you directions to significantly reduce these risks before surgery.

The minor complications that occasionally follow blepharoplasty include double or blurred vision for a few days; temporary swelling at the corner of the eyelids; and a slight asymmetry in healing or scarring. Tiny whiteheads may appear after your stitches are taken out; your surgeon can remove them easily with a very fine needle.

Following surgery, some patients may have difficulty closing their eyes when they sleep; in rare cases, this condition may be permanent. Another very rare complication is ectropion, a pulling down of the lower lids. In this case, further surgery may be required. Dr. Cappuccino relies on his extensive training to avoid these issues.

Facial Plastic Surgery with Dr. Guy Cappuccino

Dr. Guy Cappuccino speaks about facial plastic surgery and how it can combat the natural aging process. Dr. Cappuccino specializes in various facial plastic surgery procedures including facelift, neck lift, otoplasty, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, and more. Dr. Cappuccino strives to help patients enjoy what they see when they look in the mirror, helping them look like a younger version of themselves with beautiful results.

Dr. Cappuccino doing a facial consultation on a male patient

Planning Your Surgery

The initial consultation with Dr. Cappuccino is very important. He will go over your complete medical history, and will learn about any allergies you may have; if you're taking any vitamins, medications (prescription or over-the-counter), or other drugs; and if you smoke.

In this consultation, your vision and tear production will be assessed. You should also provide any relevant information from your ophthalmologist or the record of your most recent eye exam. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, be sure to bring them along.

You’ll carefully discuss your goals and expectations for this surgery, addressing whether to do all four eyelids or just the upper or lower ones, whether skin, as well as fat, will be removed, and whether any additional procedures are appropriate.

Dr. Cappuccino will go over his techniques and anesthesia uses, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed, and the risks and costs involved. Don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have, especially those regarding your expectations and concerns about the results.

Eyelid surgery in Maryland with Dr. Cappuccino is performed at either his private practice, an outpatient surgery center, or a hospital. It's usually done on an outpatient basis and often with local anesthesia only.

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What is the cost for eyelid surgery?

The cost of a Blepharoplasty ranges from $4,200 for upper surgery in the office and $9,100 for both upper and lower surgery in a surgical center.

Upper eyelid blepharoplasty in Maryland is most often performed in our office procedure suite under local anesthesia with oral sedation as required by individual patients. 

Lower blepharoplasty in Frederick requires general anesthesia and is performed at one of our affiliated outpatient surgical centers.

Our surgical estimates for blepharoplasty include:

  • Surgeon’s fee
  • Surgical facility costs
  • Anesthesia costs (for lower eyelids)

A more formal estimate can be given with a consultation by Dr. Cappuccino. 

The Surgery

Blepharoplasty usually takes one to three hours, depending on the extent of the surgery. If you're having all four eyelids done, Dr. Cappuccino will probably work on the upper lids first, then the lower ones. This is an outpatient procedure, so you’ll be able to return home on the day of your surgery, though you will need someone to drive you.

Upper eyelid surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia—which numbs the area around your eyes—along with oral sedatives if desired. You'll be awake during the surgery, but relaxed and insensitive to pain. (However, you may feel some tugging or occasional discomfort.) If Dr. Cappuccino decides to use general anesthesia, you'll sleep through the operation.

In a typical procedure, incisions are made following the natural lines of your eyelids; in the creases of your upper lids, and just below the lashes in the lower lids. The incisions may extend into the crow's feet or laugh lines at the outer corners of your eyes. Working through these incisions, Dr. Cappuccino will separate the skin from underlying fatty tissue and muscle. Excess fat will be removed, and any sagging skin and muscle will be trimmed away. The incisions are then closed with very fine sutures. If you have a pocket of fat beneath your lower eyelids but don't need to have any skin removed, transconjunctival blepharoplasty may be an option. In this procedure the incision is made inside your lower eyelid, leaving no visible scar. It is usually performed on younger patients with thicker, more elastic skin.

Blepharoplasty Before & After

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Patient Reveal - Blepharoplasty

Nicole's blepharoplasty and filler reveal

After Your Surgery

After surgery, Dr. Cappuccino will probably lubricate your eyes with ointment and may apply a bandage. Your eyelids may feel tight and sore as the anesthesia wears off, but you can control any discomfort with the pain medication prescribed by your surgeon. If you feel any severe pain, call your surgeon immediately.

Your surgeon will instruct you to keep your head elevated for several days and to use cold compresses to reduce swelling and bruising. (Bruising varies from person to person: it reaches its peak during the first week and generally lasts anywhere from two weeks to a month.) You'll be shown how to clean your eyes, which may be gummy for a week or so. 

For the first few weeks, you may also experience excessive tearing, sensitivity to light, and temporary changes in your eyesight, such as blurring or double vision. The stitches will be removed two days to a week after surgery. Once they're out, the swelling and discoloration around your eyes will gradually subside, and you'll start to look and feel much better.

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Getting Back to Normal

You should be able to read or watch television after two or three days. However, you won't be able to wear contact lenses for about two weeks, and even then they may feel uncomfortable for a while.

Most people feel ready to go out in public (and back to work) in a week to 10 days. By then, depending on your rate of healing and Dr. Cappuccino’s instructions, you'll probably be able to wear makeup to hide the bruising that remains. 

You may be sensitive to sunlight, wind, and other irritants for several weeks, so you should wear sunglasses and a special sunblock made for eyelids when you go out. You will also need to keep your activities to a minimum for three to five days. More strenuous activities have to be avoided for about three weeks. It's especially important to avoid activities that raise your blood pressure, including bending, lifting, and rigorous sports. You may also be told to avoid alcohol since it causes fluid retention.

Patient Testimonial

Rhonda loves her new eyes
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Enjoy the Bright, Clear Eyes You Deserve

If you’re feeling anxiety about the appearance of your upper or lower eyelids, or have noticed that excess fat and drooping skin have begun to impair your vision, you may very well be a perfect candidate for eyelid surgery with Dr. Guy Cappuccino. This procedure can restore your bright and alert appearance, and sometimes even take years off your look in the process.

Our office proudly serves patients in the Mount Airy and Frederick areas, as well as worldwide, so please don’t hesitate to reach out and set up your consultation when you’re ready to learn more about what our dedicated team can do for you.

Blepharoplasty FAQs:

How much does a full blepharoplasty cost?

How much does a lower or upper blepharoplasty cost?

How much does a full blepharoplasty cost?

For a combined lower and upper blepharoplasty by Dr. Cappuccino, the cost will be around $9,100. Of course, this may fluctuate depending on your consultation with the doctor.

How much does a lower or upper blepharoplasty cost?

The cost of an upper blepharoplasty, a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the upper eyelids, can vary depending on many factors. On average, the cost may be around $4,200. To get an accurate cost estimate, it is advisable to consult with Dr. Cappuccino so he can provide personalized pricing information. And the cost of a lower blepharoplasty, a surgical procedure to address under-eye bags and sagging, is around $6,200 by Dr. Cappuccino.

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