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- The Blepharoplasty Procedure In Bethesda
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Whether you have always been dissatisfied with the shape or appearance of your eyes, or whether you have noticed changes as a result of the natural aging process, a blepharoplasty can improve the aesthetic appearance of the upper and/or lower eyelids. Our office is located just 11 minutes away from Potomac and 10 minutes away from North Bethesda & Rockville, Maryland.
What is Blepharoplasty?
This facial plastic surgery procedure can correct drooping upper lids and puffy bags below the eyes by removing the appropriate amount of fat and excess skin. This procedure usually takes approximately one to two hours.
Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is a surgical procedure designed to correct minor aesthetic defects of the eyes, improve facial symmetry and eyelid definition, and reverse unpleasant changes to the eyes as a result of the natural aging process.
Because of the central role the eyes play in the beauty and harmony of the face, as well as in our interactions and communications with the outside world, even the smallest changes to the eyes can dramatically improve our overall appearance.
Recovery:
10-14 days
Cost:
Starts at 5K
Results:
3-6 months
When performed by skilled plastic surgeons, such as Dr. Franklin Richards, Dr. Dean Jabs, and Dr. Keshav Magge, blepharoplasty surgery will enhance the bright, youthful appearance of your eyes, restore a refreshed, rejuvenated look to your entire face, and give you a naturally alert, well-rested, and gorgeous appearance.
Some people choose to undergo blepharoplasty eyelid surgery on its own, but eyelid surgery is also a natural part of facial rejuvenation through comprehensive plastic surgery techniques. When combined with procedures like a facelift, neck lift, or brow lift, the results of an upper or lower eyelid lift are compounded.
At Cosmetic Surgery Associates, located in Bethesda, MD, our board-certified plastic surgeons all have the artistic vision, surgical experience, and technical skills to ensure that your blepharoplasty will harmonize with your facial contours and subtly enhance your natural beauty!
- Eliminating excess skin and wrinkles of the upper and lower eyelids
- Eliminating bags and puffiness under the eyes
- Correcting lower eyelid droopiness that causes excess white to show below the iris of the eye
When performed by skilled plastic surgeons such as Dr. Franklin Richards, Dr. Dean Jabs, and Dr. Keshav Magge, blepharoplasty surgery will enhance the bright, youthful appearance of your eyes, restore a refreshed, rejuvenated look to your entire face, and give you a naturally alert, well-rested, and gorgeous appearance.
Some people choose to undergo blepharoplasty on its own, but eyelid surgery is also a natural part of facial rejuvenation through comprehensive plastic surgery techniques. When combines with procedures like a facelift, neck lift, or brow lift, the results of an upper or lower eyelid lift are compounded.
At Cosmetic Surgery Associates, located in Bethesda, MD, our board-certified plastic surgeons all have the artistic vision, surgical experience, and technical skills to ensure that your blepharoplasty will harmonize with your facial contours and subtly enhance your natural beauty!
Ideal Candidates
Candidates for a blepharoplasty procedure commonly experience drooping eyelid skin, bags under the eyes, or fat deposits.
While some want to undergo this surgery for physical hindrances such as blocked vision, others may simply wish for an aesthetic enhancement. These patients are generally 35 years or older and do not have any serious eye conditions. To find out if you are a good candidate for eyelid surgery, please schedule a consultation, and one of our expert surgeons will gladly assess your candidacy.
Types of Blepharoplasty
- Upper Eyelid Lift (Upper Blepharoplasty): Corrects drooping or sagging upper eyelids by gently repositioning or removing excess fat, and removing excess eyelid skin. This procedure utilizes an incision made within the natural eyelid crease of the upper eyelid.
- Lower Eyelid Lift (Lower Blepharoplasty): Improves aesthetic problems of the lower eyelid by tightening excess skin and muscle and removing fat in the lower eyelid area through an incision made just below the lower lash line.
- Transconjunctival Lower Eyelid Surgery: This surgical technique improves lower eyelid cosmetic issues as well, but utilizes an incision behind the lower eyelid, leaving no visible scar.
Consultation
At your initial consultation with either Dr. Jabs, Dr. Richards, or Dr. Magge, your doctor will conduct a thorough examination of your facial structure and discuss with you your specific concerns, medical history, and aesthetic goals in order to determine which type or types of eyelid surgery is most appropriate to achieve the results you are seeking. This consultation will enable them to develop a personalized surgical plan that is carefully tailored to ensure that the results of your surgery harmonize with and enhance your existing facial features. Any questions you may have will gladly be answered at this time.
Preparing for Your Eyelid Surgery
Prior to your blepharoplasty procedure, your doctor may ask you to complete other medical tests specific to your case. Refrain from smoking and taking anti-inflammatory medications 2-3 weeks leading up to your surgery date, since these increase the amount of bleeding. Your doctor may prescribe you pain medication, which you will need to pick up before your procedure so you have them readily available afterward. Patients generally take 3-5 days off from work to ensure ample rest for proper healing.
You will not be able to drive afterward, so please arrange for a friend or family member to take you home. We highly recommend having this person spend the first night of recovery with you. Bethesda eyelid surgery patients should have enough ice packs, gauze, and washcloths stocked to last them through the entirety of their recovery. On the day of surgery, you should wear something that wraps around you as opposed to a pullover; you do not want to accidentally brush against your eyes.
The Blepharoplasty Procedure in Bethesda
Depending on your specific aesthetic concerns and goals, your blepharoplasty will address the upper lid, lower eyelids, or both.
During the procedure, which usually lasts between one and two hours, the surgeon will remove and/or carefully reposition select areas of fat and skin while tightening the adjoining musculature surrounding the eyelids.
This is most commonly done under local anesthesia with oral sedation; however, it can be performed under general anesthesia if desired. The result of these precise adjustments will be to enhance eyelid definition and symmetry. Your surgeon will ensure that all incisions are well-concealed by the natural shape of the eye to avoid visible scarring.
Watch our video of Dr. Jabs performing an upper and lower blepharoplasty.
Recovery
Recovery from blepharoplasty usually requires a week of downtime. After surgery, it is critical to avoid exposure to the sun. You’ll want to wear darkly-tinted sunglasses until healing is complete. Common side effects of eyelid surgery include bruising, irritation, swelling, and dry eyes; these side effects are usually mild and temporary and can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications, cold compresses, and ointments. You will most likely feel ready to go out in public and/or back to work in a week.
Schedule an Eyelid Surgery Consultation
If you have been considering blepharoplasty, we encourage you to set up a one-on-one consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons to determine if you would be a good candidate for the procedure. Our office is located just 2 miles away from North Bethesda and 5 miles away from Potomac & Rockville. Call or contact us online to get the conversation started today.
Eyelid Surgery FAQs
Can Botox lift droopy eyelids?
Can droopy eyelids cause blurred vision?
Can I sleep on my side after eyelid surgery?
Can you get rid of hooded eyelids?
Can you go blind from blepharoplasty?
Does eyelid surgery leave scars?
How can I reduce eyelids?
How do you fix droopy eyelids?
How do you reduce bruising after eyelid surgery?
How is eyelid surgery performed?
How is upper eyelid surgery done?
How is upper eyelid surgery performed?
How long after blepharoplasty do you see results?
How long are eyes blurry after blepharoplasty?
How long does droopy eyelid surgery last?
How long does eyelid surgery take?
How long does it take for lower blepharoplasty scars to heal?
How long does it take to heal from upper eyelid surgery?
How long does plasma skin tightening last?
How long does upper eyelid surgery take?
Is drooping eyelid surgery covered by insurance?
Is eyelid surgery painful?
Is eyelid surgery safe?
Is plasma skin tightening painful?
What are the risks of eyelid surgery?
What can I expect after eyelid surgery?
Why are my eyelids hooded?
Keshav Magge, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Honored as a Top Doctor by Bethesda Magazine and Washingtonian in both 2024 and 2025, Dr. Magge is recognized for his exceptional surgical skill, artistic precision, and patient-centered approach. A leading plastic surgeon in Bethesda, Maryland, he completed a fellowship in Craniofacial and Pediatric Plastic Surgery at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he gained advanced expertise in facial rejuvenation and aesthetic surgery innovations.
Meet Dr. Magge
A. Dean Jabs, MD, PhD, FACS
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Jabs is an award-winning, board-certified plastic surgeon recognized nationally for his expertise in creating natural-looking results and his warm, compassionate approach to patient care. Trained in NY at Columbia University, he served in the US Army and has special expertise in facial rejuvenation. He has over 35 years of experience and has consistently been voted a top plastic surgeon by Washingtonian and Bethesda magazine.
Meet Dr. Jabs
Franklin D. Richards, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Richards has been recognized as a Top Doctor by several prestigious organizations, including Castle Connolly, Consumers’ Research Council of America, and Washingtonian magazine. A leading plastic surgeon in Bethesda, Maryland, Dr. Richards is the past Chief of Plastic Surgery at Johns Hopkins Suburban Hospital. His expertise is in achieving natural results in facelift and eyelid surgery, with additional interests in cosmetic surgery of the breast and abdomen.
Meet Dr. Richards
Complementary Procedures
Botox®
While blepharoplasty can make your eyes appear more youthful, it does not address all eye wrinkles. Botox is an FDA-approved minimally invasive injectable that can be used to diminish frown lines and crow’s feet. Botox is injected into the facial muscles that lie below the wrinkled skin to temporarily paralyze them. By doing so, the muscles do not contract and wrinkles are diminished, leading to a smoother appearance.
Brow Lift
Also known as a forehead lift, a brow lift is a procedure that raises low-sitting brows to a youthful position. When you raise the eyebrows, forehead wrinkles are reduced and the upper eyelids are raised as well, both improving vision and cosmetically enhancing the eyes. Blepharoplasty can raise the upper eyelids, but a brow lift procedure is a great alternative for those who have sagging upper eyelids as well as low-sitting eyebrows. A brow lift can be performed at the same time as a blepharoplasty.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing is an excellent choice for those who do not need a surgical procedure, but rather a more refreshed look. This non-surgical alternative addresses acne scars, wrinkles, dark circles, and blemishes by removing the damaged top layer of skin. Laser skin resurfacing acts as a pick-me-up to reveal glowing, radiant skin.
The staff was amazing and made me feel comfortable every step of the way.
Get it DONE! The staff was amazing and made me feel comfortable every step of the way. My results are amazing, and I conquered the biggest hurdle in this journey - picking the correct Doctor and team. No regrets. Thank you, CSA.
– verified patient
I have been going to CSA for over a year, and it’s always such a nice visit.
I have been going to CSA for over a year, and it's always such a nice visit. Super professional, and I always feel taken care of.
– verified patient
I AM SO HAPPY I FOUND COSMETIC SURGERY ASSOCIATES.
I had such an amazing overall experience at Cosmetic Surgery Associates. The staff is very pleasant. I had my first invasive cosmetic procedure done back in September, and the final results are amazing. I LOVE IT. I'm so much happier with my body now. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Prior to my surgery, I had been thinking about this for a while, and I'm so happy I made the decision to go through with it. I AM SO HAPPY I FOUND COSMETIC SURGERY ASSOCIATES. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
– verified patient
Their equipment, skill level, and expertise are superb.
This practice is truly outstanding! Their equipment, skill level, and expertise are superb. The staff is extremely friendly, kind, and professional; they make you feel comfortable as soon as you walk in the door.
– verified patient
Every single person in their office makes you feel so welcomed and comfortable the moment you step into the office.
Every single person in their office makes you feel so welcomed and comfortable the moment you step into the office. The day of my surgery, the staff took amazing care of me and went above and beyond to calm my nerves, talk me through it, and made it such a great experience. I highly recommend this office. I can't thank them enough for all that they did for me!
– verified patient
My experience there was beyond 5 stars.
My experience there was beyond 5 stars. From taking the appointment to post surgery. Even now after 10 months, the follow ups are outstanding. The whole staff took great care of me and the results are what I expected. Thank you for everything. Don't think twice and use this clinic if you want best in class service and the best result.
– verified patient
All of the staff were highly knowledgeable, and I received consistent direction and guidance from all of the staff.
Literally every staff member I interacted with from the front desk down to the surgical team gave stellar customer service and truly made me feel comfortable. My sister even felt the warm energy from the staff after meeting them the morning of surgery. All of the staff were highly knowledgeable, and I received consistent direction and guidance from all of the staff. I would highly recommend Cosmetic Surgery Associates to anyone seeking a cosmetic procedure!
– verified patient
I can’t stress enough how great this whole experience has been.
I can't stress enough how great this whole experience has been. Not only did he make me feel comfortable in my body, but 10x more confident. His work is truly beautiful. 100% recommend!!
– verified patient
I feel very comfortable and look better in my clothes.
The staff are professional, caring, and pay attention to detail. Almost 10 months post op. The results exceeded my expectations. I feel very comfortable and look better in my clothes. I'm so grateful. I highly recommend this practice.
– verified patient
The staff was wonderful, respectful, accommodating, and very knowledgeable!
The staff was wonderful, respectful, accommodating, and very knowledgeable! The facility was very clean and one of the staff members helped me work the coffee machine for a fresh cup of coffee!
– verified patient
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