How many times can you get eyelid surgery?

Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, is extremely popular amongst patients with sagging eyelids. As you grow older, various factors make your eyelids droop downwards, giving you an old, tired, or grumpy appearance. In some cases, the sagging eyelids can also restrict your vision. Eyelid surgery lifts the region and restores youthful contours, allowing you to feel and look youthful.

 However, addressing the root cause of sagging eyelids is challenging—you must find a surgeon who accurately identifies and treats the primary reason for the sagging. Patients who get eyelid lifts from less experienced surgeons often need to repeat the procedure twice or thrice, with each procedure addressing another potential cause until they find the desired results.

 There is no definitive upper limit on the number of times you can get eyelid surgery. If you visit a reputable and reliable surgeon, such as Dr. Nadeau, you may only need one surgery to address all your concerns. With that, your eyes should look youthful for a decade, following which you can get another surgery. However, if you don’t consult the right surgeon, you may need multiple surgeries.

 Below, we address the root causes of eyelid droopiness and the reasons you may need additional eyelid surgeries.

 What causes your eyelids to sag?

Your eyelids may sag for several reasons, each root cause necessitating a different procedure or technique. The key lies in finding a surgeon that correctly identifies and corrects the underlying cause of sagging eyelids. The following are potential causes for drooping eyelids:

• The nerves controlling your eyelid muscles are damaged due to injuries or muscle weakness. As such, the muscles responsible for raising your eyelids malfunction, and your eyelids droop down.
• The skin and muscles around the eyelids may weaken with age, leading to sagging eyelids.
• Excess loose skin around the upper eyelids can lead to sagging.
• Sagging brows (necessitating a brow lift) can give the illusion of sagging eyelids.

 What are the reasons for persistent sagging after an eyelid lift?

Inexperienced surgeons often fail to address the root cause of sagging eyelids or carry the procedure incorrectly. If you’re not satisfied with the results of your eyelid surgery, you may need a second or even third procedure to get it right. The following are some of the reasons for persistent sagging after an eyelid lift:

• Improper Incision: To correct sagging eyelids, it’s crucial to address the outer eyelids with an incision extending upwards and outwards. Without the proper incision, your sagging eyelids may persist.
• Insufficient Skin Removal: The surgeon must strike the correct balance between removing excess skin, resulting in an overly-taut upper eyelid, and removing insufficient skin, resulting in persistent sagging.
• Incorrect Procedure: In some cases, the sagging eyelid happens because of a sagging brow rather than heavy upper eyelids. Removing the upper eyelid when you actually need a brow lift will lead to unsatisfactory results.

 Dr. Nadeau is a board-certified and award-winning plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Seattle with decades of experience with eyelid surgeries. She carefully assesses the root cause of your eyelid droopiness, sagging, or other concerns to curate the ideal personalized treatment plan. Schedule a consultation today!