Blepharoplasty Seattle

Name: Blepharoplasty
Brand: Dr. James Ridgway
Rating: 4.9 (133 reviews)

Woman with long brown/blonde hair wearing a top with sheer sleeves

Our Seattle blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, is a specialized cosmetic procedure designed to address telltale signs of aging that can affect the delicate eye area. When performed correctly by one of the best plastic surgeons Seattle patients can trust, like Dr. Ridgway, the procedure will rejuvenate your eyes – taking years off your appearance and ensuring that you look as young and vibrant as you feel.

Benefits of Eyelid Surgery

The eyes can betray your age in an instant. In fact, drooping eyelids, wrinkles, and heavy bags can actually make you look older before your time. Fortunately, our blepharoplasty Bellevue treatment can give you back your youthful appearance by:

Elevating heavy and sagging eyelids.
Improving the appearance of wrinkles, lines, and crow’s feet.
Eliminating heavy bags and fatty deposits underneath the eyes.
Rediscovering your youthful and well-rested facial appearance.

Blepharoplasty Before & After

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An Overview of Eyelid Surgery

To begin your Bellevue eyelid surgery, Dr. Ridgway will either administer IV sedation or general anesthesia. During your initial consultation, he will review the pros and cons of each option and help you determine which one is in your best interest.

For the actual procedure, Dr. Ridgway will start by operating on your upper eyelids. He will make a precise incision in your upper eyelid’s natural crease, which allows him to access the excess tissue while also ensuring that any scars are well hidden. He will then remove unwanted fat and strengthen the underlying muscles, revealing open and more refreshed eyes. From there, Dr. Ridgway will work on your lower eyelids, creating an incision either inside the surface of your lower eyelid or below the lower lash line. Through that opening, he will eliminate unwanted fat to correct wrinkles, puffiness, and excess volume in the lower eye area. Once he has rejuvenated and refreshed both your lower and upper eyelids, Dr. Ridgway will close the incisions with care to ensure any scars are discreet and your final outcome is exceptionally natural.

Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty

Excess fat or skin around your upper eyelid can make you appear tired or older than you are and can also obstruct your vision. If you want to revitalize your appearance and restore a youthful glow, it may be time to consider upper eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty. The cosmetic procedure refreshes the eyelid and surrounding area by removing excess skin and tightening the underlying muscle.

During the procedure, the incision is placed in the natural fold of the eyelid so that the incision line is hidden within the eye’s natural crease. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and is a fairly quick and simple surgery. Fat deposits can be moved or repositioned for a more flattering look, muscles are tightened and secured, and excess skin is trimmed before closing the incisions. They will be closed with either sutures or medical-grade glue. The procedure involves only mild pain or swelling, which will quickly dissipate. An upper eyelid lift is a simple procedure and is often combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures like a lower eyelid lift or treatments with dermal fillers to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Most patients can resume once the incision has healed, your eyes will look brighter, alert, and more youthful – without appearing unnatural or pulled. Dr. James Ridgway is experienced and talented in performing upper eyelid surgery, and his Bellevue clinic is known for providing personal, quality patient care.

Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty

The delicate skin beneath the eye can wrinkle or sag over time, causing unflattering undereye bags that can make you appear old and tired. As your eyes are a central feature of your face, the bags and discoloration have a negative impact on your overall appearance. Lower eyelid blepharoplasty, a lower eyelid lift, is a procedure to reduce sagging skin and restore a more youthful appearance. The delicate procedure must be performed with great care and skill so the results appear natural, fresh, and appealing rather than pulled.

There are two approaches to incisions in lower eyelid surgery. One, called the transconjunctival approach, uses an incision on the inside of the eyelid to access the fat deposits. This procedure promotes faster healing. Another method uses a small incision on the outside of the eye near the lash line to eliminate excess skin. The incision will be placed near a natural crease so it is hidden and invisible. This procedure may be appropriate for patients who have excess skin and fatty deposits in the undereye area. These are out-patient procedures and do not require an overnight stay. As with any surgery, avoid any strenuous activities for a few weeks to help promote faster healing.

If you have wrinkles or excess skin around your upper cheeks or nose, the lower lid blepharoplasty can be paired with a mid-face lift to rejuvenate your appearance and give you a brighter, more youthful look. Dr. Ridgway is a plastic surgeon in Bellevue who is admired for his talents, precise surgical techniques, and ability to produce eyelid surgery results that appear natural.

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What to Expect During Recovery

Immediately after your procedure, you will be sent home to begin the healing process. During the initial recovery period, it’s normal to experience some pain, though Dr. Ridgway will make sure you have pain medication to help manage any discomfort. For the first few days, you will be advised to apply cold compresses and keep your head elevated to minimize bruising and swelling.

Though each patient is unique, most of our clients are ready to resume work and their normal daily routines within ten days. However, it’s important to continue to avoid any strenuous activity or exercise for a full five weeks to ensure an optimal healing process. Once your recovery is complete, you can expect to see a bright, refreshed, and youthful expression when you look in the mirror. And because Dr. Ridgway is committed to only using the most advanced surgical techniques, you can also expect your youthful results to endure for at least a decade.

Are You a Candidate for Eyelid Surgery?

Dr. Ridgway is deeply committed to personalized patient care. As such, he determines candidacy for all of his patients on an individual basis after carefully evaluating the cosmetic issues and signs of aging that concern them most. With that said, almost anyone who wants to refresh and rejuvenate aging eyes can be considered a candidate as long as they:

Are a non-smoker and in good general health.
Are without a life-threatening illness, serious eye conditions, or medical conditions that may impair healing.
Possess realistic expectations for what eyelid surgery can accomplish.

Though these guidelines should give you an idea of who can benefit from among the best blepharoplasty Bellevue has to offer, the only way to know for sure if you are an ideal candidate is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ridgway today. During that appointment, he will walk you through the procedure and help you determine if it is in your best interest.

Blepharoplasty FAQ

What is blepharoplasty?

Am I a good candidate for blepharoplasty?

How is the surgery performed?

How long does an eyelid lift take?

How long is recovery?

Will I have visible scars after healing?

What results can I expect?

Why should I choose Dr. Ridgway for my eyelid surgery?

What is blepharoplasty?

Our Seattle blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure used to reduce the appearance of sagging skin, excess fat, or water retention in the eye area. The procedure can be performed on either the top or bottom eyelid, or both in one surgery. The procedure can also be combined with other facial rejuvenation treatments to create a fresher, more youthful appearance.

Am I a good candidate for blepharoplasty?

The surgical procedure is quick and will not require a long recovery time, so if you are unhappy with the sagging appearance of your eyelids, or have dark, puffy bags under your eyes no matter how much sleep you have had, you are likely a good candidate for an eye lift. You should be in generally good health and free of any medical conditions that could affect the healing process. As wrinkles and sagging skin are common signs of aging skin, most patients are between forty and sixty, but people as young as eighteen can undergo eyelid surgery as a facial enhancement.

How is the surgery performed?

When performed on the upper eyelid, the incision is placed in the crease of the eyelid. Then, excess skin and fat can be removed and the muscles tightened if necessary. If you are having surgery on your lower eyelid, a personal evaluation of your condition will reveal which surgical procedure will produce the look you want. For some patients, excess skin must be removed, while for others, fatty deposits or excess tissue may be the problem. Whatever type of eyelid lift you need, you can be confident that the least invasive technique will be used.

How long does an eyelid lift take?

An eyelid lift, whether upper or lower, can be performed on an outpatient basis. The procedure itself usually takes one to three hours depending on the extent of the condition, and your desired results. As both surgeries are outpatient procedures, an overnight stay at the office is not necessary, and you can then rest and recover in the comfort of your own home.

How long is recovery?

Recovery time varies, with many patients returning to work after five days, while others require up to two weeks to heal. Pain and swelling are minimal, and you will be prescribed pain medication to help you stay comfortable. Applying cold packs to the area and ensuring your head is elevated while sleeping helps to speed healing.

Will I have visible scars after healing?

Dr. Ridgway takes care to place incisions in discreet locations to minimize visible scarring. Upper eyelid incisions placed along the natural eyelid crease usually only result in a very fine line that cannot be seen by others. Lower eyelid incisions on the outside of the eye are also tiny and hidden, while incisions inside the eyelid do not leave a visible scar.

What results can I expect?

We are pleased that our patients are extremely happy with the results of an eyelid lift. This procedure can dramatically improve your facial appearance, leaving you looking younger, fresher, and rejuvenated. For those with extensive eyelid sagging, the problem of obstructed vision will be fully resolved – while giving your eyes a more youthful look.

Why should I choose Dr. Ridgway for my eyelid surgery?

Dr. James Ridgway is a double board-certified plastic surgeon in Seattle who is known for his exceptional attention to detail and his commitment to achieving natural-looking results. He is skilled in reconstructive facial surgery and dedicated to sharing his skill in humanitarian efforts. His discerning eye and precise surgical techniques are critical in a delicate blepharoplasty procedure. Contact the friendly staff in our eyelid surgery clinic in Bellevue to schedule an initial consultation.

Schedule a Consultation

If wrinkles, sagging skin, and drooping eyelids are causing you to look older before your time, we encourage you to schedule a consultation for among the best eyelid surgery Bellevue has to offer with Dr. James M. Ridgway. During your private meeting, he will carefully evaluate the signs of aging that concern you most before composing a custom treatment plan designed to restore your vibrant and youthful facial appearance.

Schedule a consultation