Why Choose Dr. Durand for Your Eyelid Surgery?
Dr. Paul Durand is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with advanced training in facial aesthetics and facial rejuvenation. His background includes training at the Cleveland Clinic and a fellowship at the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute, where he learned advanced techniques in blepharoplasty, facelift procedures, and the art of facial balance.
His honest and thorough consultations are offered in English or Spanish, making him a top choice for patients all over the US and Latin America. Patients consistently describe results that help them look more rested, refreshed, and more like themselves again.
Dr. Paul D. Durand, MD
Board-Certified Plastic And Reconstructive Surgeon
Before & After Eyelid Surgery
Results from real Enso Plastic Surgery patients
What Can Blepharoplasty Address?
Your eyes are often considered the focal points of your face. They convey emotion and can be the first feature people notice during conversations. They’re also often one of the first areas to show signs of aging, with the development of loose skin, puffiness, or under-eye bags that make us look older than we are or perpetually tired.
Eyelid surgery can improve cosmetic concerns as well as functional issues like vision impairment, both caused by excess skin or fat around the eyes.
Here are some of the top issues Dr. Durand addresses with blepharoplasty:
- Upper eyelid heaviness: Loose or excess skin on the upper lids can lead to a hooded appearance, making you look tired or even affecting vision.
- Under-eye bags and puffiness: The fat pads beneath the eyes can become more prominent over time, making you look puffy.
- Loose lower eyelid skin: Skin loses elasticity as we age, making the lower eyelids look wrinkled and unsupported.
- Asymmetry around the eyes: It’s not uncommon for eyes to age at slightly different rates, affecting overall facial balance.
What to Expect: Procedure, Recovery & Results
Procedure
A blepharoplasty is performed under local anesthesia with sedation, taking between 1 and 3 hours to complete. It’s a customized procedure that can treat the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both. For details on each surgery, read the following section on this page.
Recovery
After a blepharoplasty, you can expect swelling, bruising, and a feeling of tightness for 1 to 2 weeks. The swelling can temporarily make the eyes look puffier before they begin to look better. Most patients return to work and social activities in 7 to 10 days, with final results taking shape over several weeks as swelling fully subsides.
Results
Depending on whether you receive an upper or lower blepharoplasty, expect to see open-looking upper lids, smoother contours under your eyes, and a subtle refreshed look.
Most patients enjoy their results for over 10 years, and although your eyes will continue to age naturally, the excess skin and repositioned/removed fat will not return to their previous state.
Upper Blepharoplasty vs. Lower Blepharoplasty
Upper blepharoplasty addresses heaviness and loose skin on the upper eyelids, while lower blepharoplasty focuses more on under eye puffiness, fat pads, and skin laxity.
Depending on your anatomy and goals, Dr. Durand may recommend upper blepharoplasty, lower blepharoplasty, or both.
Here’s how the two procedures differ:
Upper Blepharoplasty
During an upper blepharoplasty, Dr. Durand makes a tiny incision in the natural crease of your upper eyelid. He then carefully removes the excess skin and fat that’s causing a drooping look. The result is a more open-looking eye and a larger eyelid platform, which many patients love because it allows eye makeup to really pop. Upper blepharoplasty is also the solution for heavily hooded eyes that can make us look tired, and lead to potential vision impairment.
Lower Blepharoplasty
Lower eyelid surgery is designed to address puffiness and shadowing beneath the eyes, often the stereotypical signs of looking tired. Dr. Durand typically uses the transconjunctival technique, where the incision is made inside your eyelid, leaving no visible scar. This is best for patients with under-eye bags but minimal excess skin.
If both under-eye bags and excess skin are present, a subciliary lower blepharoplasty can be performed to treat both. In this case, the incision is placed right below the lower lash line, allowing for discreet scarring.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Blepharoplasty?
Eyelid surgery is a highly personalized procedure, but is a great option for patients who feel their eyes don’t reflect how youthful they feel.
Dr. Durand may consider you a good candidate if you:
- Have excess upper eyelid skin that hides the natural creases of your lids
- Have loose skin or hooding in the upper eyelid, potentially obstructing your vision
- Notice heavy bags or dark circles below your eyes
- Want natural-looking improvement that makes you appear younger, not like a different person
- Are looking for a long-term solution rather than relying on skincare or injectables
- Are in good overall health and have realistic expectations about what eyelid surgery can achieve
Blepharoplasty Q&A with Dr. Durand
What do you think is the biggest benefit of blepharoplasty?
Dr. Durand: The feedback I most commonly hear after a blepharoplasty is the immediate impact on self-confidence. Many patients come to me because they’re tired (no pun intended) of people asking if they got enough sleep. Aging is a gradual process, so sometimes patients don’t even realize how much their eyes have changed over the years. That’s part of why the results are so significant. Making such an important part of the face look younger and brighter is a benefit that truly makes a difference to people.
How do you avoid results that make people look surprised or too alert?
Dr. Durand: The surprised look is usually the result of the surgeon removing too much skin or pulling the skin too tight. I approach all my procedures conservatively, with natural-looking results being a top priority. For eyelid surgery, this may mean repositioning some of the fat instead of removing it all. This allows the eyes to look full, soft, and rested rather than hollow or startled.
Is there an age when people should start thinking about their eyelids?
Dr. Durand: There’s no magic number. Genetics play a huge role in aging, and this can be especially true around the eyes. Some patients in their 30s are predisposed to drooping lids and heavy bags. And others might reach their 60s before they notice looser skin. If you have concerns and think eyelid surgery can help, I think it’s always worth a consultation with a qualified surgeon.
Eyelid Surgery FAQs
Schedule Your Blepharoplasty Consultation
Whether your goals are aesthetic or functional, eyelid surgery can be a transformative procedure that improves self-confidence and reveals a younger-looking version of yourself.
Schedule a private consultation with Dr. Durand to see if eyelid surgery can address your concerns. Book online or call our Miami office at (305) 918-1750.
