In her stint as Golden Globes host in January, Nikki Glaser mostly played nice, but she couldn’t resist a poke at Hollywood’s worst-kept secret. “I love how meditating removes your eyelids,” she quipped in her monologue, in reference to the ever-more-popular eyelid-lift surgery. “Really convenient.” Glaser surely knew the joke would kill with the A-listers in the room, since a good chunk of them had likely undergone blepharoplasty, the official name for the industry’s cosmetic procedure du jour.
Such well-known personalities as Ali Wentworth and Catt Sadler have been open about having done it. Sadler, whose surgery (which also included a face lift) was performed by plastic surgeon Steve Kim, has been refreshingly forthcoming about her experience. “I’m thrilled with the results, it was easy, and I recommend it,” says the TV personality and host of the podcast Catt Sadler Now. “My eyes are now wide open, youthful, awake and doe-like. It wasn’t uncomfortable, and it healed quickly. After surgery I said to myself, ‘Gosh, I should have done that years ago.’ ”
Perhaps you’ve noticed one of the highest paid supermodels looking distinctly well rested, a suddenly more alert Oscar-winning action star or a voluptuous TV star whose eyes are no longer hooded.
“One of the first signs of looking much older than your age is hooded eyes,” says oculoplastic surgeon Guy Massry. Blepharoplasty can deliver a dramatic improvement to both the upper and lower eye areas in slightly less than two hours for a significantly more youthful look. “In the hands of a good surgeon, patients do very well,” adds Massry.
“This is a very common surgery for celebrities and news anchors,” says ophthalmic plastic surgeon Michael Groth. “If you’re in front of the camera and that’s your livelihood, it’s not just a matter of vanity — it’s also a business decision,” he says. According to plastic surgeon Ben Talei, it’s also a common procedure at his practice: “I’ve been doing a lot of bleph surgeries on everyone from actors and comedians to sports stars and fashion designers.”
The majority of bleph patients have been women, but many more men are now taking the plunge. “The male population is the fastest growing for eye surgery,” says oculoplastic surgeon Robert Schwarcz. Younger patients are booking consultations, as well. “Whereas it used to be mainly 40s and 50s, I’m seeing many more patients in their 30s,” notes Massry.
There are two types of blepharoplasties: one for the upper eyelid, to treat overhanging lids by trimming excess skin; and one for the lower eyelid, to improve under-eye puffiness and bags, often through removal and/or repositioning of the fat pads. Upper and lower blephs each take between 30 and 45 minutes and typically involve local anesthesia. Many patients choose to do both at the same time. “An upper bleph is straightforward with few complications. A lower bleph … can be more complicated, may result in more significant swelling and can take longer to heal,” says Massry.
A judicious surgeon will advise patients to remove under-eye filler with a dissolving agent two weeks before a lower bleph. “Filler and surgery don’t go well together,” says Massry. “It can create complications, make recovery difficult and alter the desired result, so it must be removed in advance.” When considering upper eyelid surgery, assessing the eyebrow is also essential. “One of the biggest mistakes surgeons make is doing the upper eyelid when it’s really the brow that needs repositioning,” he says. For some patients, it’s not just the skin on the eyelid that needs addressing, given brow positioning changes as we age as well. “Ninety percent of my patients who say they want an upper bleph also need a brow recontour.”
For those considering going under the knife, selecting a highly skilled, board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in eyelid surgeries is imperative, as is closely examining before and after photos. (In addition to the surgeons named earlier, Kami Parsa, John Holds and Christopher Zoumalan are sought-after for blepharoplasty.)
Fees for bleph surgeries range from $5,000 to $14,000 per area (upper and lower eyelids), and a brow recontour starts at $5,000, with additional fees for the surgery facility and anesthesia. While insurance typically will not cover these elective procedures, if your peripheral eyesight is substantially impaired because of overhanging eyelids, some insurers may cover an upper bleph; an advance comprehensive vision test is required.
“Recovery is straightforward, and patients return home after surgery without bandages. There will be some soreness, and lids will feel heavy,” says Schwarcz. “Acetaminophen or something slightly stronger may be suggested for those who are pain sensitive.” Icing the lids every hour for three days and applying antibiotic ointment is also recommended, along with extra pillows. “Sleeping upright is best for healing,” adds Massry.
Although eyelid surgery is generally considered safe and easy, possible complications include dry eye and blurry vision, which are most often temporary. “Some surgeons can also be overzealous and remove too much skin, which can result in incomplete closure of the eyes,” says Massry.
Stitches are removed one week after surgery, and it’s advised to wait at least two weeks before getting back to the gym. Expect some bruising and swelling. “Depending on how patients heal, that will subside within two weeks to a month,” says Schwarcz. “Some patients feel presentable enough to go out without sunglasses even a week later.”
While surgery can produce the most long-lasting results, there are nonsurgical alternatives that help deliver a refreshed, open-eye look. Dermatologist and micrographic surgeon Dr. Sonia Batra cites Daxxify, an injectable neurotoxin. “It lifts the brow by weakening the muscle that pulls down and keeps it tethered. This can provide a 1- to 2-millimeter brow lift that typically lasts four to six months.”
As Glaser put it, really convenient.
This story appeared in the March 6 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.
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