Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
Precision upper and lower blepharoplasty with fat repositioning to restore bright, rested eyes while safeguarding your natural expression.
Overview
Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is one of the most rewarding and transformative procedures in facial plastic surgery. The delicate periocular tissues are often the very first region of the face to reveal signs of fatigue, genetic heaviness, and aging. Upper blepharoplasty addresses sagging skin folds and upper lid hooding that weigh upon lashes or impair vision. Lower blepharoplasty corrects chronic under-eye bags, dark hollows, and puffiness. Dr. Garrett Ni employs conservative, structural preservation techniques—repositioning rather than aggressively excising fat—to ensure eyes appear rested, open, and luminous rather than hollowed, rounded, or startled.
Who It Is For
Ideal for adults with heavy, hooded upper eyelids that create a tired look or obstruct peripheral vision, as well as individuals frustrated by stubborn lower eyelid bags, dark circles, and tear trough depressions.
Key Anatomical Zones
Upper blepharoplasty incisions are placed within the natural supratarsal crease, healing into virtually undetectable lines when eyes are open.
Lower lid bags can be reached through a hidden incision inside the eyelid, leaving zero external skin scars.
Rather than removing lower fat, Dr. Ni transposes it over the lower orbital rim into the tear trough to eliminate hollowness permanently.
Reinforces lower lid tone to preserve the youthful almond shape and prevent ectropion or lower lid rounding.
Dr. Ni’s Approach
Dr. Garrett Ni’s double board-certified training emphasizes orbital preservation. In the past, aggressive fat removal created sunken, hollowed eyes that accelerated the appearance of aging. Dr. Ni utilizes modern fat-sparing and fat-repositioning techniques. For upper blepharoplasty, he preserves the underlying orbicularis muscle, excising only the exact redundant skin strip required to open the eyes naturally. For lower blepharoplasty, he uses a hidden transconjunctival approach to smooth the transition between the eye and cheek with zero visible incisions.
Surgical & Anatomical Technique
Upper blepharoplasty: Precisely mapped while the patient is sitting upright. Under local anesthesia, redundant skin is excised with microscopic instruments. Meticulous bipolar cautery preserves delicate vascular beds. The incision is closed with ultra-fine hair-like sutures. Lower blepharoplasty: An internal incision inside the lower conjunctiva exposes the medial, central, and lateral fat pads. These are mobilized and transposed over the infraorbital rim to fill the tear trough, then anchored beneath the periosteum.
The Experience
Detailed orbital assessment including eyelid crease height, brow position, dry eye evaluation (Schirmer test), and snap-back lower lid elasticity testing.
Upper blepharoplasty is routinely performed right in our comfortable Mount Carmel office suites under gentle local anesthesia in 45-60 minutes. Lower or combined blepharoplasty is performed under local with twilight sedation.
Recovery Timeline
Cold compresses are applied for the first 48 hours to minimize mild bruising and swelling. Upper eyelid sutures are removed in 5 to 7 days. Most patients return to work, driving, and social routines within 5 to 7 days.
Rest with head elevated. Cold eye compresses minimize swelling and bruising. Pain is minimal.
Delicate upper lid sutures removed in-office. Most bruising resolves into light yellow.
Return to social engagements, office work, and light eye makeup. Eyes look noticeably refreshed.
Incision lines fade into imperceptible crease lines; natural eye vitality is fully restored.
Why Choose Dr. Garrett Ni
Double board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon specializing exclusively in facial and eyelid anatomy.
Fellowship-trained at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and Mount Carmel aesthetic practices.
Expertise in fat preservation and repositioning—avoids sunken or 'operated-on' orbital looks.
Painless in-office procedure experience with concierge post-care support.
What It Treats
- Upper eyelid skin hooding and redundant eyelid folds
- Obscured natural eyelid crease platform for makeup application
- Lower eyelid pseudo-herniated fat pads (under-eye bags)
- Tear trough hollows and eyelid-to-cheek transition troughs
- Visual fatigue and heavy-eyelid sensation at the end of the day
Key Benefits
- Restores bright, rested, and youthful eye appearance
- Upper blepharoplasty comfortably available in-office under local anesthesia
- Eliminates lower eye bags without hollow or aged appearance
- Improves peripheral vision compromised by upper eyelid skin redundancy
- Hidden incisions inside the lid or within natural lid creases
- Rapid 5-to-7 day recovery timeline
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty).
Schedule Your Private Consultation
Consult personally with Dr. Garrett Ni at our Mount Carmel practice to discuss your aesthetic goals and receive an individualized surgical plan.