Upper Blepharoplasty
(Upper Eyelid Surgery) in Tampa, FL
By a board-certified, fellowship-trained Oculofacial Plastic Surgeon - ASOPRS Fellow
Heavy, drooping upper eyelids can make you look tired when you are not - and in many patients the excess skin hangs low enough to block the upper field of vision. Reading, driving, and looking up become effortful. Some people unconsciously raise their eyebrows all day to lift the skin out of the way, ending the day with forehead fatigue or tension headaches. Upper blepharoplasty removes or repositions that excess tissue through an incision hidden in the natural eyelid crease.
Norberto Mancera, MD, FACS, FAACS is a board certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained oculofacial plastic surgeon, an American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) Fellow, and an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of South Florida. His training centers on the delicate anatomy around the eyes, where appearance and function must be considered together.
Is it the skin, the eyelid, or the brow?
Upper-eyelid heaviness has three common sources, and the treatment depends on which one dominates. Excess skin (dermatochalasis) folds over the crease while the lid margin itself sits in a normal position. Ptosis is a low lid margin — the edge of the eyelid sits too low regardless of how much skin there is. A descended brow pushes tissue downward and makes the lids look heavy even when the eyelid itself is fine. Many patients have a combination. Dr. Mancera's consultation measures each component — lid height, skin excess, brow position — because operating on the wrong cause leaves the heaviness behind. Ptosis repair and brow lift address the other two causes when they are the main problem.
How upper blepharoplasty is performed
The incision follows the natural upper-eyelid crease, so the healed line is designed to blend into the lid's normal fold. Through it, Dr. Mancera removes or repositions excess skin and, when appropriate, underlying muscle or fat. The amount removed is conservative by design — over-resection can impair eyelid closure. The procedure is commonly performed with local anesthesia and sedation and typically takes under an hour. Sutures are fine and usually removed within the first week.
Recovery
Swelling and bruising peak in the first few days and improve over one to two weeks. Cold compresses, head elevation, and eye lubrication are the mainstays of early care. Most patients return to work and social activities in about seven to ten days. The incision line is typically pink at first and fades over weeks to months into the crease.
Risks and realistic expectations
Possible risks include bleeding, infection, dry-eye symptoms, asymmetry, visible scarring, over- or under-correction, difficulty fully closing the eye, or the need for revision. These are uncommon. A careful examination beforehand identifies dry eye, brow position issues, or ptosis that could affect the result — which is why the consultation measures all three.
The consultation
During the consultation expect Dr. Mancera to perform eyelid measurements, photographs, and visual field analysis. The workup determines the best and safest approach.
Considering lower-eyelid surgery too?
Some patients have both heavy upper lids and lower-eyelid bags. The two procedures address different anatomy and are frequently performed together or staged. Lower blepharoplasty targets puffiness and contour beneath the eyes. An overview of both is on the blepharoplasty page.