Although plastic surgery is routinely associated with women, there is no reason that men cannot also have plastic surgery. The whole point is to look and feel your best, and that is something we can all get on board with. Of course, men won’t necessarily have the same types of plastic surgery as women. Biological men do tend to age differently and gain weight in different areas of the body. Still, those are likely the only differences you’ll run into during your plastic surgery journey. So can men get eyelid surgery?

Can Men Get Eyelid Surgery?

In fact, some plastic surgeries are even more popular amongst men due to their unique physical structures. One of these procedures is called a blepharoplasty. A blepharoplasty is an eyelid surgery that removes additional skin and pockets of fat around the eyes. Given the typical male’s larger forehead and brow region, many men struggle with sagging eyelids as they age. In extreme cases, their eyelid may even obstruct their vision, making a blepharoplasty a medical necessity.

What Is a Blepharoplasty?

As stated above, a blepharoplasty is a cosmetic eyelid surgery designed to remove sagging skin and pockets of excess fat from around the eyes. Although the surgery is technically the same for men and women, your board-certified surgeon will make subtle changes in the placement of their incision and the amount of skin taken to preserve your masculine features.

There are two predominant forms of blepharoplasty. Upper eyelid surgery removes excess skin that is sagging from the brow. The procedure is often coupled with a brow lift to ensure the distance between the brows and eyelids has a more youthful appearance. Lower eyelid surgery is designed to reduce the appearance of “bags” under the eyes. During this procedure, we remove excess fat and skin. In some cases, your surgeon may even be able to make an incision inside the eyelid.

When to Consider Eyelid Surgery

You should consider having eyelid surgery in Minneapolis if you meet any one of these three criteria.

Your upper eyelids make it difficult to fully open your eyes, obstructing your vision.
Your lower eyelid “bags” make you look permanently tired.
You’re unhappy with the appearance of your eyelids and feel they age your face.

The truth is that only you can decide whether or not you’re ready for eyelid surgery. However, you can always talk to your local oculoplastic surgeon to get a personalized idea of what eyelid surgery would mean for you.

What to Expect During Eyelid Surgery

When you have male blepharoplasty in Minneapolis, you can expect a short procedure and a relatively quick recovery. On average, an upper or lower blepharoplasty only takes one hour. If you’re having multiple procedures, you can expect it to take longer, so discuss that in detail with your surgeon.

In most cases, your procedure can happen onsite unless your surgeon thinks a surgery center would prove a better decision for your health and safety. You will not require a general anesthetic for a blepharoplasty. But you will have an IV drip containing moderate sedatives to ensure you stay relaxed and feel nothing. A local anesthetic will be used on your eyelid to eliminate any risk of discomfort during the procedure.

Once your procedure is complete, you will require a ride home. You can expect some swelling and bruising during the first few days. Luckily, over-the-counter pain medication is strong enough to keep you comfortable during your initial healing phase. In most cases, your surgeon will ask you to not use any products on your eye area for at least a week. Within that time, your stitches should dissolve, and you will have your post-operative visit to check that you’re healing well. Overall, the entire healing process usually only last two weeks.