The eyes are often the first part of the face to show age, and the first thing other people notice about how rested, alert, or energetic someone appears. The skin around the eyelids is the thinnest on the body — less than a millimeter in most places — which makes it exceptionally prone to stretching, hooding, and the development of fine wrinkles long before other areas begin to change. Even people who feel well-rested can look perpetually tired simply because their upper lids droop or their lower lids carry visible bags. Blepharoplasty, or eyelid lift surgery, addresses this directly by removing excess skin and fat, tightening what remains, and restoring the look of openness and energy to the upper face.

Dr. John Anastasatos performs upper and lower blepharoplasty at both his Beverly Hills and Athens, Greece practices with more than two decades of specialized facial aesthetic experience. Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Dr. Anastasatos has been invited to deliver lectures on advanced facial techniques at the Royal Society of Medicine in London in three consecutive years (2024, 2025, and 2026), and presented Grand Rounds at the University of Alabama at Birmingham on the mechanisms of facial aging and anti-aging surgical practice. Named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World and recognized as a Castle Connolly and U.S. News & World Report Top Doctor, he has been featured in Reuters, the Boston Globe, FOX News, Forbes, LA Confidential, Vogue Greece, and Elle Greece, as well as on the plastic surgery series Nip/Tuck. His dual-continent practice welcomes patients to both Beverly Hills and Athens for eyelid surgery performed with the combination of technical precision and aesthetic judgment that blepharoplasty demands.

Understanding Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty is the surgical rejuvenation of the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both. The procedure removes excess skin, repositions or removes fat deposits, and tightens the underlying muscle and connective tissue. The goal is never simply to make the eyelids smaller — it is to restore them to a position and appearance that reads as rested and youthful without changing the identity of the face. A well-performed blepharoplasty should go unnoticed as surgery; patients should look like better-rested versions of themselves rather than people who have obviously had eyelid work done.

The eyelid region is one of the most technically demanding areas in cosmetic surgery. Over-removal of skin produces problems with closure and tear production. Under-removal produces results that do not justify the recovery. The surgeon must balance what to remove against what to preserve, while understanding how the upper and lower lids interact with the brow, the cheek, and the overall facial aesthetic. It is work that rewards experience.

“Eyelid surgery is often described as the most rewarding operation in cosmetic plastic surgery because the change is visible immediately and patients see it every time they look in the mirror. My goal is always restraint — to remove only what should be removed, preserve everything that gives character to the eye, and produce a result that looks like rest rather than surgery. The best blepharoplasty is one that no one recognizes as a procedure.” — Dr. John Anastasatos

Why Patients Choose Blepharoplasty

Patients pursue eyelid surgery for reasons that combine appearance, function, and the simple desire to match how they look with how they feel. Common motivations include:

• Hooded Upper Eyelids: Excess skin on the upper lid that creates a heavy, tired look and sometimes rests on the eyelash line.
• Visual Field Obstruction: Severely hooded upper lids that partially block peripheral vision — a functional concern that may qualify for insurance coverage.
• Under-Eye Bags: Pseudoherniated fat and lower lid laxity that create puffiness which persists regardless of sleep or skincare.
• Dark Circles and Hollows: A combination of lower lid thinning and tear trough hollowness that produces the appearance of shadowing.
• Looking Tired When You Are Not: The gap between how rested a patient feels and how tired they appear — one of the most common motivations for blepharoplasty.
• Genetic Eyelid Shape: Congenital droopiness or folds that affect the eye shape, including patients of Asian descent who are candidates for specialized double-eyelid surgery.
• Preparation for or Refinement After Facelift: Eyelid surgery frequently complements a facelift to ensure the upper face matches the rejuvenation of the lower face.

Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty

Upper eyelid surgery addresses excess skin, fat, and soft tissue that cause hooding, heaviness, and a tired appearance. The procedure uses a precisely placed incision within the natural crease of the upper eyelid — a location that conceals the eventual scar almost completely once healed. Excess skin is removed, fat is repositioned or conservatively excised as needed, and the incision is closed with fine sutures that leave minimal trace.

For patients who were born with upper eyelids that droop, create heavy folds, or produce a perpetually sleepy appearance, upper blepharoplasty can change the shape of the eye itself. Patients of Asian descent who wish to create a double eyelid — a defined supratarsal crease — can also be candidates for a specialized technique Dr. Anastasatos performs to produce a natural-appearing crease that respects the patient’s cultural aesthetic rather than imposing a Western one.

Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty

Lower eyelid surgery addresses the bags, puffiness, and laxity that develop beneath the eye. Depending on anatomy, Dr. Anastasatos uses either a traditional approach with an incision placed just below the lash line or a transconjunctival approach with the incision hidden inside the lower eyelid — leaving no visible external scar. Fat is selectively removed or redistributed to smooth the transition between lid and cheek, and excess skin can be tightened if needed. For patients with pronounced dark circles caused by visible blood vessels beneath thin lower lid skin, additional refinement can address this as well.

Combined Upper and Lower Blepharoplasty

In many cases, patients benefit from addressing both upper and lower eyelids in a single surgery. Dr. Anastasatos frequently combines blepharoplasty with an endoscopic brow lift to rejuvenate the entire upper third of the face together, or with facelift surgery as part of a comprehensive facial rejuvenation. When procedures are combined, patients complete recovery from one operation rather than staggering multiple surgeries over separate time periods.

What to Expect From Eyelid Surgery

Blepharoplasty is typically performed under local anesthesia with sedation or under general anesthesia, depending on the scope of the procedure and patient preference. Upper blepharoplasty takes approximately one hour; combined upper and lower surgery takes two to three hours. Most patients return home the same day.

Bruising and swelling are most pronounced during the first week and resolve progressively over two to three weeks. Cool compresses, head elevation, and protective eye drops are part of early recovery. Most patients feel socially presentable at approximately ten days to two weeks and fully recovered by four to six weeks. Final refinement continues as tissues settle over three to six months, and scars fade to near-invisible lines over twelve to eighteen months.

Frequently Asked Questions About Blepharoplasty

Will my eyelid surgery scars be visible?

Upper eyelid incisions are placed within the natural crease of the lid, where they become virtually invisible once healed. Lower eyelid incisions are placed just below the lash line or hidden inside the lower lid (transconjunctival approach), leaving either a minimal scar or no external scar at all. Dr. Anastasatos’s closure technique produces scars that fade to barely detectable lines over the first year.

How long does recovery take?

Most patients feel socially presentable at ten days to two weeks and fully recovered by four to six weeks. Sunglasses are useful during the first week or two, and strenuous activity is restricted for approximately three weeks. Final refinement of the result continues for three to six months as swelling resolves.

Will blepharoplasty remove my dark circles?

Blepharoplasty can significantly improve dark circles caused by pseudoherniated fat, lower lid laxity, or visible blood vessels beneath thin skin. Dark circles caused purely by pigmentation may require additional treatments such as chemical peels, laser therapy, or targeted skincare. Dr. Anastasatos evaluates each patient’s specific cause during consultation.

How long do the results last?

Upper blepharoplasty results typically last ten to fifteen years or longer — most patients never require a second upper eyelid surgery. Lower blepharoplasty results are similarly long-lasting. Natural aging continues, but the specific changes that were corrected rarely return to their original state.

Can blepharoplasty be combined with other facial procedures?

Yes — and often should be for comprehensive rejuvenation. Eyelid surgery pairs naturally with brow lift, facelift, deep plane facelift, and fat transfer for a coordinated upper-face or full-face result. Combining procedures is more efficient and often produces a more harmonious outcome than treating each area separately.

Will I look different or like myself?

A well-performed blepharoplasty should make you look like a rested, more energetic version of yourself — not like someone else. Dr. Anastasatos’s approach emphasizes preserving the character and identity of the patient’s eyes while removing only what has accumulated with age or genetics.

Why Choose Dr. Anastasatos for Your Eyelid Lift

• Royal Society of Medicine Invited Lecturer: Presented on advanced facial aesthetic techniques at the Royal Society of Medicine in London in three consecutive years (2024, 2025, 2026).
• Board-Certified and FACS: Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons reflect rigorous, verified training.
• Dedicated Focus on Facial Aesthetic Surgery: Two decades of specialized experience in facial rejuvenation, with eyelid surgery among the most refined areas of his practice.
• Academic Background in Aging Mechanisms: Grand Rounds presentations at the University of Alabama at Birmingham on aging and anti-aging practices.
• Top 10 International Recognition: Named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World and recognized as a Castle Connolly and U.S. News Top Doctor.
• Beverly Hills and Athens Offices: Patients can schedule consultations and procedures at either location, with coordinated care and follow-up across both practices.

Schedule Your Blepharoplasty Consultation in Beverly Hills or Athens, Greece

If your eyes have begun to show age before the rest of your face — or if you have always had hooded lids, under-eye bags, or a perpetually tired appearance that does not match how you feel — blepharoplasty offers one of the most rewarding results in cosmetic surgery. Dr. John Anastasatos welcomes patients to both the Beverly Hills office at 436 North Bedford Drive, Suite 202, and the Athens, Greece office at Palas Kefalari, Kolokotroni 23, Kifisia, for private consultations covering your anatomy, surgical approach, recovery expectations, and realistic outcomes. Contact the practice to arrange your appointment with Dr. Anastasatos.