Eyelid Surgery

Expert upper or lower eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) in Nashville and Memphis

Lifting and Tightening Eyelids for a Younger Look

Eyelid surgery – also called blepharoplasty or eye lift – is a common surgical procedure that can be performed on your upper eyelids* to improve the appearance of your eyes. It can reduce puffiness in the eyelids brought on by fatty deposits, bags under the eyes, or baggy and wrinkly skin around the eyes. It can also be used to alleviate functional problems brought on by aging, such as impaired vision from sagging skin on the upper eyelid.

We offer upper eyelid surgery to Tennessee patients at our cosmetic surgery centers in Nashville and Memphis, each led by a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience. We encourage you to meet with our plastic surgeon at a location near you to discuss your eyelid surgery options in a personal consultation!

* lower eyelid puffiness is more easily treated non-surgically; please call for more information.


Each patient is unique. Our plastic surgeon will meet with you in a consultation to develop a personalized treatment plan.


Frequently Asked Questions

A blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery is a surgical procedure performed under local anesthesia and IV sedation that tightens and lifts the upper eyelids (upper blepharoplasty) or the skin underneath the eyes (lower blepharoplasty). A double blepharoplasty covers both of these in one surgical procedure.

Yes, absolutely. Many patients combine both upper and lower eyelid surgery to take advantage of one single recovery period. It depends on your situation whether upper, lower, or both lids need to be lifted. You can also combine eyelid surgery with other facial procedures, such as a brow lift. Read more about eyelid surgery types.

Eyelid surgery is one of the least painful cosmetic procedures you can have. You are sedated during the procedure and recover swiftly with minimal discomfort, typically in just a few days. Learn more about eyelid surgery recovery.

No. Our plastic surgeons perform all procedures under local anesthesia combined with IV sedation. This ensures your comfort, and considerably speeds up your recovery.

Your physical recovery from eyelid surgery is typically swift, with most patients able to return to regular activities within 1-2 days. It is not accompanied by much physical discomfort. What we like to call the social recovery is longer, however. As with any facial procedure, you’re going to be a little wary of showing a bruised and/or swollen face to the public, and unfortunately bruising and swelling are very commonplace occurrences after any surgical procedure. You can minimize bruising and swelling by following your surgeon’s post-op instructions. Read about a patient’s account of her eyelid surgery recovery.

Your eyelids will look puffy after surgery, and the incisions will likely look red. That is to be expected and will resolve within a few days. However, the way bruising and swelling works, your face underneath the eyes will show bruising as well, starting on the second day and continuing for 10-14 days. It’s harder to cover up your entire face, so most people wait until those 10-14 days are over before going out in public or back to work. This is personal for each patient depending how you feel about people knowing that you had surgery. View our day-by-day photo gallery of a typical eyelid surgery recovery.

Not typically. Bandages aren’t necessary for your recovery. Most likely your surgeon will place the stitches and leave the eyes uncovered to promote healing. You are encouraged to simply leave your eyes alone for a few days to allow any swelling to go down.

You should not sleep on your side or stomach while recovering from eyelid surgery. It is recommended that you sleep on your back while keeping your head slightly elevated for the first week post-op.

You will see the results immediately after surgery, especially if you had sagging eyelids that your surgeon has removed and tightened. Once all bruising and swelling has subsided, typically at the 14-day mark, you will really begin to see your newly-refreshed and younger looking eyes. The incision lines should have flattened out by then but can remain slightly pink for up to six months or more. It is important to keep your eyes out of direct sunlight for up to a year to avoid any discolorations.

When plastic surgeons speak of a facelift, this typically refers to the lower face and does not include the eyes. Eye lifts and brow lifts are distinct procedures that can be performed separately or together with a facelift, and are typically priced as as standalone surgeries.

Most elective surgeries, such as eye lifts, are not covered by insurance. If you have a functional impairment, your insurance may cover it. Make sure you check with them beforehand, since NuBody Concepts cannot process any health insurance on your behalf.


Eyelid Surgery Testimonials