(501) 224-1044
BLEPHAROPLASTY · LITTLE ROCK, AR
Eyelid Surgery
The eyes are often the first part of the face to show age. Blepharoplasty removes and repositions excess tissue to open the eyes and refresh your appearance. Triple board-certified surgeon Dr. Suzanne Yee tailors each procedure to your anatomy and goals for a natural, rested result.
1–2 hrs
Outpatient procedure, home same day
~1 wk
Back to work for most patients
2–3 mos
Final results once swelling resolves
Upper, lower, or both?
The first thing to sort out is which part of the eye is bothering you. During your consultation, Dr. Yee examines your lids, skin quality, and eye health and recommends the approach that fits.
UPPER
Heavy, hooded lids
Hooded skin on the upper lids is treated with upper blepharoplasty to open and lift the eye.
LOWER
Bags & dark shadows
Puffiness, bags, and dark shadows below the eye are treated with lower blepharoplasty.
BOTH
Treated together
Many patients have both concerns and choose to address them together in a single procedure.
Eyelid surgery techniques
Dr. Yee uses several blepharoplasty techniques depending on the severity of your concern and your goals.
Upper blepharoplasty
Removes excess skin above the eye through an incision hidden in the natural lid crease, then repositions muscle and sutures the skin into place.
- Best for: hooded upper lids
- Scar: hidden in crease
- Downtime: ~1 week
Lower blepharoplasty
Addresses bags and dark circles through an incision just below the lash line, trimming or redistributing fat and tightening muscle as needed.
- Best for: puffy lower lids, bags
- Scar: thin line that fades
- Downtime: some added bruising
Lower transconjunctival
Treats under-eye bags through an incision inside the lid, leaving no external scar and often a shorter recovery.
- Best for: bags with no external scar
- Scar: none visible
- Downtime: shorter than external
Asian eyelid surgery
Creates or defines a natural double-lid crease while preserving your ethnic identity. Learn more.
- Best for: defining a crease
- Scar: hidden in the fold
- Downtime: comparable to upper
Are you a candidate?
Good candidates in the Little Rock area are in good overall health, have realistic expectations, and are bothered by drooping upper lids, under-eye bags, or puffiness that makes them look tired, or in some cases interferes with vision.
Certain eye conditions, such as chronic dry eye, glaucoma, or uncontrolled eye disease, can affect candidacy, so Dr. Yee reviews your full medical and eye-health history during your consultation. Eyelid surgery refreshes and restores the eye area; it does not drastically change how you look.
YOU MAY BE A GOOD CANDIDATE IF YOU
- Have heavy, hooded upper eyelids
- Notice bags or puffiness under the eyes
- Look tired or older than you feel
- Have drooping that affects your vision
- Are in good overall health
Prefer to skip surgery?
Not every concern needs surgery. For mild changes, our med spa offers non-surgical treatments that refresh the eye area, and Dr. Yee will tell you honestly which option fits.
- Upneeq®
A prescription eye drop that temporarily lifts a mildly heavy upper lid. - BOTOX® & Dysport®
Softens crow’s feet and lifts the brow to open up the eyes. - Under-eye filler
Smooths hollows and shadows in the tear trough for a rested look. - Laser skin resurfacing & tightening
Improves fine lines and crepey skin quality around the eyes.
Substantial excess skin and true bags are usually only corrected with blepharoplasty.
What to expect on procedure day
Eyelid surgery is almost always outpatient, so you go home the same day. Depending on your plan, it is performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia, and usually takes 1 to 2 hours.
- Arrive in comfortable, loose clothing with no makeup, skincare, lotion, or contact lenses.
- Leave jewelry and valuables at home.
- After a short monitoring period you are discharged with detailed aftercare instructions.
- A responsible adult must drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours.
Recovery timeline
Recovery is gradual. Most patients are back to work within a week, while final results settle over several months as swelling fully resolves.
- FIRST 48 HOURS
Discomfort, bruising, and swelling, all temporary. Have someone drive you home and help you. Rest, ice, head elevated. - WEEK 1
Swelling and bruising peak, then begin easing. Low-salt diet, eye drops and healing gel as directed, no eye strain (no reading or screens). - WEEK 2
Stitches out around day 7; bruising noticeably subsides. Most patients return to work and light activity. - WEEKS 4 TO 6
Noticeable improvement as swelling resolves. Resume most normal activity; results start to settle. - MONTHS 4 TO 6
Final results as residual swelling fully resolves. Follow-up as needed; enjoy a long-lasting outcome.
Why choose a board-certified surgeon
The surgeon you choose is the single biggest factor in a safe, natural result. Dr. Yee’s triple board certification, extensive surgical experience, and conservative approach to anesthesia all work together to protect your outcome and keep any risk as low as possible.
Blepharoplasty is a well-established, low-risk procedure. As with any surgery, uncommon complications are possible, and Dr. Yee reviews your specific risks with you at consultation so you can decide with full, honest information.
WHAT SETS DR. YEE APART
- Triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon
- Specialized training in delicate facial and eyelid anatomy
- Conservative, safety-first approach to anesthesia
- Thousands of natural-looking results for Little Rock patients
Combining with other procedures
Because the brows and midface age alongside the eyes, many patients combine blepharoplasty with a brow lift or facelift for a more balanced, refreshed result. Combining procedures in one surgery is typically more affordable than doing them separately and means a single recovery.
- Brow Lift
- Facelift
- Laser Skin Tightening
WHY CHOOSE DR. YEE
Dr. Suzanne Yee, MD, FACS
- Triple Board-Certified Cosmetic Surgeon
- ★★★★★
- 4.8 · 387 Google reviews
Dr. Suzanne Yee is a triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon in Little Rock, AR, known for personalized care and natural-looking results.
BOARD CERTIFICATIONS & AFFILIATIONS
REAL PATIENTS
Before & After
CONTACT US
Schedule your consultation
Tell us a little about your goals and we’ll be in touch to find a time that works.
Frequently asked questions
There is no single “best” age for eyelid surgery. Whether or not this procedure could be right for you will depend on factors like your facial anatomy, symptoms and goals. Many of our Little Rock patients consider eyelid surgery in their 40s to 60s, though it may be appropriate earlier or later.
Most patients experience mild to moderate discomfort rather than pain, which is usually well controlled with medication and should improve significantly within the first few days of recovery.
Most patients begin to see noticeable improvements around 4 to 6 weeks after surgery once initial swelling and bruising have subsided. However, complete healing and final results typically take 4 to 6 months as residual swelling continues to resolve and tissues fully settle into their new position. During this time, the results will continue to refine and improve, giving you the most natural and long-lasting outcome.
The results of blepharoplasty can vary from one patient to the next but are generally long-lasting. Upper eyelid surgery can last for a decade while lower eyelid surgery results are close to permanent.
As with any plastic surgery, blepharoplasty comes with some chance of risk. Although rare, complications can include infection, bleeding, abnormal eyelid position, and dry eyes. Dr. Yee takes all possible measures to reduce the risks involved and ensure the best possible results.
Many people struggle to find nonsurgical treatments and over-the-counter products to reduce the signs of aging, only to be dissatisfied with the results. Although some of these treatments may address fine lines and wrinkles, substantial eyelid drooping can typically only be addressed using surgery. Many of our blepharoplasty patients have enjoyed better vision, self-confidence, and dramatic rejuvenation in their appearance helping them age more gracefully and live a better quality of life.
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