“Upper blepharoplasty is one of the most impactful procedures we perform — and one of the most forgiving in terms of recovery. The eyelid crease incision heals to near-invisibility within weeks, and the change is immediately apparent. Eyes that once looked tired, heavy, or closed-in suddenly appear open, refreshed, and fully alert. When combined with a brow lift or facelift, it completes the upper facial rejuvenation comprehensively.”
What upper blepharoplasty can do for you
Upper blepharoplasty removes the excess upper eyelid skin that hoods the eye and makes the gaze read as tired. The result is the alert, rested upper eye you had a decade ago — with an incision hidden entirely within the natural lid crease.
- Look rested, even when you aren’t — the eye area stops broadcasting fatigue you don’t feel.
- Eye makeup lands where it used to — shadow and liner no longer disappear into a hooded fold.
- No visible scar — the incision is hidden inside the natural upper-lid crease and fades to near invisibility.
- Long-lasting — the skin that is removed does not grow back, though the eyes keep aging naturally.
- Subtle refresh, never “surprised” — conservative skin removal only; the eye you recognize, simply rested.
Ready to discuss your upper blepharoplasty goals?
Understanding the upper blepharoplasty
What the upper blepharoplasty is
Upper blepharoplasty removes the excess skin that hoods the upper lid, opening the eye and restoring the alert, rested appearance that age has obscured. The incision is hidden entirely within the natural lid crease.
Who the upper blepharoplasty is for
If any of the following describes you, the upper blepharoplasty may be worth exploring:
What makes Dr. Truesdale’s approach different
Dr. Truesdale’s approach to every procedure reflects a consistent set of principles — the same standards that inform every consultation, every surgical plan, and every post-operative follow-up.
Restraint, Not Over-Correction
The most over-done procedures in facial aesthetics are over-done because someone kept going past the right stopping point. Dr. Truesdale's rule: when the result is right, stop — even if more could technically be done. For upper blepharoplasty, that means removing only what should be removed — never aggressive skin excision that hollows the upper lid.
The Artist's Eye
Before becoming a surgeon, Dr. Truesdale was a trained portrait artist. That lens shapes every decision — proportion, light, shadow, the relationship between every feature — in a way purely clinical training alone does not. For the upper lid, that lens calibrates the relationship between brow, lid-skin show, and pre-tarsal platform.
Personal, Start to Finish
Every consultation, every surgical plan, every procedure — performed personally by Dr. Truesdale. No delegation to coordinators, PAs, or residents. Dr. Truesdale is personally involved every step of the way. Every upper-lid incision and closure is performed by Dr. Truesdale himself. The result is literally in his hands.
Natural Is Non-Negotiable
The only acceptable outcome is one that no one can identify as a procedure — a result that reads as a better version of you. No pulled look, no frozen expression, no obvious work. The upper-bleph goal: an open, alert eye that simply looks rested — not a “done” eye area.
“The upper lid should look like it always did — just without the weight on top of it.”
— Dr. Carl Truesdale, MD
Upper blepharoplasty before & afters
Real upper blepharoplasty patients of Dr. Truesdale. Every eyelid is evaluated personally so the result opens the eye without changing who you are.
Your transformation starts with a conversation.
From first consultation to final reveal
We always tell our patients to ‘trust the process.’ You are in good hands on every step of the journey to your unique masterpiece.
Consultation
Personal session with Dr. Truesdale — facial analysis, honest assessment of candidacy, and a clear plan for what the procedure can and cannot achieve.
Planning
Medical clearance, pre-operative instructions, and a personalized plan Dr. Truesdale reviews with you before the day of the procedure.
Procedure Day
Performed personally by Dr. Truesdale, either under local anesthesia or under MAC (Monitored Anesthesia Care) with IV sedation administered and monitored throughout by a hand-selected, board-certified anesthesiologist. Incision hidden in the natural upper-lid crease.
Suture Removal
Fine sutures removed at Day 5. Bruising resolves over 7–14 days. Eye makeup may resume at Day 10, once the skin is completely closed.
Eye Shape Settles
Major swelling resolved. Eyes look open and rested. Eye makeup may resume at Day 10, once the skin is completely closed. Contact lenses may resume at Day 10. Mild light sensitivity is normal for the first few days. Avoid activities that dry the eyes (extended reading, screens, TV) for the first week. Incisions enter an active-appearance phase (Weeks 2–6) where they may appear pink — this is a normal part of eyelid healing.
Look and Feel Like a Masterpiece
Open, rested eyes with a nearly invisible scar hidden in the lid crease.
Individual timelines vary. Dr. Truesdale sets realistic, patient-specific expectations during your consultation — not exaggerated claims.
See if an Upper Blepharoplasty is right for you.
See the work in motion
Dr. Truesdale on technique, philosophy, and patient stories — from his self-produced Beyond the Surface docuseries and his educational content library.
Upper eyelid surgery in Beverly Hills: the essentials
- Your surgeon
- Dr. Truesdale personally, or his associate Dr. Sajjadi. You choose your surgeon on the free Discovery Call.
- Where
- True Surgical Center, the AAAHC-accredited surgical center at 150 S. Rodeo Drive, Suite 220, Beverly Hills.
- Anesthesia
- Either MAC (monitored anesthesia care) with IV sedation, given by a board-certified anesthesiologist, or local anesthesia. Dr. Truesdale will tell you which suits you.
- Time in surgery
- About 30 to 45 minutes on its own.
- Incision
- Hidden in the natural crease of the upper lid.
- Sutures
- Dr. Truesdale removes them on Day 5.
- If you travel
- Plan on about a week. Most patients fly home the day the sutures come out or the day after.
- Makeup and contacts
- Eye makeup and contact lenses from Day 10, once the skin is fully closed.
- Exercise
- Light cardio at 2 weeks; heavier exercise at about 3 weeks, once Dr. Truesdale clears you.
- Final result
- About 3 to 6 months; the scar keeps softening for up to a year.
Every plan is personal, so Dr. Truesdale confirms each of these at your consultation. Recovery, week by week
How upper blepharoplasty is performed
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01Brow first, then lid
Before planning the eyelid, Dr. Truesdale checks where your brow sits. If a low brow is part of the heaviness, removing eyelid skin alone would leave an incomplete result and can pull the brow lower, so he will recommend a brow lift with or instead of blepharoplasty.
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02Marking the crease
The amount of skin to remove is measured and marked in your natural lid crease, so the incision ends up hidden in a fold that already exists.
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03Conservative removal
Extra skin is removed, along with a small amount of fat where it causes puffiness. Dr. Truesdale removes only what should be removed, never so much that the upper lid looks hollow.
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04Closing
The incision is closed with fine sutures, covered with tape, and you go back to your hotel or home the same day with an adult who stays with you.
Brow lift · Lower blepharoplasty · Is blepharoplasty right for you? (article)
Upper blepharoplasty recovery, week by week
This is the same protocol our patients receive in writing before surgery; the detailed instructions below come straight from it.
Expect significant swelling for about 6 days, sometimes more on one side. Leave the tape over the sutures alone and dry, ice 20 minutes on and 20 off, and sleep with your head raised. Rest your eyes from long reading and screens. Sutures come out on Day 5.
Most swelling and bruising settle. Eye makeup and contact lenses from Day 10, once the skin is fully closed. Light cardio from Day 14.
Heavier exercise at about 3 weeks, once cleared. The incision may look pink or raised for a while; that is a normal stage of eyelid healing. SPF 50 and limited sun for 6 weeks.
The eye looks open and rested by about 3 months, and the scar keeps fading for up to a year. Follow-ups at 1 week and 1 month with Dr. Truesdale and at 3 months with our physician assistant.
Your detailed instructions
Eyelid incisions go through an active-appearance phase between 2–6 weeks post-surgery — during this window incisions may appear red, raised, or more visible than immediately after surgery. This is a normal part of eyelid healing. Incisions continue to mature and soften for up to one full year.
Lubricating ointment: You will use lubricating eye ointment for the first several days, which may cause temporary blurry vision. This is expected and not a concern.
Eye makeup: May be resumed at 10 days post-surgery once Dr. Truesdale has confirmed satisfactory healing at your follow-up.
Aquaphor: Keep applying Aquaphor to your eyelid incisions until one month after surgery.
Final results — including the full resolution of swelling and bruising around the eyes — are typically visible within several months. Do not evaluate the final aesthetic result before this timeline.
Call us right away if one eye becomes much more swollen, painful or bulging than the other, or if your vision changes suddenly.
Full post-operative care guide · Preparing for surgery · Traveling for surgery
Upper eyelid surgery risks
Every operation carries risk. Dr. Truesdale goes through the risks that apply to your plan at your consultation, and each one is written in the consent you read and sign. For upper eyelid surgery, the consent lists:
- Chemosis. Chemosis is possible: swelling of the clear lining over the white of the eye, so the white looks puffy or jelly-like and the eye may not close fully. If it happens, keep the eye moist with over-the-counter lubricating eye drops (artificial tears). It usually resolves over the first couple of weeks.
- Dry Eye. Dry eye or irritation is possible, and a dry eye you already have may worsen; it may be temporary or permanent and may need treatment.
- Difficulty Closing the Eyes. Difficulty closing the eyes fully (lagophthalmos) is possible; it may improve over weeks to months or need treatment.
- Ectropion. The lower lid pulling down or away from the eye (ectropion) is possible and may need surgery to correct.
- Drooping Upper Eyelid. A drooping upper eyelid after surgery (ptosis) is possible.
- Asymmetry. Asymmetry of the eyelids or eyelid creases, or more or less skin or fat removed than planned, is possible and may need a revision.
- Hollowing. A hollow look is possible if too much fat is removed.
- Double Vision. Double vision from injury to an eye muscle is possible after lower eyelid surgery; it may be temporary or permanent.
- Hemosiderin Staining. Hemosiderin staining under the eyes is possible after lower eyelid surgery: iron left in the skin after bruising can leave a brown or yellow-brown discoloration that may last months or be permanent, and may need a lightening cream or laser treatment.
- Visual Change and Eye Injury. Blurred vision for a few days is expected. A scratch on the surface of the eye (corneal abrasion), injury to the eye, or loss of vision from bleeding behind the eye is possible; a sudden change in vision means call us right away.
- Bleeding on the White of the Eye. Bleeding on the white of the eye (subconjunctival hemorrhage) is possible and clears within about 3 weeks.
- Lumps and Lash Loss. Small lumps along the incision, or loss of eyelashes or brow hairs, are possible.
- Watery Eyes. Watery eyes (tearing) are possible while healing and may last longer.
- Small Cysts. Small white cysts (milia) along the incision are possible and can be removed.
When ptosis repair is part of your plan
When a drooping upper eyelid is lifted in the same operation (ptosis repair), the consent adds:
- Failure of the Ptosis Repair. Failure of the ptosis repair is possible: the eyelid may droop again or stay lower than planned, and a further procedure may be needed.
- Over- or Under-Correction. The eyelid may sit higher or lower than planned, or the two eyelids may be uneven, and an adjustment procedure may be needed.
- Eyelid Contour. An irregular curve of the eyelid margin is possible.
- Difficulty Closing the Eye. Difficulty closing the eye fully is possible and can cause dryness that needs treatment.
When lacrimal gland surgery is part of your plan
When a drooping tear (lacrimal) gland is repositioned in the same operation, the consent adds:
- Dry Eye. Dry eye is possible, including from injury to the gland affecting tears.
- Recurrence. The fullness at the outer part of the upper eyelid, from a drooping tear (lacrimal) gland, may come back.
- Asymmetry. Asymmetry of the upper eyelids is possible.
Risks of any operation
- Bleeding. Bleeding during or after surgery is possible. A collection of blood under the skin (hematoma) may need drainage or a return to the operating room, and severe bleeding may need emergency treatment or a blood transfusion.
- Infection. Infection is possible and may need antibiotics, drainage or further surgery.
- Bruising and Swelling. Bruising and swelling are expected. They may last several weeks, and swelling or discoloration may persist longer.
- Scarring. Every incision or entry point leaves a permanent scar. A scar may be raised, widened, darker, lighter or more visible than expected, and takes at least 3 months to mature.
- Keloid or Raised Scar. Itching, thickening, pain or a growth along any incision can be the first sign of a keloid (a thick, raised scar). Let us know right away so it can be injected with a steroid to stop the keloid from forming. A keloid is more likely if you have had one before and may need further injections or treatment.
- Change in Skin Sensation. Numbness, tingling or a change in skin sensation around the treated areas is possible; it may be temporary or permanent.
- Delayed Healing. Delayed healing or separation of an incision is possible and much more likely with nicotine in any form.
- Allergic Reactions. Allergic reactions to tape, sutures, skin cleansers, latex or medications are possible.
- Blood Clots. Blood clots in the legs or lungs (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) are possible and more likely with longer surgery; your surgical team uses the clot-prevention plan chosen for you.
- Anesthesia. Risks of anesthesia and sedation are possible; the anesthesia provider reviews them with you separately.
- Pain. Pain after surgery is expected and should settle over several days; pain that lasts longer is possible.
- Result and Revision. A result that does not meet your expectations is possible: healing differs between people, no result is guaranteed, and a revision may be advised, with the fees described in your patient policy.
- Serious Complications. Serious complications, including death, are possible with any surgery or anesthesia.
- Heart and Lung Problems. Heart or lung problems, such as pneumonia or an irregular heartbeat, are possible after surgery and anesthesia.
- Medication Side Effects. Side effects of the medications used during and after surgery, such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, dizziness or trouble urinating, are possible.
- Injury to Deeper Structures. Injury to deeper structures, such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles or glands, is possible.
- Persistent Sutures. A deeper stitch may work its way to the surface and need to be removed.
When to call us right away · Before & after gallery · How to choose a facial plastic surgeon
Upper Blepharoplasty FAQs
Bring your own questions to consultation — Dr. Truesdale personally answers every one. Below are the questions patients ask most often about upper blepharoplasty.
The strongest candidates have excess upper-eyelid skin that hoods the eye, makes the gaze look tired, or — in significant cases — interferes with vision. Dr. Truesdale evaluates you personally in consultation and only recommends the procedure when it will genuinely help. If a different approach would serve you better, he’ll tell you that too.
If the heaviness is primarily from excess upper-lid skin, blepharoplasty alone often solves it. If a meaningful part is the brow sitting low and dropping onto the lid, the brow must be lifted as well — or a blepharoplasty alone will leave an incomplete result. Many patients benefit from both. Dr. Truesdale assesses the brow position and upper-lid anatomy precisely in consultation.
Most patients describe the discomfort as mild to moderate. The procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia with or without light sedation. Dr. Truesdale’s team is available throughout recovery — you are not managing discomfort on your own.
Our surgical procedures utilize a patient-focused anesthesia technique known as MAC (Monitored Anesthesia Care) and IV Sedation, ensuring your maximum comfort and safety. This method provides a level of gentle, deep sedation comparable to the comfortable experience many patients have during a colonoscopy, which we have found helps make patients less fearful. The anesthesia is administered intravenously and meticulously monitored by a hand-picked group of board-certified anesthesiologists, who are dedicated to your well-being throughout your entire procedure.
Plan on 7–10 days of social downtime. Expect mild swelling and possible small bruises that resolve by week 2. Light cardio resumes at 2 weeks; most patients are cleared for strenuous exercise at about three weeks, at a follow-up visit. Your follow-up appointments along the way are conducted by Dr. Truesdale and our physician assistant, with Dr. Truesdale seeing you personally at the key milestones.
That’s the entire standard Dr. Truesdale designs for. The upper eye should read open and rested, not startled. Every patient is evaluated in a seated, relaxed state beforehand so the target is based on your real anatomy — never on an idealized template.
The skin that is removed does not grow back, so the result is long-lasting; the eyelids and brows keep aging naturally over time.
Yes. A significant portion of Dr. Truesdale’s patients travel from across the United States and internationally. The process begins with a virtual consultation with Dr. Truesdale himself (not a coordinator), followed by in-person pre-procedure evaluation. Our patient-care coordinators help arrange travel, accommodations, and local transportation, and Dr. Truesdale’s team conducts virtual follow-ups after you return home.
Request a consultation through the form at the bottom of this page, email contact@doctortruesdale.com, or call (424) 363-4112. Our team responds within one business day to schedule either an in-person consultation at 150 S. Rodeo Drive, Suite 360, Beverly Hills, or a virtual consultation worldwide. Every consultation is conducted personally by Dr. Truesdale.
Most upper blepharoplasty patients are between 40 and 70, though some patients with hooded lids genetically benefit as early as their mid-30s. The best signal isn’t age — it’s when upper-lid skin begins to rest on the lashes, obscure eye makeup, or make you look tired even when you feel rested.
The cost of upper blepharoplasty can vary based on the patient’s situation, including if it is a revision surgery and if this surgery will be combined with other surgeries or treatments. The total cost may include the surgeon’s fee, operating room fees, and anesthesia fees. At Truesdale Facial Plastic Surgery, we believe the surgeon’s philosophy and experience, and your comfort with him, are just as important as the final cost of the surgery. We can provide an approximate range for this procedure over the phone, and your patient care coordinator (PCC) will confirm the pricing for you after your consultation with Dr. Truesdale.
When functional visual impairment from excess eyelid skin is documented — typically through a visual field test demonstrating superior field restriction — a portion of the upper blepharoplasty may be covered by insurance as a functional procedure. Dr. Truesdale’s team can advise on documentation requirements. The aesthetic portion is always a patient expense.
At True Surgical Center, the AAAHC-accredited surgical center Dr. Truesdale owns at 150 S. Rodeo Drive, Suite 220, Beverly Hills.
The incision sits in the natural crease of the upper lid, so it is hidden when your eyes are open. It can look pink or slightly raised between about 2 and 6 weeks, which is a normal stage of eyelid healing, and it keeps softening for up to a year.
Yes. Upper eyelid surgery is often combined with lower blepharoplasty, a brow lift or a deep plane facelift in one operation, with one recovery.
Plan on about a week. Dr. Truesdale removes your sutures on Day 5, and most patients fly home that day or the next. Traveling for surgery →
From Day 10, once the skin is fully closed and Dr. Truesdale has checked your healing.
This procedure is performed by Dr. Truesdale or his hand-picked associate Dr. Sajjadi — discuss the right path on your free Surgery Discovery Call.
Schedule your eyelid surgery consultation
Upper blepharoplasty is one of the most rewarding procedures we perform — dramatic results, minimal recovery. We respond same-day, Monday-Friday.
Book a Surgical Discovery Call online
After clicking the booking link, select “new patient” under Schedule Your Appointment and fill out the form to see our current availability for a Surgical Discovery Call with a Patient Care Coordinator and book immediately. Call us (424) 363-4112 for additional appointment times and information.All times are based on Los Angeles, Pacific Time (PT).
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