The eyes are often one of the first areas of the face to show visible signs of aging. Sagging upper eyelids, under-eye puffiness, and excess skin can create a tired, heavy, or aged appearance that may not reflect how vibrant and energized you feel. Fortunately, facial procedures like eyelid surgery can restore a bright-eyed, youthful look.
Dr. Ellen Mahony approaches eyelid surgery with exceptional attention to detail and facial harmony, understanding that even subtle changes around the eyes can dramatically refresh the overall appearance. At her boutique practice in Westport, CT, she creates personalized treatment plans designed to brighten and rejuvenate the eye area while preserving the natural character and expression that make your face uniquely yours.
Benefits of Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery can refresh and brighten the eye area while creating a more rested, youthful appearance.
Benefits of eyelid surgery may include:
-
Reduced Puffiness: Improves under-eye bags and swollen-looking lower eyelids
-
Smoother Upper Eyelids: Removes excess skin that can create a heavy or drooping appearance
-
More Youthful Appearance: Helps the eyes look brighter, refreshed, and more awake
-
Improved Facial Expression: Softens a tired, angry, or aged appearance around the eyes
-
Enhanced Vision: In some cases, removing excess upper eyelid skin may improve peripheral vision
-
Natural-Looking Results: Refreshes the eye area while preserving your unique facial expression
-
Increased Confidence: Many patients feel more comfortable and confident in social and professional settings after treatment
What To Expect at a Blepharoplasty Consultation
Dr. Mahony will first sit down with you, evaluate your skin condition and facial structure, and honestly tell you whether eyelid surgery is right for you. You’ll probably have questions, and Dr. Mahony is ready to listen to your concerns and take the time to give you direct, honest answers. Eyelid surgery is just one of the facial procedures she performs to help you look your best.
Complementary Treatments
For optimum results, you may want to ask Dr. Mahony about additional cosmetic procedures, such as a brow lift, face lift or thread lift. She also highly recommends considering fillers or ALMI to address the hollows underneath the eyes, a very common complaint! These are in-office procedures that can be used before or after your eyelid surgery.
Why Choose Dr. Ellen Mahony for Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery requires exceptional precision and an artistic understanding of facial balance. Dr. Ellen Mahony takes a thoughtful, individualized approach to eyelid rejuvenation, focusing on subtle improvements that refresh the appearance without altering the face’s natural character.
Patients choose Dr. Mahony because of her:
-
Board certification in plastic surgery
-
Extensive cosmetic and reconstructive surgery training
-
Sophisticated, natural-looking aesthetic approach
-
Attention to facial harmony and detail
-
Personalized, boutique patient experience
-
Compassionate and attentive care throughout the process
Her advanced surgical expertise allows her to carefully rejuvenate the delicate eye area while preserving natural expression and creating results that look refreshed rather than overdone.
Brighten and Refresh Your Appearance With Eyelid Surgery in Westport, CT
Eyelid surgery can help reduce puffiness, remove excess skin, and restore a more youthful, rested appearance around the eyes. Dr. Ellen Mahony combines advanced surgical precision with a refined aesthetic approach to help patients achieve natural-looking eyelid rejuvenation tailored to their unique features and goals.
To learn more about eyelid surgery in Westport and Fairfield, contact Dr. Ellen Mahony, MD at 203-221-0102 to schedule your private consultation.
ASK DR. MAHONY
Some of the changes we see early on in our aging process are similar to what we see in more advanced stages in our parents. In other words, they may be related to heredity and ethnicity. We refer to that “gulley” area as the tear trough. It marks the junction between the eye area and the nasal and cheek areas. In the absence of lax skin or bulging fat bags, soft fillers like Juvederm can be used to soften the junction and conservatively rejuvenate the region. Oftentimes, the darkness associated with this depression is a function of how light is reflected, and when the depression is filled in, the darkness is far less pronounced.
I run into this all the time! Regrettably, there comes a point when gravity and skin laxity outweigh Botox. And it’s usually in the mid-to-late 40s. What happens is that the heaviness of the upper lid, due to the extra skin folds, along with the laxity of the forehead, is too much for Botox to correct. It really becomes a waste of money. Although it may have worked before, it won’t work forever. So, what to do?? This is the perfect time to make the 10-20 year investment in an eyelid lift. I had mine done, and it was undoubtedly the biggest bang for the buck in making a lasting difference in my look. Consider what you spend on Botox repeatedly compared to what you pay for one eyelid lift…it’s pretty easy math! Come on in and let’s see what an eyelid lift can do for you!
In select circumstances, yes, but typically I perform my surgical procedures at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, CT. I also utilize two accredited outpatient surgical centers in Trumbull and Bridgeport. Patient safety is my #1 concern, and that drives the decision on the best location for surgery.
Generally speaking, eyelid surgery is one of the shortest surgeries that I perform. Most patients are in and out of the OR in about 1 to 2 hours, depending on the specifics and the extent of the procedure. However, remember that you do need to plan time for pre-op and post-op (and make sure you have someone to drive you home afterward!). We provide detailed instructions to our patients on how to prepare for their surgery in the week before and in the weeks after. We’ve got you!!
Great question. We all lead such busy lives with many commitments, and I find that the fear of the recovery period and side effects is often what keeps patients from making the decision to have this surgery. While everyone’s recovery period is different, you can generally expect to be recovering at home for about a week. Your incisions might be red and swollen, and by resting at home, you can apply ice packs on a regular schedule, use eye drops if your eyes are irritated, and plan to come in to see me to have your stitches removed 3-4 days after surgery. We’ll work together on a detailed pre- and post-op plan well before your surgery date so that you can have everything you need and use the time to relax, heal, and anticipate your new “awake” look! This detailed information from The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has great advice on what to expect before and after your surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
During your initial consultation with Dr. Mahony in her Westport, CT, offices, you will discuss your general health and any medical conditions, allergies, or previous surgeries she should be aware of. And then comes the fun part! You’ll tell her what your concerns are about your eyes, when these concerns started, and what your expectations are for your eyelid surgery. She will spend some time with you in front of a mirror so you can point out exactly what’s bothering you, and so she can assess your skin’s condition and elasticity and offer a personal recommendation.
The method of making the incision is less important than the surgeon who is making it! The ultimate goal is to achieve the best result with the least bleeding and swelling, and both work well.
Yes. As long as there isn’t excess lax skin, a small incision can be made on the inside of the lower eyelid to remove or reposition the fat pad. No stitches are placed.
The bruising that comes with eyelid surgery is not much different from other kinds of bruising and takes about 10-14 days to fade. Dr. Mahony strives to minimize bruising by injecting the numbing medicine into the incision area, taping the incision immediately afterward, and icing immediately afterward. As soon as possible, she likes to encourage massaging of the tissue to help dissipate any discoloration. Most people look pretty good after 5 days and conceal any residual bruising with a cover-up!
A good 8-10 years or longer.
An eyelid lift specifically treats excess skin on the eyelid, removing a portion of the thin, folded skin that moves when your eye opens and closes. Sometimes this folded skin will hang down all the way to the lashes! In comparison, a brow lift is performed to reposition a sagging, low eyebrow to a higher position.
The straight-up answer is you won’t know until you meet with Dr. Mahony and she performs a facial assessment. During your consultation, she will learn about your primary complaint and goals. Once she analyzes your face, she can explain how your brow and eyelid contribute to the issue and how each will affect your look. After that, it’s pretty straightforward as far as the plan goes!
