Eyelid Surgery & Eyebrow Surgery

Dr. Cockerham and Dr. Tittler perform these surgeries on the upper or lower eyelid separately, or as a single surgery covering both. With those variances, the procedure can take anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours. These surgeries demand precision and expertise, and you’ll benefit from the board certification and extensive training and experience of Drs. Cockerham and Tittler. 

This is a delicate surgery that uses small incisions to gain access. On the upper eyelid, a small incision is made in the natural crease of the eyelid. This conceals any visible scarring. Muscles are tightened as needed, fat is repositioned, and excess skin is trimmed. Unless there is an abundance of fat, the fat is repositioned rather than removed. We are careful when it comes to removing fat, as the goal is a completely natural-looking rejuvenation. You’ve probably seen procedures performed elsewhere that removed too much fat, leaving the person with a hollow appearance around his or her eyes. 

On the lower eyelid, we place the incision just below the lower eyelash or sometimes within the inside of the eyelid. This depends on the patient’s eyelid characteristics. Additional excess skin may be removed on the lower eyelid if it is causing puffiness and excessive wrinkling beneath the eye.

Dr. Cockerham and Dr. Tittler have different options when it comes to these surgeries, and they tailor the technique used to match your unique issues with your descending brows and forehead. As an example, a “temporal brow lift” targets more sagging on the outer half of the brow. A “central brow lift” moves the focus to droop of the inner brows. 

These are the two basic techniques for a brow lift, depending on your personal situation. If possible, we strive to use endoscopic methods, as these create far less scarring and make for an easier recovery

Almost everyone over the age of 40 could benefit from blepharoplasty. This is probably, even more, the case with our endless sunny skies around Stockton and Modesto. Due to their constant exposure to the sun and the environment, the eyelids and surrounding tissues can age quite dramatically. Anyone with droopy, saggy eyelids and bags under their eyes would benefit from the surgery.

Everyone has some degree of sagging across the brows and forehead; that’s just a reality of aging. Some people have a genetic disposition to sagging in this area. For some, sagging is extreme enough that it is impinging upon their field of vision. Most of our Central Valley brow lift patients are between 45 and 60 years old.

There is a simple way that you can see if a brow lift could help with that perpetually tired countenance. Stand in front of a mirror and place the lower palms of each hand just above your eyebrows on each side of your head. Slightly pull those palms outward and upward and you’ll see how a brow lift will reposition your sagging skin and tissues.

Descending brows can really create misinformation. They can make you look perpetually tired, sad, even angry. Who needs that? By repositioning or adjusting the muscles above the eyes and across the forehead, Dr. Cockerham and Dr. Tittler can make you look more alert and younger. They also release the overly tight muscles that create the vertical lines between your eyebrows, the dreaded “elevens.”

Descending brows can really create misinformation. They can make you look perpetually tired, sad, even angry. Who needs that? By repositioning or adjusting the muscles above the eyes and across the forehead, Dr. Cockerham and Dr. Tittler can make you look more alert and younger. They also release the overly tight muscles that create the vertical lines between your eyebrows, the dreaded “elevens.”

Another great thing about eyelid surgery is that the recovery is not overly difficult. When you return home after your surgery, your eyelids will be covered with light gauze. We will provide you with a cold compress and eyedrops to keep your eyes moist. If you’re diligent with the use of the compress, it can really reduce your swelling and bruising. Pain is not severe and can usually be handled with over-the-counter pain medication. After one week, your stitches will be removed, and your eyelid recovery is usually mostly complete. You may have some on-again, off-again light swelling, but this resolves in a few weeks. You can usually return to work in just 3-5 days.

Your recovery will be dictated by the method used for your brow lift. No matter the technique used by Dr. Cockerham or Dr. Tittler there will be swelling and bruising, and this can migrate down into your cheeks and around your eyes. While unpleasant, this should run its course in a week to 10 days. For the first two or three days after your surgery, you’ll need to keep your head elevated, even while sleeping.

Traditional brow lifts involve more numbness and discomfort along the incision. Initial numbness will be replaced by itching that can last up to six months. Often, the hair near the incision will fall out or thin, but normal hair growth should return within weeks or a few months.

Endoscopic brow lifts will also involve some numbness due to the tissue manipulation, but there is far less itching than with a traditional lift. That’s another reason we seek to use this method if at all possible.

Most patients can return to work within 10 days, but heavy lifting and vigorous exercise will need to wait for around one month. You need to try and keep your blood pressure from elevating in the forehead area.