Eyelid Surgery in Santa Barbara

Dr. Morrissette prides himself on providing some of the best eyelid surgery in Santa Barbara and Ventura, aiming for a natural, youthful look.

Say Goodbye to Tired-Looking Eyes

When you look in the mirror, are you troubled when you see bags under your eyes or frustrated when people often ask if you are tired? With the aging process, eyelid skin can also droop, creating a tired, older look.

Sagging excess skin on the eyelids adds years to your appearance. Thankfully, something can be done about it - but a highly qualified facial cosmetic surgeon should perform your blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) to ensure natural-looking results are achieved.

Lower Eyelid Surgery: For Tired, Puffy Bags Under Your Eyes

Nothing makes you look more tired and worn than bags under your eyes. You may have tried many topical creams that make big promises, only to be disappointed with the results. Applying makeup or topical treatments will not resolve this condition. When puffy bags under the eyes add years to your appearance, lower eyelid surgery can give your face a fresher, more rested appearance. Dr. Morrissette can determine whether you are a candidate for lower eyelid surgery in Santa Barbara, performed right here in our outpatient surgery center.

Treatment Options for Puffy Lower Eyelids

Do bags under your eyes or drooping eyelids make you look tired or older than you feel? As we age, excess eyelid skin and fat can create puffiness and sagging that adds years to your appearance.

Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) can correct these concerns and restore a more refreshed, youthful look. For lower eyelids, protruding fat that causes under-eye bags can often be removed through the inside of the eyelid, leaving no visible scars and typically requiring no stitches.

Dr. Morrissette’s Advanced Approach to Lower Eyelid Surgery

Dr. Morrissette employs an advanced procedure using an Ellman radiofrequency microneedle that may not include an incision in the skin, so you will not need to worry about visible scarring. Instead of a scalpel blade, we use a microneedle. In addition to using advanced techniques for your lower eyelid surgery, Dr. Morrissette often performs this eyelid surgery with fat grafting to this area to provide a more natural and younger looking appearance.

Adding your own fat recreates a youthful convexity and can help with the dark circles often associated with tired looking eyes. Dr. Morrissette is one of the few surgeons in Ventura County that provides the benefit of fat grafting at no additional costs!

Targeting Under-Eye Wrinkles with the Skin Pinch Technique

For patients that present excess or "crinkly" skin underneath the eye and are not interested in laser or skin tightening, Dr. Morrissette utilizes a conservative procedure called a "skin pinch." This small surgical procedure is done with a mini incision hidden under the eyelashes and can tighten the wrinkles without adversely affecting the normal eyelid position.

Blepharoplasty Before & After Photos

Eyelid Surgery in Santa Barbara, Oxnard, & Ventura Before & After Photos

Are You a Candidate for Lower Eyelid Surgery?

Puffiness under the eyes is often a structural problem associated with damaged tissue due to age or atrophy. Candidates for lower blepharoplasty in Santa Barbara and Ventura usually present with the appearance of herniated fat below the eyes.

This eyelid surgery can be performed in conjunction with laser resurfacing or chemical peel and can achieve the following results:

Give your eyes are more "open" and fresh appeal
Resolve bags under the eyes
Remove excess fat creating the bags
Address fine lines and wrinkles
Create a more youthful appearance
Reverse the effects of gravity and age

Our eyes convey emotions. When the lower eyelids have been affected by age and gravity, it makes you look sad and tired, even when you are happy and your face is at rest.

Upper Eyelid Surgery: A Less Invasive Surgical Technique for Upper Eyelid Surgery

At our office, we employ a less invasive process when performing upper blepharoplasty in Santa Barbara and Camarillo. As any facial surgery may be prone to bleeding, we use an Ellman radiofrequency microneedle rather than a scalpel. The incision for upper eyelid surgery is made in the eyelid's natural crease and is well hidden. This instrument is more precise, minimizes bleeding, and can significantly reduce post-operative bruising.

In addition to using an Ellman microneedle, Dr. Morrissette uses magnification loupes to perform all cosmetic surgeries, especially eyelid surgery for the greatest amount of precision.

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A Natural-Looking Result

Here at our practice, we focus on achieving natural looking results. Our years of experience in facial reconstruction surgery give us the ability to perform upper eyelid surgeries that will bring you compliments. This surgical procedure is effective in providing a more youthful appearance, and drawing attention towards your eyes. Talk to us about upper eyelid surgery and how it can bring a well-rested, rejuvenated appearance to your face.

With a small strip of skin and muscle carefully removed from the upper eyelid, your eyes can be restored to a more youthful look. Aging changes of the eyelids can begin in the third decade and it is not uncommon to perform cosmetic eyelid surgery on patients in their 30's and 40's. The excess tissue can also obstruct vision and by having cosmetic eyelid surgery, patients don't only look better, but oftentimes see better as well.

Is Upper Eyelid Surgery Right for You?

During your consultation, Dr. Morrissette will evaluate the amount of excess eyelid skin. One of the ways that he can simulate the surgery is by using a small Q tip to temporarily "remove" the excess skin to show how one might look following surgery. Most men and women can be considered candidates for eyelid surgery if they are bothered by tired, aging and weathered eyes that cause them to appear older before their time. As previously mentioned, removing the excess skin can restore impaired peripheral vision as well.

Upper Eyelid Surgery: What to Expect

Your surgery will be performed under IV Sedation. After surgery, it is important that you rest, and keep your head elevated. Generally, it is important that you avoid much motion and keep your head elevated while sleeping. Putting a cold pack or ice over the area can help to reduce swelling, and you will generally experience little to no discomfort after this surgery.

In fact, Dr. Morrissette does not generally find the need to prescribe pain medications following this surgery. You may experience sensitivity to light and dry or itchy eyes for a short time, and once you are out and about (per doctor's orders), wear sunglasses to manage this light sensitivity. You may be given eye drops to apply in some cases.

Most patients that have eyelid surgery on Thursday or Friday can recover over the weekend and get out of the house by Monday or Tuesday with sunglasses to cover the surgery. For a successful recovery, follow all of the directions given to you by Dr. Morrissette or his assistants and you can expect a full, rapid recovery - and once complete, a fresher, younger appearance.

Are You a Candidate for Upper Eyelid Surgery?

Candidates for this procedure should be in good overall health and possess realistic expectations of what the procedure can accomplish. Eyelid surgery will not significantly alter your facial appearance so that you look like someone else.

You will still look like you - just with a more refreshed and youthful overall expression to your eyes. Upper blepharoplasty can achieve:

Repairing droopy folds on upper eyelids
Restoring the position of your eyelid crease
Increase peripheral vision
Removal of fat bulges over the eyes
Firming eyelid skin

Are There Any Risks Or Complications?

As with any surgical procedure, there are common risks or possible complications, such as infection or bleeding. Risks and complications more specific to eyelid surgery include the following:

Dry, irritated eyes
Difficulty closing your eyes or other eyelid problems
Noticeable scarring
Injury to eye muscles
Skin discoloration
Temporarily blurred vision or rarely, loss of eyesight

Keep in mind that many of these risks or possible complications are part of the normal healing process after surgery, are often temporary and usually resolve on their own. The more experienced and expert your surgeon is, the lower the risk of any permanent complications.

Non-Surgical Alternatives to Blepharoplasty

Not every patient is ready for surgery, and some mild eyelid concerns can be improved with non-surgical treatments. At our Ventura practice, we offer advanced options that can refresh the eye area without downtime.

Laser Resurfacing: Improves skin texture, tightens mild laxity, and softens fine lines around the eyes.
Chemical Peels: A medium peel can smooth crinkling under the eyes and improve overall skin quality.
Dermal Fillers: Injectable fillers can restore volume to hollows and reduce the appearance of dark circles.
Skin Pinch Technique: A conservative in-office procedure that removes tiny amounts of excess skin under the lash line for a smoother look.

These treatments are best suited for patients with mild to moderate eyelid aging. During your consultation, Dr. Morrissette will help you decide whether non-surgical treatments, surgical blepharoplasty, or a combination approach is right for you.

older woman smiling looking away from camera in studio shoot. Her youthful appearance despite her age is to show the potential results of a blepharoplasty in Santa Barbara

Our Credentials: Your Health and Safety Comes First at our Office

The office is one of the few in the area that has gained an accreditation as an outpatient surgery center and has met the stringent requirements of the Institute for Medical Quality, one of only four professional out-patient clinic accreditation agencies that is approved by the California Medical Board. We care about patient safety in every aspect of our treatment and care. Speak with us about lower eyelid surgery - we can help restore a more youthful appearance to your face and eyes.

Areas We Serve

Dr. Morrissette proudly provides blepharoplasty and other facial cosmetic procedures for patients throughout Santa Barbara County and Ventura County. Our Ventura office is conveniently located for patients traveling from:

Santa Barbara
Montecito
Goleta
Carpinteria
Ventura
Oxnard
Camarillo
Thousand Oaks

Whether you live nearby or are visiting from surrounding areas, our team is committed to delivering natural, refreshed results and the highest level of patient care.

Blepharoplasty FAQ

What is Eyelid Surgery?

Eyelid surgery, medically termed blepharoplasty, is a cosmetic surgical procedure which addresses loose, hanging skin and loose creases on the eyelids, or puffy lower lids. If the skin of your upper eyelids has become lax, it can even affect your field of vision. Eyelid surgery addresses loose hanging skin by removing excess skin and fatty tissue to create a more refreshed, renewed look.

What are the Types of Eyelid Surgery?

Blepharoplasty can address either the skin of the upper eyelid, the lower eyelid, or both. These are two separate procedures. Upper Eyelid Surgery: This procedure addresses issues of skin laxity in the upper eyelid. An upper eyelid lift allows Dr. Morrissette to remove excess skin and fatty tissue in the upper eyelid and redefine the crease. When it is finished, you are left with eyes that appear awake, alert, and attractive – but not overdone. Lower Eyelid Surgery: This procedure addresses the skin and tissue beneath your eyes. It can remove excess skin beneath the eyes, remove excess fat, and smooth deep hollows, tear troughs, or undereye bags.

What Benefits Can I Experience with Eyelid Surgery?

Your Santa Barbara eyelid surgery can restore the skin around your eyes to a more natural, youthful position giving your face a more vital and youthful look. In addition, eyelid surgery provides other benefits, such as: Refreshing the overall facial appearance, and Restoring self-confidence.

Am I a Candidate for Eyelid Surgery?

Men and women who are in generally good health and are experiencing skin laxity in the eyelid who would like to restore a more rested appearance to their eyes are usually ideal candidates for eyelid surgery. Dr. Morrissette is available to answer any of your questions or concerns about the procedure and what to expect.

Will my Insurance Pay for Eyelid Surgery?

In many cases, your health insurance will pay some portion of eyelid surgery – when drooping skin is affecting vision. Our friendly administrative staff is available to assist you with any health insurance questions or discuss our financing options.

Why Should I Choose Dr. Michael Morrissette?

Dr. Michael Morrissette has a keen eye for facial balance and beauty. His excellent surgical skills and warm, caring demeanor come together in a highly-skilled surgeon who is not only gifted, but who has genuine interest and care for his patients. In fact, Dr. Morrissette only performs facial cosmetic surgery and no other types of cosmetic surgery. Coupled with his Board Certification in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, you can trust him to perform your surgery with the highest level of professionalism, and to focus on achieving a result that looks natural.

What Can I Expect During Eyelid Surgery?

Eyelid surgery is performed in the comfort of our Ventura, California facility under twilight or local anesthesia. With upper eyelid surgery, Dr. Morrissette will place the incision discreetly in the crease of the eye so no scars will be visible once healed. For lower eyelid surgery, the incisions are placed within the lower lid. Dr. Morrissette will remove any excess skin and fatty tissue, smooth hollows or deep tear troughs, and then close the incisions with sutures (stitches). Eyelid surgery typically takes between one and two hours. When your eyelid surgery is finished, and you have healed fully, you will be left with a more youthful, rested appearance.

What Is The Recovery Time From Eyelid Surgery?

Since each eyelid surgery is tailored to the needs of the individual, every patient responds differently. You will experience mild to moderate swelling and bruising for up to one week following surgery. Any discomfort can be easily managed with pain medication. A gently-applied cold compress can further aid in reducing swelling. You should be able to return to work approximately one week following your procedure. You may resume light exercise in about one week but should wait two weeks following eyelid surgery to engage in vigorous exercise.