Blepharoplasty, also known as blepharoplasty or eye lift, consistently ranks among the top five plastic surgery procedures each year. Eyelid rejuvenation was once reserved for the over-50 set, but has recently become a more popular request from younger populations. The post-pandemic Zoom Boom has prompted younger patients to consider plastic surgery after looking at themselves on camera all day and the eye area isn’t as forgiving. Blepharoplasty is a relatively quick procedure that can correct everything from upper lid coverage to under-eye bags. In addition, the scars are hidden in the lash line or the crease of the eyelid, which leaves them virtually invisible once they heal.
“The skin around the eyes is one of the thinnest on the body. Therefore, taking excellent care of the skin around the eyes is important, even after blepharoplasty surgery,” says New York facial plastic surgeon Dilip D. Madnani, MD. “We want to keep the fragile skin around the eyes as hydrated and youthful as possible. A comprehensive anti-aging eye cream is best. Look for one that targets a variety of aging concerns, including dryness, flakiness, puffiness, lines, wrinkles and dark circles.”
Like most other cosmetic procedures, home skin care is critical for an optimal result. These are the best eye creams to use after an eye lift, as recommended by top plastic surgeons.
“I recommend SkinMedica TNS Eye Repair for patients, especially after blepharoplasty, because the growth factors and peptides help the skin heal and promote collagen production. It encourages firm, toned skin, which is ideal for post-surgery maintenance. It’s a great product for moisturizing the delicate eye area.” — New York plastic surgeon Mokhtar Asaadi, MD
“If patients underwent blepharoplasty but no additional laser resurfacing [this is a very popular pairing], I would recommend this AGE interrupter eye cream. It helps with hydration and general signs of aging.” —Palo Alto, CA facial plastic surgeon Jill L. Hessler, MD
“While I think PRP – platelet-rich plasma – does wonders for the skin, especially when combined with blepharoplasty, I also love Luzern’s Force de Vie eye contour cream. It uses hyaluronic acid and peptides to help reduce puffiness and firm for a more lifted and radiant appearance.” — Beverly Hills, CA plastic surgeon Kimberly J. Lee, MD
“Most skincare lines help repair damaged skin cells, but DefenAge stands out because it’s one of the only medical-grade products that also helps generate new skin cells. This eye cream hydrates the skin and treats puffiness. After blepharoplasty, sometimes the quality of the remaining skin can be further addressed with NuVissa Plasma Pena non-invasive in-office procedure with minimal downtime.” — New York facial plastic surgeon Lee Ann M. Klausner, MD
“A comprehensive anti-aging eye cream is best for the fragile skin around the eyes, especially after surgery when we want to maximize results. In our office, we recommend this peptide eye cream from Skinbetter Science. It is also unscented.” — Dr. Madnani
“Once the eyelid has healed, we continue to recommend medical-grade sunscreen to avoid the aging effects of UV radiation. Although no eye cream can give you surgical results, I recommend this one from Alastin. Alastin uses TriHex technology to build collagen and elastin in the skin to maintain a youthful appearance.” — Dr. Schlessinger
“The most important product is sunscreen, especially in the initial treatment and recovery period. From our own Project GLAMMERS skincare line, we love DEFEND and DEFEND Melanin, which is designed for patients with melanin-rich skin types. It is also important to focus on the few active ingredients that will promote skin health and maintain a youthful appearance. This includes a gentle concentration of retinols designed specifically for under-eye applications, as the skin around the eyes is very sensitive and needs to be treated differently from the rest of the face. It also contains a combination of antioxidants and mild glycolic acid.” — New York ophthalmic plastic surgeon Irene Gladstein, MD
“If the patient has had laser recurrence after their blepharoplasty, such as CO2 laser or erbium laser, then I recommend this Alastin nectar. This miracle topical helps speed up recovery, removes redness and builds collagen and elastin.” — Dr. Hessler
