People will tell you that you look rested. They won't be able to say why. Eyelid surgery removes the excess skin and fat that make the eyes look heavy and tired — the change everyone notices and nobody can place.
These figures are typical ranges, not a promise. Anesthesia, operating time, recovery and how results settle vary with your anatomy, your health history and the plan you and Dr. Swenson agree on. Your individual details are confirmed at consultation.
This is the actual decision, and it's simpler than it sounds.
Upper lids — for hooding, heaviness, and skin that rests on or near the lash line. The most common of the three, and the one with the biggest visible payoff per day of recovery.
Lower lids — for bags and puffiness that make you look tired regardless of sleep. Often addressed by repositioning or removing fat rather than simply cutting skin.
Both — the full reset, in one anesthetic and one recovery.
Upper-lid incisions sit in the natural crease, where they disappear when your eyes are open. Lower lids can often be done from inside the lid — transconjunctival, no external scar at all — depending on whether skin needs removing.
When upper-lid skin drops far enough, it doesn't just look heavy, it blocks the upper field of vision — people describe it as needing to tip their head back to read a sign. Repairing that is a genuine functional improvement, not a cosmetic one. But be aware: Vue does not bill insurance. Even where a case would be considered medically indicated elsewhere, here it is self-pay. We'd rather tell you that now.
It doesn't lift the brow, and it doesn't erase crow's feet or dark circles. If a heavy brow is the real problem, eyelid surgery alone will disappoint — that's a brow lift question, and Dr. Swenson will tell you which one you're actually looking at.
Upper or lower — which do I need?
Upper if the issue is hooding and heaviness; lower if it's bags and puffiness. Many people have some of both, and the consultation sorts it in minutes.
Will it look natural?
The aim is a rested version of your own eye, not a changed one. Removing too much is what creates a hollow, surprised look — restraint is the skill.
Is it covered by insurance?
No. Vue does not bill insurance, so eyelid surgery here is self-pay even when it's done for functional reasons. If insurance coverage is essential for you, we'd rather say so up front than waste your consultation fee.
Will it fix my dark circles?
Often not — dark circles are frequently pigment or hollowing rather than excess skin. Filler or a resurfacing treatment may be the better answer, and we'll say so.
Brow lift or eyelid surgery?
If your brow has dropped, lifting the lid alone can make the brow look heavier by comparison. Sometimes the answer is both.
How long does it last?
Upper-lid results are typically long-lasting; the eyes continue to age, but most patients don't repeat it.
A surgical consultation with Dr. Swenson is $75. That's an hour of a surgeon's attention, not a sales appointment with a coordinator. To be straightforward with you: the fee does not apply toward the cost of a procedure. Some practices credit it — we don't, and we'd rather you know that now than find out at checkout. Vue does not bill insurance, so all procedures, including those done for functional reasons, are self-pay. You'll get an exact quote before you commit to anything.