Eyes that look rested, not operated on — by Dr. Tim Neavin
Most eyelid surgery just removes tissue — skin, fat, anything that looks like excess. The result is often eyes that look hollow and older, not younger. Dr. Neavin’s approach combines conservative removal with fat grafting to restore the volume that actually makes eyes look youthful.
Before 
After Actual patient result by Dr. Tim Neavin
For decades, eyelid surgery meant one thing: cut away everything that looked like excess. Skin, fat, muscle — the more you removed, the more “work” you could show the patient. The problem is that approach creates hollow, skeletal eyes that actually age the face. You’ve seen the look — sunken upper lids, visible orbital bone, a gaunt appearance that screams surgery.
Dr. Neavin’s philosophy is the opposite. Youthful eyes aren’t defined by tightness — they’re defined by fullness in the right places. That means being conservative about what gets removed and strategic about what gets restored. He uses fat grafting to rebuild the volume that aging takes away — filling the upper lid sulcus, smoothing the tear trough, and recreating the lid-cheek junction that disappears over time.
The result is eyes that look rested and naturally youthful. Not tight. Not hollow. Not “done.” People notice you look great — they just can’t figure out why.
Removes only what’s truly excess — enough to open the eyes without creating the hollow, skeletal look of over-resection.
Rebuilds lost volume in the upper lid, tear trough, and midface using your own fat — the key to eyes that look young, not just tight.
Upper lid incisions hide in the natural crease; lower lid work uses a transconjunctival approach with no visible scar.
“For years people asked if I was tired or upset. My heavy lids just made me look that way. After surgery, I look like myself again, just more awake. Nobody can tell I had anything done.”— Upper Blepharoplasty Patient
Eyelid surgery is one of the most commonly overdone procedures in plastic surgery. Removing too much skin creates eyes that can’t fully close. Removing too much fat creates a hollow, cadaveric look. Both are extremely difficult to reverse.
Dr. Neavin approaches blepharoplasty as a balance between removal and restoration. He evaluates the entire orbital complex — skin laxity, fat distribution, muscle position, and brow relationship — before deciding what to remove and what to rebuild. In some patients, fat grafting alone provides the rejuvenation they need without any tissue removal at all.
He’s also one of the few surgeons who adjusts his technique specifically for male patients. Male eyebrows sit lower, the ideal lid crease is different, and aggressive removal creates a feminized look that’s immediately obvious. His conservative approach to male blepharoplasty produces results that look natural rather than surgical.
Swelling and bruising peak around day 2–3, then improve rapidly. Most patients feel comfortable in public with sunglasses by day 4–5, and without them by week two. Sutures come out around day 5–7 if external incisions were used. Light activity resumes at week two, full exercise by week four. Final results settle over two to three months as residual swelling resolves and any fat grafting stabilizes.
Adults bothered by heavy or hooded upper eyelids, under-eye bags or puffiness, or hollow, tired-looking eyes that don’t improve with rest. Upper lid hooding that blocks peripheral vision may qualify for insurance coverage. Ideal candidates are in good overall health, don’t smoke, and have realistic expectations about the outcome.
Blepharoplasty ranges from $6,000 to $15,000 depending on whether upper lids, lower lids, or both are addressed, and whether fat grafting is included. Upper blepharoplasty alone under local anesthesia is the lower end. Comprehensive upper and lower work with fat grafting under general anesthesia is the higher end. Insurance may cover upper blepharoplasty if hooding obstructs vision — our office can help determine eligibility.
Lifts descended brows that push excess skin onto the upper eyelids — sometimes the real cause of a hooded appearance.
Frequently combined with eyelid surgery for comprehensive facial rejuvenation in a single recovery.
Restores volume throughout the face using your own fat — the same technique Dr. Neavin uses around the eyes.
Not with Dr. Neavin’s approach. The hollow, skeletal look comes from removing too much fat and tissue — the old-school technique. Dr. Neavin is conservative about removal and uses fat grafting to restore volume where needed. The goal is eyes that look refreshed and full, not tight and empty.
Upper blepharoplasty addresses heavy or hooded lids by removing excess skin through an incision hidden in the natural crease. Lower blepharoplasty addresses under-eye bags and hollowing, often through an incision inside the eyelid with no visible scar. Some patients need one, some need both. Dr. Neavin evaluates your specific anatomy during consultation to recommend the right approach.
Upper blepharoplasty may be covered by insurance if excess skin demonstrably blocks your peripheral vision. This requires visual field testing and photographic documentation. Our office can help determine if your situation qualifies and handle the pre-authorization process.
If your eyebrows have descended, they push excess skin onto the upper lids. In that case, removing lid skin alone won’t solve the problem — the real issue is brow position. Dr. Neavin evaluates this during consultation and will recommend a brow lift if needed, either alone or combined with blepharoplasty. Getting this diagnosis right is critical to a good result.
If your primary concern is hollowing in the tear trough rather than bulging fat, fillers can be an excellent non-surgical option. They camouflage mild bags by filling the surrounding depression. Results last 6–12 months and require no downtime. However, fillers can’t remove excess skin or address significant fat herniation. Dr. Neavin will tell you honestly which approach — fillers, surgery, or both — makes sense for your anatomy.
Significantly. Male eyebrows sit lower on the brow bone, the ideal lid crease differs, and less skin can be safely removed before creating a feminized or startled appearance. Aggressive eyelid surgery is one of the most common giveaways in male plastic surgery. Dr. Neavin uses extreme conservatism with male patients, often relying more on fat grafting than tissue removal for a natural, masculine result.
Schedule your private eyelid surgery consultation with Dr. Neavin.
