Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty in Denver, Colorado: Complete Surgeon’s Guide

By Chris Thiagarajah, MD — Board-Certified Oculoplastic Surgeon

Upper eyelid blepharoplasty is one of the most precise cosmetic surgeries performed today. In Denver, Colorado—where altitude, dry climate, and genetics accelerate eyelid aging—the demand for natural, safe results is higher than ever. As a fellowship-trained oculoplastic surgeon, my focus is to restore brightness and symmetry to the eyes without changing the patient’s identity.

Below is a comprehensive guide supported by data tables, charts, and Denver-specific analysis.

1. Why Do Upper Eyelids Age Faster in Colorado?

Altitude + UV Exposure Chart (Relative UV Index at Elevation)

UV Exposure (Relative Units)
|
|               █
|               █
|           █   █
|       █   █   █
|   █   █   █   █
|___█___█___█___█________
    Sea  3,000 5,280 10,000 ft

Interpretation:Denver’s altitude (5,280 ft) exposes eyelid skin to ~25–35% more UV radiation than sea level, accelerating collagen breakdown.

Factors Contributing to Faster Aging

Factor	Effect on Eyelids	Why It’s Worse in Denver
High-altitude UV	Collagen loss, creasing	+10–12% UV intensity per 1,000 ft
Dry climate	Dehydration & thinning	~20% lower humidity than coastal states
Genetics	Early hooding or ptosis	Strong familial patterns in CO population
Brow descent	Heaviness & tired appearance	Enhanced by outdoor lifestyle

2. Who Is a Candidate for Upper Blepharoplasty?

Symptom Frequency Among Denver Patients (Based on Practice Data)

% of Patients Reporting Symptoms
|
|████████████████████  89% Excess Skin
|███████████████████   84% Tired Look
|████████████████      70% Makeup Smudging
|███████████           48% Asymmetry
|██████████            41% Hidden Eyelashes
|___________________

Candidate Criteria Table

Symptom	Ideal Candidate?	Notes
Hooded skin	✔ Yes	Most common
Make-up smudging	✔ Yes	Indicates skin contact with lashes
Heavy, tired look	✔ Yes	Often combined with brow descent
Vision obstruction	✔ Functional case	May qualify for insurance
Young patients (30s–40s)	✔ Sometimes	Genetic hooding common
Active smokers	✖ No	Increased healing complications
Unrealistic expectations	✖ No	Honesty improves outcomes

3. Surgical Philosophy: Natural, Conservative, Precise

Comparison Table: My Technique vs Generic Plastic Surgery Approach

Feature	Dr. Thiagarajah	Generic Plastic Surgery
Training	Oculoplastic (eye-only)	Broad (face + body)
Fat handling	Preservation + contouring	Often excision
Crease design	Based on anatomic insertion	Standardized
Pre-op marking	Sitting upright	Variable
Screening	Declines unsafe cases	Often accepts more
Focus	Eyelid harmony & eye health	Aesthetic only

4. What Happens During Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty?

Step-by-Step Flowchart

[Pre-op Exam]
      ↓
[Upright Marking]
      ↓
[Local Anesthesia]
      ↓
[Skin Sculpting & Fat Preservation]
      ↓
[Crease Reinforcement]
      ↓
[Microsuturing]
      ↓
[Recovery + Follow-up]

Procedure Details Table

Step	What Happens	Why It Matters
Marking	Upright positioning	Accurate crease symmetry
Anesthesia	Local with light oral sedation	No general anesthesia needed
Skin removal	Conservative	Prevents hollowing
Fat contouring	Preserve/reposition	Avoids “skeletonized” look
Crease fixation	Anatomically anchored	Natural, long-lasting result
Suturing	Seam-level	Minimal scarring

5. Recovery Timeline (Visual Chart)

Healing Progress Chart

Recovery Level (0–100%)
|
|███████████  Day 1–3: Swelling, bruising
|███████████████████  Day 4–7: Bruising improves
|██████████████████████████  Week 2–3: Socially presentable
|█████████████████████████████████  1 month: 80–90% healed
|███████████████████████████████████████████  3 months: Final result
|________________________________________________

Recovery Table

Day	What to Expect	Care Tips
1–2	Swelling, tightness	Ice, head elevation
3–5	Bruising peaks then improves	Avoid heavy lifting
6–7	Sutures removed	Light makeup allowed
14–21	Back to normal	Scar softening
3 months	Final shape	Strong sun protection in Denver

6. Insurance Coverage for Functional Blepharoplasty

Insurance Qualification Criteria Table

Note: The most important thing is MRD of < 2 which means skin has to overhang over eyelashes and be within 2 mm of the center of the eyeball.

Requirement	Threshold	Notes
Visual field test	12° or less	Must show improvement with taping
Photographic proof	Obvious skin overhang	Standardized lighting
Symptoms	Difficulty seeing upward / sideways	Must be documented
Lid position	MRD < 2	Sometimes indicates ptosis

7. Why Choose Dr. Chris Thiagarajah in Denver?

Experience & Expertise Chart

Surgical Volume (Relative Scale)
|
|████████████████████████████  Oculoplastic Surgeon (eye-only)
|███████                        Facial Plastic Surgeon
|███                            General Plastic Surgeon
|______________________________________

Unique Advantages Table

Feature	Benefit to Patient
Eye-only specialist	Higher safety & precision
Expert in ptosis diagnosis	Avoids incorrect procedures
Fat preservation approach	Natural, youthful results
Thousands of eyelid surgeries performed	Proven track record
High-altitude recovery protocols	Tailored to Denver patients
Author of eyelid surgery patient guidebook	Additional experience/expertise value

8. Before-and-After Expectations

Aesthetic Improvement Breakdown

Feature Improved	Typical Change
Upper lid heaviness	40–60% reduction
Visibility of crease	Restored in most patients
Eye brightness	Significant improvement
Eyelash visibility	Improved
Makeup application	Smoother, less smudging

10. Schedule a Consultation

If you're considering upper eyelid blepharoplasty in Denver or the surrounding areas—Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, or DTC—I’d be happy to evaluate your eyelids and design a personalized surgical plan.

Denver Eyelid SpecialistsChris Thiagarajah, MD — Oculoplastic SurgeonBoard-Certified • 5280 Top Doctor • Author • Speaker