Cosmetic eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, can rejuvenate puffy, sagging or tired-looking eyes by removing excess skin (a condition called dermatochalasis) from the upper and lower eyelids. The procedure is usually performed with local anesthesia and lasts as little as 45 minutes. Incisions are made along the eyelids in inconspicuous places (in the creases of the upper lids, and just below the lashes on the lower lids). The surgeon removes excess tissue through these incisions and then stitches them closed with fine sutures. Patients with drooping eyelids (ptosis) may choose to undergo ptosis repair along with blepharoplasty.

Ectropion is a "turning out" of the eyelid that causes redness, irritation, tearing and an increased likelihood of infection. Common causes of ectropion include aging, sun damage, tumors, burns and the removal of too much skin during blepharoplasty. Ectropion can be corrected in a quick procedure in which the lid is tightened. Occasionally, the surgeon needs to graft a small segment of skin to ensure that the eyelid is fully repaired.

Entropion is a "turning in" of the eyelid. The lid and lashes rub painfully against the cornea. Entropion usually occurs as a result of aging, but other causes can include injury and various inflammatory conditions. Entropion can be corrected with a brief surgical procedure under local anesthesia.

Skin cancers often involve the eyelid, particularly the lower lid, as well as the eyelid margins, the corners of the eye, the skin around and beneath the eyebrows, and areas of the face near the eye. Whether the skin cancer is slow- or fast-progressing, it needs to be removed as soon as possible to minimize the chance of spreading to other parts of the body (metastasizing) or of recurring in the future. The two goals of eyelid skin cancer surgery are complete removal and reconstruction.

First, the cancer is removed and the tissue is tested to ensure that the entire tumor has been excised. Next, the surgeon reconstructs the eyelid so that it both functions properly and looks normal. The reconstruction surgery is tailored to each patient based on the size and location of the defect. There are many advanced techniques for removing eyelid skin cancers as well as for reconstructing the lid so that it looks cosmetically appealing.