Cosmetic Oculofacial & Eyelid Surgery in Seattle, WA
If your eyes look tired, heavy, or older than you feel, oculofacial surgery can help you look rested and refreshed not different. Dr. Steven Laukaitis at The Larrabee Center focuses specifically on cosmetic oculofacial and eyelid surgery, a highly specialized field centered on the anatomy, function, symmetry, and aesthetics of the eyelids and the area around the eyes.
This is not general cosmetic surgery applied to the eye area. It is dedicated expertise in one of the most delicate and expressive parts of the face. Dr. Laukaitis’s philosophy is simple: the best eyelid surgery should not make people ask who your surgeon was it should make them say you look brighter, rested, and more like yourself. The goal is not to change your identity, but to restore eyelid contour, reduce heaviness or puffiness, and help your eyes better reflect how you feel.
What Is Oculofacial Surgery?
Oculofacial surgery covers cosmetic procedures of the eyelids, brows, and the surrounding facial structures. Because the eyelids both frame the face and protect the eye, an oculofacial specialist evaluates appearance and function together eyelid position, brow position, dry-eye risk, skin quality, fat distribution, and overall facial balance rather than simply removing skin.
Dr. Laukaitis brings subspecialty training to this work, including an ASOPRS-approved fellowship in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery and post-fellowship study at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. You can read more about his background on the Meet Dr. Laukaitis page.
Eyelid & Oculofacial Procedures Dr. Laukaitis Offers
Whether you have hooded, heavy upper eyelids or puffy lower lids and under-eye bags, treatment begins with an accurate diagnosis of what is actually causing the tired look. From there, Dr. Laukaitis tailors a plan from the following procedures:
- Upper blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) — for hooded, heavy, or droopy upper eyelids.
- Lower blepharoplasty — for puffy lower lids and under-eye bags.
- Ptosis repair — when the eyelid margin itself sits low and the muscle that lifts the lid needs repair.
- Cosmetic eyelid lift & rejuvenation — refining the upper and lower lids for a more open, rested look.
- Revision eyelid surgery — thoughtful correction for patients unhappy with results from a previous surgery.
- Lower-eyelid skin resurfacing — for crepey or wrinkled lower-lid skin, often with laser skin resurfacing.
- Tear trough & under-eye hollow treatment — softening shadows and hollowing, including with facial fillers when appropriate.
- PRP & regenerative adjuncts — to support lower-eyelid skin quality.
When the evaluation calls for it, Dr. Laukaitis also addresses complementary concerns brow position and brow ptosis (sometimes with a forehead lift), eyelid asymmetry, canthal support, orbital fat repositioning, and eyelid malposition.
A Natural, Conservative Approach
The concern we hear most often is, “Will I still look like myself?” It’s the right question. Dr. Laukaitis approaches eyelid surgery the way a tailor approaches a fine garment: the goal is not to revise as much as possible, but to remove or reposition the right amount in the right place so the result fits your face.
Removing too much skin or fat can create a hollow, operated, or even older appearance. A conservative, anatomy-guided plan usually produces the most elegant and natural result. And because no two eyelids are perfectly identical to begin with and no surgery makes a face mathematically symmetric the aim is meaningful improvement and balance, not artificial perfection.
What to Know Before Your Consultation
A few things Dr. Laukaitis wishes more patients understood before their first visit:
- Eyelid aging is not just extra skin. Hooding can come from upper-eyelid skin, brow descent, ptosis, or a combination which is why the brow and eyelid are always evaluated together.
- Bags and tear troughs are different problems. Under-eye bags are often fat prominence, hollows are often volume loss or shadowing, and wrinkled skin may need resurfacing. These can call for different treatments.
- There is no one-size-fits-all eyelid surgery. The right plan depends on your anatomy, skin quality, eye shape, brow position, dry-eye history, prior surgery, and personal goals.
- Bring older photos. Pictures from 10–20 years ago help define what “natural” looks like for you specifically.
- The consultation is partly educational. Much of its value is diagnosis: what is causing the tired look, what surgery can improve, what should not be treated surgically, and what result is realistic.
Recovery & What to Expect
Most patients are socially presentable in about 10 to 14 days; many return to desk work within roughly two weeks, sometimes with light coverup. Early swelling and bruising are normal and do not represent the final result refinement continues over weeks to months. If you have a wedding, event, or important photo on the calendar, it’s best to plan the final presentation around the three-month mark.
Because surgery is near the eye, it’s natural to ask about safety. Dr. Laukaitis’s training is centered specifically on eyelid anatomy and function, and every plan evaluates eyelid position, brow position, dry-eye risk, skin quality, and fat distribution not just skin removal. He’ll walk you through the realistic balance of benefit and recovery for your specific anatomy at your consultation.
Is Oculofacial Surgery Right for You?
Good candidates are generally adults in good health who want a natural refresh of the eye area most often women and men roughly between 40 and 65 with hooded or heavy upper eyelids, puffy lower lids, under-eye bags, or a tired look that doesn’t match how they feel. The only way to know what will truly help is a personalized evaluation of your eyelid and brow anatomy.
Serving Seattle, Washington & the Pacific Northwest
From our offices in Seattle and Kirkland, Dr. Laukaitis cares for patients across the Puget Sound region and welcomes those traveling from throughout Washington and the wider Pacific Northwest, including Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. For out-of-area patients, we’re glad to begin with a virtual consultation and coordinate scheduling around your travel. Contact us to plan your visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between oculofacial surgery and a standard blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty is one procedure within oculofacial surgery. An oculofacial focus means the eyelids are treated as both a functional and aesthetic structure evaluating eyelid position, brow position, dry-eye risk, and facial balance together, rather than treating skin removal in isolation.
Will eyelid surgery make me look different or “done”?
That outcome is exactly what Dr. Laukaitis works to avoid. The goal is restoration, not transformation: a conservative, anatomy-guided plan that leaves you looking rested and like yourself, not surgically altered.
What causes hooded or heavy upper eyelids?
Hooding can come from excess upper-eyelid skin, a descending brow, ptosis (a low lid margin), or a combination. Treating only the eyelid without assessing the brow can under-correct the problem, which is why both are evaluated together.
What is the difference between under-eye bags and tear-trough hollows?
Bags are usually fat prominence, while tear-trough hollows are usually volume deficiency or shadowing, and wrinkled lower-lid skin is a separate texture issue. Each may call for a different treatment, which is why an accurate diagnosis comes first.
How long is recovery after eyelid surgery?
Most patients are socially presentable in about 10 to 14 days, with many back to desk work around two weeks. Swelling settles and final refinement continues over several weeks to months, so plan important events around the three-month mark.
Is eyelid surgery safe given how close it is to the eye?
Eyelid surgery should always be approached with care because of its proximity to the eye. Dr. Laukaitis’s subspecialty training is centered on eyelid anatomy and function, and he’ll discuss the specific considerations and realistic expectations for your anatomy during your consultation.
Do you offer revision eyelid surgery?
Yes. Dr. Laukaitis sees patients seeking correction or refinement after previous eyelid surgery performed elsewhere. These cases are highly individual and begin with a careful evaluation of your current anatomy, concerns and goals.
How much does cosmetic eyelid surgery cost?
Cost depends on which procedures are involved and the extent of treatment, so pricing is provided after your evaluation. Cosmetic eyelid surgery is an elective procedure, and our team will review the details with you during your consultation.
Does Dr. Laukaitis see patients from outside Seattle?
Yes. Patients travel to our Seattle and Kirkland offices from across Washington and the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. We can often start with a virtual consultation for those traveling from out of the area.
Schedule Your Oculofacial Surgery Consultation
Ready to talk about looking rested and refreshed naturally? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Laukaitis to learn what cosmetic oculofacial and eyelid surgery can do for you.