The plastic surgery technique involving the cosmetic surgical alteration of the eye is called blepharoplasty. This technique involves cosmetic eyelid surgery to correct drooping eyelids. This condition of the eyelid can interfere with vision and by performing eyelid plastic surgery this condition is corrected.

Muscles lose elasticity as they age. During this aging process skin and muscle sag and fatty tissue may increase, and this process may affect the eyelid and under the eye. When this happens in may appear on the eyelid of the eye or under the eye as puffiness or a "bag". Surgical procedure for improving the look of the eyelid or under the eye may consist of in office or outpatient surgery. Whether both eyes will have blepharoplasty as well as type of anesthesia used dictates where the surgery will be performed. During the surgery incisions are made with the intention of removing fat and excess skin and muscle, and fine sutures are used to prevent scarring. Many doctors combine eyelid surgery with forehead, or "eyebrow" lifts.

Many persons of specific cultural backgrounds choose to have cosmetic eyelid surgery. This surgery is usually performed for aesthetic reasons and creates a crease in the eyelid of a person with an epicanthal fold. This fold is eyelid tissue from the upper eyelid closest to the nose that overlaps and to create a double layer of skin. Persons with an epicathic fold also have no crease in the eyelid. Cosmetic eye surgery eliminates the fold and creates a crease in the upper eyelid by restructuring the eyelid.

Surgical enhancement of the eyes may take approximately 2 to 3 hours depending on the procedure. The cost of eyelid surgery depends on the type of procedure to be done and if both eyes will be surgically enhanced on the same day. If cosmetic eye surgery is being performed due to problems with vision due to sagging eyelids, medical insurance may pay for the procedure.