Heavy or droopy eyelids are often brushed off as a cosmetic side effect of aging. But sometimes they’re a sign of a functional problem. When the upper eyelids droop far enough to block part of your field of vision, everyday tasks like reading, driving, and even walking can become more difficult without you realizing your eyelids are the cause.
The good news is that this condition can often be corrected with functional eyelid surgery, a medically necessary procedure that’s different from cosmetic eyelid surgery.
That’s exactly what happened to Janet Quattrochi. At 78, she assumed the heaviness around her eyes was just a normal part of getting older until a routine visit to her dermatologist led her to Dr. Kostick and the oculoplastics team at Florida Eye Specialists.
A Dermatologist’s Referral Leads to a Vision Discovery
Janet’s dermatologist noticed her droopy eyelids and recommended she see Dr. Kostick. “He said he sends all his patients to Dr. Kostick, which gave me a lot of confidence,” Janet said. “That was all we needed to know — we trusted the recommendation right away.”
What started as a cosmetic referral turned into something more. During her evaluation, Janet learned her droopy eyelids weren’t just affecting her appearance. “I didn’t pass my peripheral vision test, and I knew something had to be done,” she said.
Realizing Vision, Not Just Appearance, Was at Stake
Janet’s concerns went beyond how she looked. Watching her 91-year-old brother’s eyelids droop further over the years gave her a glimpse of what could be ahead if she waited too long.
“I was mostly concerned about my peripheral vision. When I saw my brother’s eyelids pulling down, I realized that could be my future. I didn’t want to wait until it got worse,” Janet said.
She decided to address her brow lift and lower eyelids cosmetically while having her upper eyelids corrected for vision at the same time. “I figured if I was already going under, I should do it all at once,” she said. Dr. Kostick gave her the facts without any pressure to decide right away.
“He gave us the facts and let us go home to think it over, which I appreciated,” she said. “My husband, Tony, was kept informed the whole time, too. We both felt very supported.”
Cosmetic Eye Procedure: A Smooth Surgery Day
Like many patients, Janet felt some nerves heading into surgery, but the team’s preparation quickly put her at ease.
“It was definitely scary — any surgery is. But everyone was excellent. They were informative, kind, and efficient,” she said. “They even let us come inside early since it was cold outside. The whole team made me feel cared for.”
Attentive Care Through Recovery
That same level of care continued after Janet went home. When her eyes weren’t opening evenly during recovery, a quick call to the office got her seen the very next day.
“It turned out I had a stitch sticking out, and they took care of it right away,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for better. They followed up with me the very next day and checked in multiple times after that.”
Recovery took some adjustment, especially sleeping upright in the early weeks, but Janet followed Dr. Kostick’s instructions closely. Around five to six weeks after her procedure, she began noticing real improvement, right on the timeline Dr. Kostick had predicted.
Clearer Vision and Renewed Confidence
Today, Janet’s day-to-day life looks different. “I can’t believe how much better I see. You don’t know what you’re missing until you can finally see it,” she said. “Driving is a lot easier now, and everything just feels clearer.”
The benefits have carried into her work life, too. Janet works in retail, where she interacts with customers every day. “I feel better about how I look, and I’m more confident at work,” she said. “Being able to see well — and not looking so tired — has made a big difference.”
Looking back, Janet has no doubts about her decision. “It’s a personal decision, but for me, I’m very happy I did it,” she said. “The vision improvement was incredible. Just be ready to follow the post-op instructions and give yourself time to heal.”
Recommending Dr. Kostick and the Team
Janet wholeheartedly recommends her experience to others considering similar procedures. “I wholeheartedly recommend him and the entire team,” she said. “Everyone was kind, caring, and professional. I’ve already told friends and neighbors about Dr. Kostick, and I’ll continue to do so.”
Schedule an Evaluation With Our Oculoplastics Team
Heavy or droopy eyelids can be more than a cosmetic concern; they can limit your peripheral vision and quality of life, just like they did for Janet. If you’re noticing similar changes, schedule an evaluation with our oculoplastics and cosmetic surgery team at Florida Eye Specialists today.