A typical eyelid surgery, one that works on both the upper and lower eyelids, takes about two hours. You’ll receive a local anesthetic and either oral or intravenous sedation. Upper eyelid surgery is usually performed first; incisions are made along the natural folds of the eyelids and the skin is separated so that excess fat, tissue and muscle can be removed. For the lower eyelids, an incision is usually made just below the lashes and excess fatty deposits are removed. In some cases, laser resurfacing may be recommended.