Eyelids and Eyelid Surgery

Blepharoplasty is the name for eyelid surgery and is a surgical procedure to help remove excess soft tissue or ‘bags’ around your orbits and from around the eyelid area. Blepharoplasty is a type of surgery that typically works to repair droopy eyelids and may involve removing excess skin, muscle and fat. As you age, your eyelids stretch, and the muscles supporting them weaken. As a result, excess fat may gather above and below your eyelids, causing sagging eyebrows, droopy upper lids and bags under your eyes.

Why Do People Get Blepharoplasty?

You might consider blepharoplasty if droopy or sagging eyelids keep your eyes from opening completely or pull down your lower eyelids. It may also be the case that the appearance of droopy eyelids and ‘bags’ under one’s eyes are deemed unsightly and require surgical attention and correction. Removing excess tissue from your upper eyelids may improve your vision. Upper and lower lid blepharoplasty can make your eyes appear younger and more alert.

Potential Benefits of Blepharoplasty

Those who undergo blepharoplasty may point to a range of benefits, with some of the most common being described as:

• More youthful look
• Appear less tired
• Boost in confidence
• Smoother forehead
• Corrected visual impairments
• Long-term improvement
• Minimal scarring

The Blepharoplasty Procedure

The blepharoplasty procedure in itself can be somewhat straightforward. Your surgeon will typically incise the natural skin crease to help maintain post-procedure cosmesis. They will then remove any excess soft tissue and fat before closing the wound.

What Are The Risks of Blepharoplasty?

The risks always should be discussed in length with the surgeon performing the procedure, but generally speaking, the risks are:

• Bleeding and bruising
• Infection
• Scars – often in natural skin folds but cannot be guaranteed
• Dry or itchy eyes
• Pain
• An excess amount of soft tissue is removed, resulting in an unnatural look
• Damage to eye and cornea
• Swelling of the eye and peri-orbital tissues is a common immediate post-surgery and progressively worse for 48 – 72 hours before improving. Your surgeon may recommend cold compressions and keeping the head upright to aid swelling
• Blurred vision: often temporary but cannot be guaranteed

It is recommended to avoid make-up and contact lenses for 2 weeks after surgery.

There is a very high chance of recurrence (unless mesh is used, please discuss with our partners or us).

Please note: often, results cannot be fully judged until 6-12 months post-procedure.

How Much Does Blepharoplasty cost?

1. UK private cost: although it varies from clinic to clinic, the average price for blepharoplasty surgery from a reputable clinic is between £2000 to £6000.
2. NHS: this surgery can be carried out on the NHS if the excess skin affects your vision. It cannot and usually is not done on the NHS solely for cosmetic problems.