Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) – Sydney & Canberra

Eyelid surgery corrects the shape and look of the eye

Eyelid surgery (technically called Blepharoplasty) is a procedure to remove fat, usually along with excess skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. Eyelid surgery can correct drooping upper lids and puffy bags below your eyes, i.e. those features that make you look older and more tired than you feel and may sometimes interfere with your vision. However, it won’t remove crow’s feet or other wrinkles, eliminate dark circles under your eyes or lift sagging eyebrows. While it can add an upper eyelid crease to Asian eyes, it will not erase evidence of your ethnic or racial heritage. Blepharoplasty can be done alone or in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures such as a facelift or browlift.

Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) Procedure

Duration: 1 to 3 hours.

Anaesthesia: Usually locally with sedation

Side Effects: Temporary discomfort, tightness of lids, swelling, bruising. Temporary dryness, burning, itching of eyes. Excessive tearing, sensitivity to light for first few weeks.

Recovery: Reading: two to three days. Back to work: seven to 10 days. Contact lenses: two weeks or more. Strenuous activities, alcohol: about three weeks. Bruising and swelling gone: several weeks.

Duration of Results: Several years, often permanent.

Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) Costs

Upper-eyelid surgery may be covered by insurance if used to correct visual field defects.
Initial consultation with our plastic surgeon is $200 and can be performed at either of our cosmetic clinics in Double Bay or Canberra.

Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) Risks

Temporary blurred or double vision. Infection, bleeding. Swelling at the corners of the eyelids. Dry eyes. Formation of whiteheads. Slight asymmetry in healing or scarring. Difficulty in closing eyes completely (rarely permanent). Pulling down of the lower lids (may require further surgery).

When eyelid surgery is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, there is always a possibility of complications, including infection or a reaction to the anaesthesia. You can reduce your risks by closely following your surgeon’s instructions both before and after surgery.

The Best Candidates

To be a good candidate for eyelid surgery, you must have realistic expectations about what the procedure can do for you. It’s important to understand that the procedure can enhance your appearance and self confidence, but it won’t necessarily change your looks to match your ideal or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.

The best candidates for eyelid surgery should be physically healthy, psychologically stable and realistic in their expectations. Age is not a major consideration however, older patients may have diminished skin elasticity and may not achieve the same results as a younger patient with tighter skin.

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