Blepharoplasty

eyelid lift, eyelid surgery

If you鈥檙e experiencing discomfort related to your eyes, you may be considering a blepharoplasty (also known as eyelid surgery or an eye lift). This may be due to the effects of ageing, which can cause our eyelids to stretch and the muscles supporting them to get weaker.

Discover why you might need a blepharoplasty, how it鈥檚 performed, and what you can expect the recovery to be like with AOA体育平台 Eye Centre.

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What is it for?

To strengthen your visual skills by using personalised activities and treatment

What is blepharoplasty?

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure, in which excess skin from the upper eyelids is removed and bagginess from the lower eyelids is reduced. As you age, your eyelids stretch, and the muscles supporting them get weaker. This can cause excess skin and fat to gather above and below your eyelids, resulting in sagging eyebrows, droopy upper lids, and bags under your eyes.

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, can therefore improve the appearance of the area around your eyes. Depending on your areas of concern, a blepharoplasty can be performed on your upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both. You can also combine blepharoplasty with another surgical procedure, such as a brow lift, to lift the top part of the face, or a facelift.

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Why might I need a blepharoplasty?

Blepharoplasty can be done for a variety of reasons. It鈥檚 usually performed as a cosmetic procedure, to make your eyes look younger and more alert.

However, it鈥檚 also sometimes recommended to improve the field of vision in people whose sagging upper eyelids obstruct their visual field. This is because baggy or droopy upper eyelids can partially reduce side vision (peripheral vision) as well as the upper and outer parts of the visual field. Blepharoplasty can help you to overcome these problems.

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What to expect during and after blepharoplasty surgery

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Step 1

How to prepare for blepharoplasty

Before your blepharoplasty, you鈥檒l have a complete eye examination to check for any conditions, like dry eye or blepharitis, that could complicate the surgery. Your ophthalmologist or oculoplastic surgeon may ask you to stop taking anti-inflammatory medications, blood thinners, and certain supplements that increase bleeding risk. You鈥檒l also need to arrange for a family member or friend to drive you home and stay with you for the first night after the procedure.

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Step 2

What to expect during blepharoplasty surgery

Blepharoplasty is usually performed as an outpatient or day case procedure and takes about 45 minutes to an hour for upper or lower eyelid surgery. If both are treated simultaneously, it can take around two hours. For an upper blepharoplasty, the surgeon makes incisions in the natural crease of the upper eyelid to remove excess skin and fat, leaving the scar hidden. For lower blepharoplasty, an incision is made just below the lash line or inside the eyelid to remove excess skin or fat, keeping the scar concealed.

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Step 3

Blepharoplasty recovery and aftercare

After surgery, you may experience temporary symptoms like blurred vision, watery eyes, light sensitivity, and puffy or numb eyelids. Alongside any prescribed eye drops, ointments, or painkillers, cold compresses and antibiotic ointments can help reduce swelling. During recovery, avoid strenuous activities for one to two weeks, as well as smoking, eye rubbing, and contact lenses. Most patients return to work within two weeks and resume full activities within a month, though complete healing may take a few months, depending on the extent of the procedure.

Why choose AOA体育平台 Eye Centre?

Unparalleled, outstanding eye care

AOA体育平台 Eye Centre provides the highest standards of eye care. Our team of expert ophthalmologists work in partnership with world leaders and experts from all aspects of medicine, combining state-of-the-art diagnostics with cutting-edge therapies to deliver a best-in-class service to a global audience.

Personal care, every time

Exceptional patient care is a way of life for us. Our clinicians, nurses and support teams are dedicated to providing bespoke care, centred around our patients. They鈥檒l be with you every step of the way, tailoring your care around you and giving you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you鈥檙e in the best hands.

Effortlessly simple

Our Eye Centre simplifies your path to eye health. We work together as one to guide you through each step of your experience, with complexities unravelled and answers readily to hand. Your personal treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on yourself.

Our blepharoplasty specialists

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Headshot of consultant Hugo Henderson

Mr Hugo W A Henderson

Consultant Ophthalmic and Oculoplastic Surgeon

MA MBBS FRCOphth

Consultant headshot of Miles Kiernan

Mr Miles Kiernan

Consultant Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon

MBChB MRes MSc FRCOphth

Profile photo of Miss Amynah Goawalla

Ms Amynah Goawalla

Consultant Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon

BSc(Hons) MBBS FRCOphth MEd

What's included in your package?

Choosing AOA体育平台 Eye Centre means your treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so that you can focus on you.

Your treatment package will include:

  • your pre-admission assessment
  • your treatment, with our care team at your fingertips
  • personalised aftercare and follow-up

We want you to be in control of your health. That is why we also offer optional services, such as comprehensive recovery packages and extra touches for you to choose from during your stay with us.

Get in touch

You can use private medical insurance (PMI) to access this treatment. We work with all major PMI providers in the UK and many internationally.

Alternatively, you can pay for yourself (self-pay). If you are paying for yourself, we have finance options available with .

Find out more about paying for your treatment here.

To book an appointment, call us today on: 0203 553 3670

Enquire online

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Before a blepharoplasty procedure, you will have a full ophthalmic (eye) examination to make sure you do not have any eye conditions that could be complicated by the surgery (e.g., dry eye conditions or blepharitis).

To prepare for the procedure, your ophthalmologist (an eye care specialist) or oculoplastic surgeon will ask you to:

  • stop taking anti-inflammatory medications, aspirin, blood thinners, multivitamins, herbal supplements, or any other medications that can increase your risk of bleeding

You will also need to arrange for a trusted family member or friend to drive you home from surgery and stay with you for the first night following the procedure.

Blepharoplasty can be performed either as an outpatient procedure or as a day case or inpatient procedure depending on the specific procedure and anaesthetic techniques you鈥檙e undergoing.

Upper or lower blepharoplasty is normally completed within 45 minutes to an hour. However, if you are having the procedure performed on both the upper and lower eyelids at the same time, the whole process can take about two hours.

If you choose to combine a blepharoplasty with another treatment, the exact length of the surgery will depend on the specific procedure you鈥檙e undergoing.

Upper blepharoplasty

During an upper blepharoplasty, your surgeon will make cuts (incisions) in the natural crease of your upper eyelid. This means that the scar from your surgery will be hidden in the crease when you open your eyes.

Your surgeon will then remove excess skin and protruding fat through the incision before closing it.

Lower blepharoplasty

During a lower blepharoplasty, your surgeon will make an incision just below your lower eyelash line. This means that the scar will be hidden by the eyelash line. They will then remove excess skin through this incision.

They may make an incision in the skin just below the lash line if skin needs to be removed or the incision may be hidden on the inside of the eyelids if skin is not removed.

Although the surgery is typically painless, you may have some swelling and bruising. You may also experience other temporary symptoms, including:

  • blurred vision
  • watery eyes
  • light sensitivity
  • double vision
  • puffy, numb eyelids
  • pain and discomfort

In addition to using any prescribed eye drops, ointments, or painkillers, during your blepharoplasty recovery, you can also apply a cold compress and an antibiotic ointment to help reduce swelling.

To support your recovery, avoid any strenuous activities for one to two weeks. You should also avoid smoking, rubbing your eyes, and wearing contact lenses.

As a general guide, you can expect to return to work within two weeks and resume normal activities, including exercise, within a month. However, complete healing may take a few months. Your overall recovery time will depend on the extent of the surgical work you have undergone.

While severe complications are relatively uncommon, all surgical procedures have risks. These can include reactions to the anaesthesia, blood clots, shock, and haemorrhage.

In addition, there are some relatively rare risks associated with eyelid surgery, including:

  • infection and bleeding
  • dry, irritated eyes
  • difficulty closing your eyes
  • scarring
  • injury to your eye muscles
  • skin discolouration
  • temporarily blurred vision or, extremely rarely, loss of eyesight

Your surgeon will discuss any possible risks with you before the procedure.

You can use private medical insurance (PMI) to access this treatment. We work with all major PMI providers in the UK and many internationally.

Alternatively, you can pay for yourself (self-pay). If you are paying for yourself, we have finance options available with .

Find out more about paying for your treatment here.

To book an appointment, call us today on: 0203 553 3670

Get in touch

Book an appointment at AOA体育平台 Eye Centre, home to world-class consultants and state-of-the-art diagnostics, located in the heart of Harley Street. Call us today on: +44 (0)203 553 3670 or enquire online.

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