The Eyelid Lift Procedure
As we get older, the eyes are often the first place to show visible signs of the ageing process, as the surrounding skin and muscles start to lose elasticity and relax. This causes both the upper and lower eyelids to sag. Eyebags appear below the eyes and the delicate skin on the upper lids droop and form folds.
Genetics often play a role, particularly in the development of eyebags in younger patients, but sun damage and smoking can all accelerate ageing around the eyes.
Surgery Time
1 – 2 hours
Anaesthetic
Local, sedation or general
Hospital Stay
Outpatient, day case or overnight stay
Time Off Work
1 week
Full Recovery
2 – 8 weeks
An upper blepharoplasty focuses on the area between the eyebrow and the eyelashes and a lower eyelid lift targets the area below the lower lid lashes and the cheek. These procedures can be performed individually or in combination and both involves removing or repositioning loose skin and excess fatty tissue.
If you have a pocket of fat below the lower eyelids, without sagging skin, the fat can be removed or repositioned through the inside of the lower eyelid, known as a transconjunctival incision.
The muscles are then tightened and the skin on both the upper and lower lid will look firmer, smoother and more youthful.
Mr Juling Ong will often combine a blepharoplasty with other procedures such as a facelift for optimal results. Non-surgical treatments such as Anti-Wrinkle Injections can be used to smooth away dynamic wrinkles around the eyes and on the brow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is blepharoplasty and who needs it?
Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure on the eyelids. Upper blepharoplasty removes excess skin and sometimes fat from the upper eyelid, which can cause a hooded appearance and, in more severe cases, impair the visual field. Lower blepharoplasty addresses under-eye bags caused by bulging fat pads and excess skin. Some patients require surgery to both the upper and lower lids, known as a quad blepharoplasty.
Can upper blepharoplasty improve my vision?
In cases where the excess upper eyelid skin droops significantly over the pupil, blepharoplasty can meaningfully improve the field of vision. This functional aspect may make the procedure eligible for NHS funding or insurance coverage, depending on the degree of obstruction documented on visual field testing.
What is the difference between upper and lower blepharoplasty?
Upper blepharoplasty removes a precisely calculated ellipse of excess skin (and sometimes a small amount of fat) from the upper lid crease to open the eye and restore a youthful lid contour. Lower blepharoplasty is more variable in technique; fat may be removed, repositioned, or reduced, and skin may or may not be excised, depending on whether the primary concern is puffiness or skin laxity.
Will blepharoplasty remove my crow’s feet or dark circles?
Blepharoplasty improves the eyelid itself but does not directly treat crow’s feet (periorbital wrinkles) or dark circles. Crow’s feet can be addressed with anti-wrinkle injections or laser treatments. Dark circles caused by pigmentation require non-surgical treatments; those caused by hollowing or under-eye shadow from fat herniation may be partially improved by surgery.
Is there anything I should do to prepare for my blepharoplasty procedure?
Mr Juling Ong will advise you on whether you need an eye test before surgery and will ask questions about your eye health during your consultation.
Before surgery, Mr Ong will assess each patient based on their medical history and personal risk factors and may advise them to stop taking certain medications. He will also recommend you stop smoking for at least a few weeks before surgery, as nicotine constricts the blood vessels and compromises your healing.
Where are the scars after blepharoplasty?
Upper lid scars sit within the natural crease of the eyelid and are effectively invisible once healed. Lower lid scars may be placed just below the lash line (subciliary approach) or entirely inside the eyelid (transconjunctival approach). Both approaches heal very well, and scars are generally undetectable at six to twelve months.
Is an eyelid lift a painful procedure?
Generally, discomfort after a blepharoplasty procedure is minimal and can be easily managed with painkillers. The eyes may feel slightly gritty, but this can be managed with eye drops or ointments while you recover.
What is the recovery from blepharoplasty?
Bruising and swelling peak in the first three to five days and typically resolve within two weeks. Most patients feel comfortable returning to desk work within one to two weeks. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for four weeks. Contact lens wearers should wait at least two weeks post-operatively before reinserting lenses.
Are there risks specific to blepharoplasty?
Risks include asymmetry, swelling, dry eye (particularly with lower lid surgery), eyelid retraction, ectropion (outward turning of the lower lid), incomplete closure of the eye and, very rarely, vision changes. Careful patient selection and surgical technique substantially reduce these risks. Mr Juling Ong will assess tear production before any lower-lid surgery.
