Blepharoplasty or eyelid/eyebag surgery can help restore a more youthful appearance by tightening droopy or hooded eyelids, restoring the smooth line of the eyelids, and removing or moving fatty pouches beneath the eyes or "bags". It is often our eyelids which show the signs of ageing first which is why this can be the first cosmetic treatment which a man or a woman might choose. Eyelid surgery is generally performed under a local anaesthetic, but some patients are given sedation via an intravenous drip or a general anaesthetic. Most people find that they are ready to go out in public and be seen in around a week to 10 days.

Before & After

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who performs the treatment?

  Only our highly skilled doctors who have treated 1000's of satisfied patients

• Where is the treatment carried out?

  Either in our Centres of Excellence in London or Nottingham. Both are easily accessible by all forms of transport as road, rail and airports are all nearby.

• What does the treatment involve?

  In your first appointment with a surgeon, you should clearly explain your expectations of the surgery and how you would like to look afterwards.

  Careful discussions regarding your reasons for wanting eyelid surgery are very important at this stage. Make sure that you obtain as much information as necessary to enable you to make a fully informed decision about whether to go ahead with the surgery.

  The surgeon will ask for your medical history to make sure that there are no reasons why you shouldn't have eyelid surgery. At this point, you would also normally be asked to sign a consent form indicating that you have understood the future benefits and possible risks associated with the procedure.

  Photographs of your eyes may also be taken by the practitioner, for a "before and after" comparison later. The surgeon may wish to write to your G.P. giving details of the operation so that if there are any problems associated with it in the short or long-term, the G.P. is aware of the surgery and can help you if you require any further treatment after the operation. Before your surgery, your surgeon may require you to be examined by an ophthalmologist (specialist eye surgeon) to test for glaucoma (a disease affecting your eyesight) and to make sure that you have no problems with tear production.

  Anaesthesia

  The operation is generally performed under a local anaesthetic, but some patients are given sedation via an intravenous drip. In rare cases, a general anaesthetic can be used.

  As in any surgical procedure, the use of a general anaesthetic carries a small additional risk which your practitioner will discuss with you. No form of anaesthetic will be given to you without your surgeon discussing it with you first.

  The operation

  Blepharoplasty is usually performed under a local anaesthetic, and eye drops are used to anaesthetise the eyes, then protective contact lenses may be placed over the eyes during the surgery. When the anaesthetic has taken effect, a mixture of adrenaline and lignocaine (a local anaesthetic) is injected into the eyelids before any cuts are made by the surgeon.

  Upper eyelid blepharoplasty involves cutting along the eyelid crease, in the natural skin fold of the eyelid. The cuts for both upper and lower lid procedures can be made with either a surgical scalpel or a laser. N.B. Surgeons who use a laser claim that there is less bleeding and fewer bruises after the operation as the laser seals the blood vessels when it cuts into the skin Then, excess skin is removed and a thin strip of muscle is also taken out to give the eyelid crease more shape. Next, unwanted fatty tissue is removed and the cut is then closed with a single layer of stitches, hiding the scar inside the natural fold of the upper eyelid.

  The two most common methods of performing lower eyelid blepharoplasty are:

  1) through a direct cut made just below the lower lashes. The surgeon lifts the skin and muscle to remove a small amount of fat. Excess skin and muscle are then trimmed from the lower lid;

  2) a technique called transconjunctival blepharoplasty may be used if you have a pocket of fat beneath your lower eyelids, but do not have any loose skin. It is usually performed on younger patients who have fat pads that push out through the eye muscle wall into their lower eyelids.

  The transconjunctival method leaves no obvious scars. The cut is closed with self-dissolving stitches or is left to heal naturally. In addition to this surgery, a lid tightening procedure may be recommended and can be performed at the same time. A newer procedure sometimes used is the so-called S.O.O.F. lift. This is an abbreviation for a procedure which lifts the Sub Orbicularis Oculi Fat (SOOF) pad (the fat in the eyebags).

  Usually in standard blepharoplasty operations, the fat pads inside the eye bags are removed along with any slack muscle tissue. If you choose to have a S.O.O.F. operation, the fat is put back behind the muscle underneath the eye instead of being removed completely. If too much fat is taken away, the eyes can take on a sunken appearance. The S.O.O.F. technique avoids this as the fat is not taken away.

  A blepharoplasty operation takes about 2 to 2 1/2 hours for the upper and lower lids on each eye to be treated. If you are having another procedure, such as a facelift, at the same time, then an overnight stay in hospital may be required. Otherwise, patients can usually go home after eyelid or eyebag surgery on the same day as their operation.

• What are the benefits?

  Most patients find that they are ready to go out in public and be seen in around a week to 10 days following this procedure. Most of the swelling and bruising will have subsided after this period of time.

• How long will it take to see the results?

  Around 4-6 weeks post procedure

• Are there any side effects?

  The eyes can be uncomfortable and swollen following surgery to your eyelids. The pain usually stops a few days after the surgery, but swelling may persist for over two weeks. Other risks or complications following blepharoplasty include some minor and temporary difficulties such as: temporary blurred vision; dry or gritty eyes; temporary problems with too much tear production; difficulty closing the eyelids completely.

  The following are more serious but unusual difficulties following eyelid surgery: infection; bruising; a reaction to the anaesthetic; nerve damage; the occurrence of asymmetries (i.e. the eyes looking lop-sided) or irregularities in the eyelid. A more serious, but very rare side effect, is bleeding behind the eye (retrobulbar haematoma).

• How will I be looked after the treatment?

  We are the only clinic that gives all patients 24 hour access to medical staff & regular follow up It is very important that you follow the advice of your practitioner carefully following light treatment for hair removal to reduce the risk of complications.

  Post - surgery advice may include:

  • using recommended painkillers as required;
  • using cold compresses after surgery to help reduce the swelling around the eyes;
  • bathing the area around the eyes to keep it clean. Eyedrops may also be recommended if you experience any dry or itchy eye problems;
  • applying any antibiotic ointment recommended to reduce the chance of infection in the treated area;
  • your surgeon advising you when to begin exercising and more strenuous activities as sweating and the shaking or jarring of the skin is not always helpful to the healing process;
  contacting your surgeon immediately if you notice any signs of infection or if you experience bleeding or a sudden increase in pain.

  Additionally, when you leave a clinic or hospital after a blepharoplasty procedure you are likely to suffer from varying degrees of redness, bruising and swelling in the eye area, which may not be the most attractive face that you wish to present to the public as you walk down the street.

• Cost

  Each patient is different so please call the clinic where a consultant will be able to give an indication of cost.