Upper Blepharoplasty
Also known as upper eyelid surgery, eyelid lift
Removes the hooding that makes eyes look tired and small. Reliable, quick to recover from, and one of the highest satisfaction rates in facial surgery.
US $3,000–7,000 for uppers.
How it works
Excess upper eyelid skin, and sometimes a strip of orbicularis muscle and herniated fat, is excised through an incision hidden in the natural eyelid crease. This restores visible lid show and opens the eye aperture.
How it's used
Conservative excision is critical — removing too much skin causes an inability to close the eye. If the brow has descended, a brow lift may be the actual answer; a blepharoplasty on a ptotic brow can make things worse. Have the surgeon assess brow position and levator function first.
Trade-offs
In favour
- Very high satisfaction rates
- Quick recovery relative to impact
- Scar hides in the eyelid crease and becomes near-invisible
- Can be done under local anaesthetic
- Often insurance-covered if hooding obstructs vision
Against
- Does not address the brow or crow feet
- Ageing continues around the treated area
- Over-resection is difficult to correct
Risks and side effects
- Dry eye, usually temporary
- Inability to fully close the eye if over-resected — lagophthalmos
- Asymmetry between sides
- Visible or widened scarring
- Very rare retrobulbar haematoma threatening vision — an emergency
Recovery
Days 1–3: swelling and bruising, cold compresses, sleep elevated. Day 5–7: sutures removed. Week 2: bruising concealable with makeup, back to work. Weeks 3–6: swelling resolves. Scar redness fades over several months.
How good is the evidence?
Extremely well-established with consistently high patient satisfaction in outcome studies.
Sources
Sources point to guideline bodies and literature searches rather than single papers, so they stay accurate as the evidence moves.