Thinking about having an eyelid lift?

Whatever your reasons, you can rest assured that Moorfields Private provides you with high level of excellence in terms of both treatment and aftercare for this procedure.

Every time you visit, you will be looked after by your chosen surgeon who will supervise your care from start to finish. You also have the reassurance of knowing that you will receive balanced, objective advice with no pressure to commit.

We also try to make everything as simple as we possibly can for our patients. If you do eventually decide to go through with the eyelid lift, this step-by-step guide will give you a good idea of what lies ahead.

Firstly, you will need to book an appointment to meet one of our consultants.

• You can have a “cooling off period” to think things over. If you are still keen to proceed after that, we will book a date for your treatment.
• You are almost always able to return home on the same day as your treatment, depending on the level of surgery required, unless you choose to stay in hospital overnight for your own convenience.
• Around 7-14 days after your treatment, you will return for a follow-up appointment to check how your eyes are recovering and to have your sutures removed.
• 2-3 months after your treatment, you will pop back for a final check-up.

The recovery process for upper or lower eyelid blepharoplasty is usually quite quick, although lower eyelid blepharoplasty can take longer if the procedure is more complex. You can expect to return to your normal routine within a day or two of your treatment, although the bruising may remain for a fortnight or longer. Combined upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty may require a longer recovery period of 2-3 weeks.

How long does the surgery take?

This will depend on the level of complexity of surgery required, but generally blepharoplasty surgery would be expected to take between 45 minutes and two and a half hours. Shorter procedures tend to be performed under local anaesthesia with sedation (twilight anaesthesia), whereas the longer procedures, particularly lower blepahroplasty can be performed under general anaesthesia as they may take longer. You may be having additional simultaneous procedures such as a mid-face lift or brow lift which will increase the duration of surgery and length of full post-operative recovery.

Is there anything I should or shouldn’t do after surgery?

Patients are advised to refrain from strenuous activity for one week after the surgery. Sutures are usually removed after one week. Cold/Ice packs are very helpful to reduce the swelling and it is often advisable to keep the area dry for a few days. Your surgeon will give you more specific advice and instructions.

Are there any problems after surgery?

Dry eyes and ocular surface irritation are common symptoms after surgery, and this should usually dissipate as the eyelid function recovers. Numbness around the eyelids is also common and this can take several weeks to recover.

Is an eyelid lift procedure safe?

In expert hands, blepharoplasty is a safe and effective procedure offering significant aesthetic and functional benefits. As with any surgery, there are some risks associated with the procedure or related to your medical history and these will be discussed with you in detail at your consultation. It is advisable to bring a list of your current medication and notes of any medical allergies to your consultation.