Local anaesthetic, day case
Most blepharoplasty is carried out under local anaesthetic with sedation, so there is no overnight stay. You go home the same day and recover in your own surroundings.
Blepharoplasty in London and Essex
Heavy upper lids that make you look tired even when you are not. Eyes that seem to disappear in photographs. Lower lids that never quite lose their puffiness, however much sleep you get. In some patients, hooded skin sits low enough to affect side vision.
Dr Marta Vilaro is a consultant ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon who plans and performs every blepharoplasty herself, from your first assessment to your final review. She sees patients in Central London (Welbeck) and in Essex (The Holly Private Hospital, Buckhurst Hill).
At a glance
Blepharoplasty at a glance
- Procedure time
- From 45 minutes to around 2 hours, depending on upper, lower or combined surgery
- Anaesthetic
- You will have either a local anaesthetic with sedation or a general anaesthetic
- Setting
- A day case, so you can expect to go home on the same day as your procedure
- Stitches
- Stitches are taken out after about a week, so they are only in for a short time
- Back to work
- Most patients return to work within 1 to 2 weeks of having their surgery
- Final result
- Visible from around 6 to 12 weeks, once any lingering swelling has settled
The basics
What blepharoplasty is
Blepharoplasty is surgery to remove or reposition excess skin, muscle and fat around the eyes. Upper blepharoplasty removes the loose skin folding down over the lash line. Lower blepharoplasty addresses puffiness and bags beneath the eye. Many patients combine both in a single procedure. Incisions sit within the natural creases of the eyelid, so scarring is designed to fade into these lines rather than sit on visible skin. We would rather tell you plainly that some fine scarring is normal at first than promise a scarless result.
Results are long lasting because the tissue removed does not return. The natural ageing process still continues around it, so no clinic can honestly promise a permanent effect. Most adults in general good health are candidates, including patients who have had unsuccessful surgery elsewhere and want a considered second opinion. Dr Vilaro will tell you plainly if blepharoplasty is not the right answer for your eyes, and will discuss an alternative where one exists.
Why patients choose Dr Vilaro
Benefits of blepharoplasty with Dr Vilaro
A faster recovery than you might expect
Bruising and swelling are most visible in the first week and settle noticeably by two weeks. Many patients are comfortable returning to work within 7 to 10 days, sooner for upper lid surgery alone.
Results built to last
Because the excess skin and fat removed do not return, the improvement is long lasting. Individual results vary, and the natural ageing process continues around the treated area.
A specialist in revision surgery, close to home
Dr Vilaro is a consultant oculoplastic surgeon who also corrects eyelids from previous surgery that has not settled well, with clinics in Central London and Essex for consultations and follow-up.
Before your procedure
Your first appointment is a thorough examination of your eyelids, eyebrows and vision, so Dr Vilaro can see how they sit and work together. It gives her a clear understanding of your eyes as they are today and is the starting point for everything that follows. Photographs are also taken at this visit. They are used to plan the surgery precisely to your own eye shape, so that the plan is built around you rather than a standard approach, and each step is thought through carefully well before the day of your procedure, so you know what is planned.
Dr Vilaro will explain realistically what surgery can and cannot achieve, so you know what to expect in plain terms before going any further. She would rather you had a clear and honest picture now than be surprised later. You will then receive a fixed written quote setting out exactly what is included, so you have it in front of you before you decide anything, and can read it through in your own time. Please never stop any prescribed medicines before your procedure without checking with the doctor who prescribed them first.
On the day
Surgery typically takes around 45 minutes for one eyelid area, up to about 2 hours for a combined upper and lower procedure.
- You arrive at the clinic, where your surgical plan is confirmed with you and carefully marked on your eyelids before anything begins.
- Local anaesthetic is given. You may feel a brief sting, which is soon followed by numbness, so the area is comfortable during surgery.
- Excess skin, muscle or fat is removed or repositioned through the planned incisions, following the markings made at the start.
- The incisions are then closed with fine stitches, placed neatly within the natural crease of the eyelid so they sit out of sight.
- You rest under observation for a while, and once you are ready you go home on the same day, with no need for an overnight stay.
Afterwards
Swelling and bruising are most visible in the first 3 to 5 days, and stitches are usually removed after about 7 days. Your final result is expected by around 6 to 12 weeks.
Contact the clinic promptly if
Bleeding does not settle with gentle pressure
Your vision changes or becomes blurred beyond the first day
You develop increasing pain, redness or a temperature
Real results
Before and after results
Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty
Does blepharoplasty hurt?
No. The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic with sedation or general anaesthetic, so you should not feel pain during surgery. Mild discomfort, tightness or bruising in the days afterwards is normal and is managed with simple pain relief.
How long does blepharoplasty take?
Surgery on one eyelid area typically takes around 45 minutes. A combined upper and lower procedure can take up to about 2 hours, depending on your case.
Is blepharoplasty permanent?
The skin and fat removed do not return, so results are long lasting. No clinic can honestly promise a permanent outcome, because the natural ageing process continues around the treated area.
Will blepharoplasty leave a visible scar?
Incisions are placed within the natural crease of the eyelid, so scarring is designed to be well hidden once healed. Some fine, pink scarring is normal in the first weeks and typically fades significantly over several months.
Who will actually perform my surgery?
Dr Marta Vilaro, a consultant ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon, plans and performs every blepharoplasty herself, from your first consultation through to your follow-up appointments.
What is the difference between upper and lower blepharoplasty?
Upper blepharoplasty removes excess skin that folds down over the lash line. Lower blepharoplasty addresses puffiness, bags or loose skin beneath the eye. Many patients choose to combine both in a single procedure.
Can blepharoplasty affect my vision?
In some patients, heavy upper eyelid skin affects side vision, which is one of the reasons for having surgery rather than a purely cosmetic one. Where eyelid function is affected, funding may be available through routes beyond self-pay; this is worth discussing at your consultation or with your GP.
How much does blepharoplasty cost?
Every quote follows a full assessment and is provided in writing, setting out exactly what is included, because the right procedure for one patient's eyelids can differ from another's.
Am I a good candidate for blepharoplasty?
Most adults in general good health with sagging or puffy eyelids are suitable candidates. Dr Vilaro will tell you plainly if blepharoplasty is not the right option for you, and will discuss alternatives where they exist.
Does Dr Vilaro treat previous blepharoplasty that has not healed well?
Yes. Revision surgery on eyelids from a previous procedure elsewhere is a particular area of Dr Vilaro's practice, assessed with the same thorough examination as a first-time procedure.
What should I check before choosing a blepharoplasty surgeon?
Confirm the surgeon's specialist registration with the General Medical Council, ask to see healed results from patients with a similar eyelid shape to yours, and check what aftercare and follow-up is included. In England, private clinics are also regulated by the Care Quality Commission.
How long before I can wear makeup or exercise again?
Most patients can wear light makeup to cover bruising after about 10 to 14 days, once stitches are removed and the incision has settled. Vigorous exercise is usually avoided for around 2 weeks to reduce swelling and the risk of bleeding.