Question 1

Is blepharoplasty painful?

Accepted Answer

Surgery is done under local anaesthetic, so you should feel little more than a brief sting from the numbing injections. Afterwards most people have mild tightness or soreness, which simple painkillers and cold compresses usually manage well.

Question 2

How long does the surgery take?

Accepted Answer

Upper blepharoplasty takes about 1 hour for both eyes; allow 2 to 3 hours at the clinic in total. Lower blepharoplasty takes about 1 to 1½ hours for both eyes. You go home the same day.

Question 3

When can I go back to work?

Accepted Answer

After upper blepharoplasty, most people return to desk-based work after about 5 days, or after about 14 days for physical work. After lower blepharoplasty, most people return to desk-based work after 10 to 14 days, or after 2 to 3 weeks for physical work.

Question 4

Will I have a visible scar?

Accepted Answer

For upper blepharoplasty the incision is placed in the natural crease of the eyelid, so the scar sits hidden when your eyes are open. It is pink at first and fades to a fine line over 3 to 6 months. For lower blepharoplasty, where suitable, Dr Filis uses a transconjunctival approach, with the incision inside the lower eyelid, so there is no visible scar. If excess skin also needs removing, a fine incision is made just below the lashes, which usually fades to a barely visible line.

Question 5

When can I wear contact lenses and make-up again?

Accepted Answer

Contact lenses can usually go back in after about 2 weeks. After upper blepharoplasty, eye make-up can be worn after 3 to 4 weeks, once the wound has fully healed; after lower blepharoplasty, light make-up after 1 week.

Question 6

How long do the results last?

Accepted Answer

With upper blepharoplasty the skin removed does not grow back, so results are long-lasting, often for many years. Natural ageing continues, and some people consider further treatment much later in life. After lower blepharoplasty the final result shows over a few months. Individual results vary.

Question 7

Is filler or surgery better for under-eye bags?

Accepted Answer

If your eye bags are caused by fat bulging beneath the eye, lower blepharoplasty is usually the better long-term option. If the main concern is a hollow tear trough with good skin quality, dermal filler may be a better first step. Dr Filis will advise you honestly at your consultation.

Question 8

Could it be my brow rather than my eyelids?

Accepted Answer

Possibly. Many people who think they need upper lid surgery actually have a low brow. Dr Filis checks your brow position at the consultation; a low brow may need a brow lift instead of, or as well as, eyelid surgery.

Question 9

How much does blepharoplasty cost?

Accepted Answer

Upper blepharoplasty is £2,195, lower blepharoplasty is £2,450, upper and lower together is £4,250, for both eyes under local anaesthetic. If a low brow turns out to be the cause, a direct brow lift is £1,950. The Zoom call with Kerry is free; the surgical consultation with Dr Filis is £150, redeemable against surgery booked within 30 days.

Question 10

Will I be awake?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Blepharoplasty is done under local anaesthetic as a day case, so you are awake but the area is numb. If the thought of being awake worries you, tell Dr Filis at your surgical consultation and she will talk you through your options.

Question 11

What are the risks?

Accepted Answer

Like any surgery, blepharoplasty has risks. Dr Filis explains them, and how they are managed, at your surgical consultation, with written information to take home so you can think it over.

Question 12

Who performs the surgery?

Accepted Answer

Dr Filis performs every procedure herself. She is Dr Filis Ayan, Consultant Ophthalmologist, on the GMC Specialist Register for Ophthalmology since 30 June 2015 (GMC 7346842). Surgery takes place at The Door W4 in Chiswick, a CQC-registered clinic.

Question 13

Can I book surgery at my first appointment?

Accepted Answer

No. Dr Filis never books anyone for surgery on the day she first meets them. She wants you to go home, sleep on it and talk it over, with written information and clear costs.

Question 14

What happens after I take the assessment?

Accepted Answer

Kerry, Patient Care Co-ordinator for Dr Filis, will be in touch to arrange a free Zoom call and talk through the next steps. The assessment is not a medical assessment and does not confirm whether surgery is right for you: that is decided by Dr Filis at the surgical consultation.

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