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Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) Sydney & Gosford

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As you age people develop excess skin on their eyelids, which can eventually affect your vision.

Blepharoplasty removes excess skin and fat from the eyelids through incisions in natural lines extending into the crows feet at the outer edge of the eye. The scars fade with time, and are usually not noticeable*.

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It is sometimes possible for Dr Cope to remove fine lines on the lower eyelid with the Halo or Profractional laser resurfacing and remove fat using an incision on the back of the eyelid, leaving no external scars at all.

Depending on what is required blepharoplasty can be performed under local or general anaesthetic and as a day surgery procedure or over-night stay in our surgery in Sydney. *There is some temporary bruising and swelling, lasting about two weeks, with some patients experiencing temporary blurring or tearing. *Most patients return to work in 7-14 days.

Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is often combined with a browlift (browplasty) to lift eyebrows that have dropped or a facelift  (rhytidectomy) to improve the lower part of the face and neck as well.

If you are not ready for surgery then some improvement of the eyelid area can be obtained from Halo or Profractional laser resurfacing or Ultraformer III skin tightening treatments, with less downtime than surgery.

*Note results vary from patient to patient

Before and After Eyelid Surgery – Blepharoplasty

Frequently Asked Questions

Anyone who has loose skin or bulging fat in the upper or lower eyelids

When planning to undergo eyelid surgery, one of the most important things that you should consider is the total costs. In general, the final price of blepharoplasty surgery can be broken into a number of components including:

The surgeon’s fees
This will depend on the experience and expertise of your surgeon.

The type of eyelid surgery
More complex surgical techniques tend to cost more.

Whether the procedure is performed under local anaesthetic or in hospital
Most upper eyelid surgery can be performed under local anaesthetic in the rooms, minimising the cost – lower eyelid surgery requires a general anaesthetic in hospital.

Whether the procedure is cosmetic or qualifies for a Medicare item number
If performed for cosmetic reasons, the cost of blepharoplasty will not be covered by Medicare or your private health. However, if it is performed to correct vision problems, you may attract a Medicare number and your insurance may cover the costs. Make sure to clarify this with your insurance provider before having the procedure.

The anaesthetist’s fees
This can be charged by the hour or procedure.

The length of hospital stay
Depending on your condition, you may need to stay overnight or go home within the day.

Other costs
This includes medical tests and medications.

Total cost for eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) performed under local anaesthetic in Dr Cope’s rooms typically costs between $5000 and $6500, while a blepharoplasty performed in hospital costs up to $10,000 depending on whether there is an item number or not and whether you are covered by private health insurance. After your consultation with Dr Cope, we will provide you with a detailed breakdown of the total costs of your blepharoplasty procedure.

This depends on the way you are ageing, as people age at different rates – the right time is when the skin laxity and bulging fat are bothering you. Most people have blepharoplasty between 40-60 years old, although ages vary from people in their 30s to 80s

Blepharoplasty removes excess skin folds and fat. It rejuvenates the upper part of the face, making the patient look fresher and more relaxed.

Upper eyelid incisions are hidden in natural creases, while lower eyelid incisions usually run just under the eyelash line. Both incisions may extend into the crows feet (smile lines) at the outer edge of the eye. Facial scars fade well and are rarely obvious long-term.

Blepharoplasty usually lasts 10-15 years*, but you continue to age and develop more loose skin with time. Many people have a second blepharoplasty 10-20 years later, and occasionally a third time, depending on your age when you first have surgery.

There is a Medicare rebate in specific circumstances in upper eyelid blepharoplasty (where excess upper eyelid skin affects your vision). In order to qualify for this, you may need to have a visual test performed by an optometrist which confirms this. If you qualify for the item number and are insured your health fund may cover the hospital bed fee and theatre fee costs (depending on your level of insurance).

Most upper blepharoplasty can be performed under local anaesthetic in the office, minimizing the cost. However, removal of excess skin and fat from the lower eyelids requires a general anaesthetic in hospital.

Many people have other procedures performed at the same time as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), the commonest being a lateral or full browlift, facelift surgery, facial fat transfer and perioral dermabrasion to improve lines around the mouth.

There are resurfacing lasers such as Halo and Profractional as well as skin-tightening devices such as SkinTyte and Ultraformer III, which improves the skin by heating collagen causing immediate collagen contraction, followed by progressive collagen remodelling and tightening over the 6 months following the treatment. These are simple office treatments with no downtime. However, these treatments do not remove all skin laxity (are not as good as surgery) and need multiple treatments, but are options if you are not ready for surgery.

During the first 5-7 days after surgery you need to rest and take things quietly at home. The first 2 days you need to apply cool compresses to your eyelids, which minimise the bruising and swelling. Most people drive to the postoperative visit, which is 5-7 days later, and are back to work at this time after suture removal after blepharoplasty*.

For most people it is 10-14 days until they are ready to return to sport and full activities*

*Note results vary from person to person

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Eye Surgery – Blepharoplasty