Eyelid surgery corrects hanging upper-lid skin and under-eye fat bags, turning a tired look into a rested, open one. The incision hides in the natural crease on the upper lid and usually inside the lid on the lower lid; the right result comes when the brow and the lid are assessed together.
Eyelid surgery removes excess upper-lid skin through an incision in the natural crease, and removes or repositions lower-lid fat bags, usually from inside the lid. Upper lids alone take 45–60 minutes and all four lids 1.5–2.5 hours, usually as a day case. Stitches come out on day 5–7 and most people are back at work in 7–10 days.
- On the upper lid the incision hides in the natural lid crease; it is invisible with the eyes open.
- If there is only a bag on the lower lid, access is from inside (transconjunctival); no external scar.
- If the lid margin covers the pupil, that is ptosis — it needs muscle surgery, not blepharoplasty.
- If the brow is low, a brow lift is planned first or together.
- Bruising clears in 7–14 days; stitches come out on day 5–7.
- On the upper lid the result usually lasts 10 years or more; lower-lid bags mostly do not return.
| At a Glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Procedure | Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) — upper, lower or all four lids |
| Duration | Upper 45–60 min; four lids 1.5–2.5 hours |
| Anesthesia | Local with sedation, or general |
| Hospital stay | Usually a day case |
| Back to work | 7–10 days; contact lenses at 2 weeks |
| Incision/scar | Upper: lid crease · Lower: inside the lid or below the lashes |
| Longevity | Upper 10+ years; lower bags largely permanent |
| Who it suits | Lid hooding, under-eye bags, a tired look |
Contents— 26 sections
Procedures are performed in accredited, approved operating rooms.
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What Is Eyelid Surgery?
Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) surgically corrects excess upper-lid skin and lower-lid fat bags. The incisions hide in the natural crease on the upper lid and mostly on the inner surface of the lower lid; the procedure is usually a day case.
The skin around the eyes is the thinnest on the face, and it is where ageing shows first. On the upper lid the skin loses elasticity and hangs towards the lash line (dermatochalasis); the lid crease disappears, make-up smudges onto the lid and, in advanced cases, the upper part of the visual field narrows. On the lower lid the fat that cushions the eyeball bulges forward as a bag, and the dark hollow beneath it (the tear trough) becomes more visible.
Blepharoplasty solves these two problems separately or together. On the upper lid the incision sits in the natural crease, so it is invisible with the eyes open. On the lower lid, if there is only a bag, access is from the inside of the lid; the fat is removed or spread into the hollow and repositioned — so the bag and the hollow improve together.
The key to success is the right diagnosis. A heavy-looking lid is sometimes caused not by skin but by a dropped brow, and sometimes by weakness of the muscle that lifts the lid (ptosis). Telling these three apart happens at the examination; blepharoplasty done on the wrong diagnosis does not give the expected result.
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Upper and Lower Lid Techniques
Which technique fits depends on whether the problem is skin, fat or muscle, and on skin quality.
Excess skin, and if needed a thin strip of muscle and the inner fat pad, is removed along the lid crease. The most common eyelid operation.
If there is only a fat bag, access is from inside the lid; no external scar and the lowest risk of changing lid shape.
If there is fine wrinkled excess skin as well as the bag, the incision sits just below the lashes; the outer corner is anchored if needed.
Instead of removing the fat that forms the bag, it is spread into the tear trough; bag and hollow improve together and the eye does not look hollow.
A dark under-eye circle is not always a bag. If there is no bag and the problem is hollowness, fat injection or filler is the better choice instead of surgery.
Visual Assessment: Which Is Closest to You?
Pick the picture closest to you and see the likely approach. This is a pre-assessment, not a diagnosis.
👉 Tap the picture that looks most like you — the suggestion appears instantly.
This tool is for information only; the technique is decided only by examination.
Live Simulator: Upper Lid, Lower Lid or Both
Drag the slider to see how lid hooding and the under-eye bag resolve, and compare upper-lid, lower-lid and four-lid plans with the buttons. Completely private — no data is sent.
If the tool does not load, open it here. This simulation is schematic; it does not analyse your eye and does not diagnose.
Who Is Suitable — and Who Is Not?
Good candidates
- People whose upper-lid skin hangs to the lash line and whose crease has disappeared
- Those with visible fat bags under the eyes
- Those bothered by a tired or sleepy look
- Those whose upper visual field is narrowed by hooding
Situations to postpone or review
- Untreated severe dry eye
- Active thyroid eye disease (the disease must be stable first)
- Laser eye surgery within the last 6 months
- Uncontrolled glaucoma, blood pressure or a bleeding disorder
Before surgery, brow position, ptosis and tear production must be assessed. These three checks prevent most dissatisfaction after eyelid surgery.
What Bothers You Most?
Choose what bothers you most and see the likely approach. The definitive plan is made at the examination.
👉 Tap the option that fits you — guidance and a WhatsApp link appear instantly.
This tool is for information only; the technique is decided only by examination.
Comparing the Methods
| Method | Best for | Advantage | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper blepharoplasty | Upper-lid excess skin | Scar hidden in the crease, fast recovery | Not enough on its own if the brow is low |
| Transconjunctival lower lid | Fat bag only | No external scar, lid shape preserved | Does not remove excess skin |
| Subciliary lower lid | Bag + excess skin | Skin and fat corrected together | Lid support matters; a delicate technique |
| Fat injection / filler | Hollow tear trough without a bag | Volume without an incision | Does not correct a bag or excess skin |
In short: blepharoplasty for excess skin, the inside approach for a bag, filler or fat for a hollow. If the brow is low, the brow comes first.
Decision Guide: Is It Skin, Fat or the Brow?
A tired look around the eyes can have more than one cause. At the examination we ask these questions in turn; each answer points to a different operation.
This table is a pre-assessment. Most patients have more than one cause together; the plan is made at the examination by assessing brow, lid muscle and tear film together.
Combined Procedures: What Can Be Added in One Session?
The eye area does not age independently of the rest of the face. In suitable patients, procedures combined under one anesthetic give a more complete, balanced result.
The right combination when the brow is low. A brow lift puts the brow back in place and blepharoplasty removes the remaining lid excess.
If the midface and jawline have descended too, it is combined with a deep plane facelift; the transition from eye to cheek stays natural.
If there is a hollow tear trough or cheek volume loss, fat injection is added; the look becomes fuller and younger.
If the lid margin is low, the muscle that lifts the lid is shortened in the same session; the lid becomes lighter and higher.
A combination adds operating time and swelling and extends recovery by a few days. Which procedures to combine is decided by your age, general health and expectations.
How Is It Done? (Step by Step)
Marking and plan
The amount of skin to remove is marked with the patient sitting; brow, ptosis and dry-eye checks are completed.
Skin and fat
Excess upper-lid skin is removed along the crease; lower-lid fat is removed from inside or spread into the hollow.
Closure and result
The incisions are closed with very fine stitches; the crease is visible and the under-eye smooth.
Assessment and marking
Anesthesia
Upper lid
Lower lid
Lid support
Closure
The Day of Surgery: Hour by Hour
Uncertainty is the biggest source of anxiety. Knowing in advance how your day will go makes it a far calmer one.
No food or drink from midnight. Make-up, nail polish and jewellery come off; you shower.
You come with your ID; final tests and the anesthesia consultation are completed and consent forms signed.
Marking is done standing and archive photographs are taken. This is the last and best moment for questions.
It takes 45 minutes to 2.5 hours. The anesthesia team is with you the whole time; you feel nothing.
You open your eyes in the recovery room. Pain and nausea control start here.
You take your first steps with a nurse — the single most effective step against clot risk.
Cold-compress, eye-ointment and medication instructions are given in writing; your stitch-removal appointment (day 5–7) is booked.
After eyelid surgery you have cold compresses and ointment on your eyes; vision can be blurry for a few hours from the ointment, which is normal. It helps to have someone with you. For the first 24 hours after discharge, do not drive or make important decisions; the anesthesia may not have fully worn off.
Recovery — Day by Day, Week by Week
Dryness, grittiness and watering are normal in the first days. If pain suddenly increases, the eye bulges or vision is lost, call your doctor immediately.
Aftercare: Do and Avoid
✓ Do
- Apply cold compresses regularly for the first 48 hours
- Sleep on your back with the head raised (two pillows)
- Use artificial tears and ointment as advised
- Wear sunglasses outdoors
✕ Avoid
- Rubbing your eyes or pressing on the incisions
- Contact lenses and eye make-up for 2 weeks
- Strenuous exercise, bending and lifting for 3 weeks
- Long screen or reading time in the first days (it worsens dryness)
Possible Risks and Safety
In experienced hands this is a safe operation; even so you should know the possibilities:
- Temporary dry eye and watering: common in the first weeks; settles with artificial tears.
- Bruising and swelling: an expected process; clears in 7–14 days.
- Asymmetry: two eyes are never identical; measurement and symmetrical marking keep it to a minimum.
- Lower-lid pull-down: can occur mainly when skin is removed below the lashes; prevented with lid support (canthopexy) and measured skin removal.
- Temporary incomplete closure: the eye may not close fully in sleep in the first days; this usually resolves within weeks.
- Hollow look: caused by removing too much fat; prevented by preserving or repositioning the fat.
- Bleeding behind the eye: very rare but an emergency; sudden pain and visual disturbance need immediate attention.
Stopping blood thinners with your doctor’s approval and not bending for the first 48 hours are the two most effective steps against bleeding.
What to Look For When Choosing a Clinic or Surgeon
A plan that only says ‘we remove the extra skin’ may be missing a low brow or ptosis.
Surgery without asking about existing dry eye can make dryness noticeably worse.
The modern approach is not to remove fat blindly but to preserve and reposition it where needed.
Sedation or general anesthesia must only be given in an approved operating room with an anesthesia team.
Expected Change (Medical Illustration)
By law a surgeon cannot share real patient photographs. The diagram below shows the typical change: the upper-lid skin covering the lash line and the under-eye bag are corrected and the eye opens.
Illustrations are for information; individual results vary with skin quality, brow position and bone structure, and are not guaranteed.
Why Have Eyelid Surgery in Istanbul?
Turkey is one of the leading centres for facial aesthetic surgery, with high surgical experience, accredited facilities and well-organised, value-focused care.
Extensive experience in periorbital surgery and modern fat-preserving techniques.
A day-case procedure and a 6–7 day programme; no need to travel before the stitches are out.
Ministry-approved operating rooms licensed for health tourism.
A multilingual team and a personal assistant.
Why Op. Dr. Ali Çetinkaya?
Preparing for Surgery
Vision, tear production and, if needed, the visual field are assessed.
Aspirin, blood thinners and some supplements (omega-3, ginkgo) are stopped 7–10 days before, with your doctor’s approval.
Smoking slows healing; stop 2–3 weeks beforehand if possible.
Arrange help and cold compresses for the first 2–3 days; schedule important events at least 2 weeks later.
What to bring
- Dark sunglasses
- A front-buttoning or zip-up top
- Prescription glasses (instead of lenses)
- Your medication list and any reports
- A phone charging cable
- ID/passport
Questions to Ask at the First Consultation
These questions help you make the right decision at the pre-assessment:
- 1Is my problem skin, fat, the brow, or ptosis?
- 2Do I need upper, lower or all four lids?
- 3Will the lower lid be done from inside or below the lashes?
- 4Will the fat be removed or repositioned?
- 5How does my dry eye affect the operation?
- 6Which anesthesia will be used — can I go home the same day?
- 7When will the stitches come out and when can I return to work?
- 8How long will the result last?
Patients From Abroad / Out of Town
We host patients from 30 countries. You just come; we coordinate the rest.
Initial planning via close-up photos of the eye area and an online consultation.
Accommodation, transfer and appointments are planned.
A day-case procedure; stitches are removed on site on day 5–7.
A check before you travel back, then multilingual follow-up.
Eyelid Surgery Price (2026)
A firm price is given after examination, because whether upper, lower or all four lids are done, whether fat is repositioned, the type of anesthesia and any added procedures vary per person. So you know what is included:
Usually included in the package
- Surgeon, anesthesia and operating-room fee
- Eye ointment, artificial tears and medication
- Stitch removal and check-ups
- Cold compress and aftercare guidance
- Transfer and coordination for international patients
Upper lids alone cost noticeably less than all four lids. A price far below expectation usually means a compromise on the operating room or anesthesia.
Glossary
- Blepharoplasty
- The medical name for eyelid surgery.
- Dermatochalasis
- Excess, hanging skin on the upper lid.
- Ptosis
- A low lid margin caused by weakness of the muscle that lifts the lid.
- Transconjunctival
- An approach through the inner surface of the lower lid that leaves no external scar.
- Tear trough
- The hollow between the lower lid and the cheek, seen as a dark circle.
- Canthopexy
- Anchoring the outer corner of the lower lid to support it.
Myths and Facts
Let us clear up the most common misconceptions with the facts:
✗ Myth: Eyelid surgery changes your eyes and makes the look unfamiliar.
✓ Fact: Blepharoplasty done well does not change the shape of the eye; it removes the excess. The goal is a ‘rested’ look, not an ‘operated’ one.
✗ Myth: Under-eye bags go away with creams.
✓ Fact: A fat bag is a bulge of fat; creams and massage do not push it back. Creams only affect fine lines in the skin.
✗ Myth: The more skin and fat removed, the better.
✓ Fact: Over-removal makes the eye look hollow and older and can disturb lid closure. The modern approach is measured removal and preserving fat.
✗ Myth: Blepharoplasty is the only fix for a droopy lid.
✓ Fact: A low brow needs a brow lift and a weak lid muscle needs ptosis surgery. The right diagnosis decides the right operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is eyelid surgery and what does it correct?
How long does it take and what anesthesia is used?
Will there be a scar?
How long do bruising and swelling last?
When can I return to work and social life?
Is the result permanent?
My eyelid droops — is this operation enough?
What if my brow is low too?
Will I get dry eyes?
At what age can it be done?
I am coming from abroad — how does it work?
Will my eyes close fully after eyelid surgery?
What is the difference between under-eye bag surgery and filler?
Is upper eyelid surgery covered by insurance?
When can I work at a screen after surgery?
Can eyelid surgery be done with a laser?
Related procedures: lower eyelid blepharoplasty, upper eyelid blepharoplasty.
