Categories
Treatments

Blepharoplasty / Eyelid Lift in Leeds

Upper blepharoplasty is a type of eyelid surgery that aims to improve the appearance of your eyelids by removing excess skin to tighten and smooth the area around your eyes. 

As you age, your skin loses elasticity which can cause the eyelid to stretch, and excess skin in the upper eyelids folds over. This results in a loss of definition of the lid crease and feeling of heaviness in the upper eyelids. In some extreme cases, the excess skin can overflow the lid margin and can be seen in the upper field of vision, almost like a curtain. This can understandably feel intrusive and distressing, impacting not only vision but self-confidence and well-being too. An upper eyelid lift can reverse some of the negative physical changes that come with ageing, leaving you feeling and looking your best. 

You should only consider undergoing cosmetic surgery at a CQC registered clinic, such as Evolve Medical, to ensure you receive safe and professional care. Your procedure should only ever be carried out by a reputable, fully qualified surgeon who is registered with the General Medical Council

What To Expect From Upper Blepharoplasty Surgery

Upper eyelid surgery is carried out under local anaesthetic. During the procedure, the surgeon will make an incision along your eyelid crease. They will then cut away excess folds of skin, fat or muscle around the upper eyelid before closing the edges of the incision and suturing them together.  Your surgeon will be supported by a fully qualified, professional team of nurses who will provide reassurance throughout.  You will then be asked to attend a postoperative review both one week after your surgery and three months after your surgery to allow our team of medical professionals to assess your progress and to give you the opportunity to ask any questions about your surgery and its results. 

Who Should Consider Upper Blepharoplasty? 

If you are experiencing drooping eyelids (ptosis), eyelids that feel heavy or eyelids that are starting to obstruct your vision, you may find upper blepharoplasty beneficial.  Though many people choose to undergo upper eyelid surgery for cosmetic reasons, some may feel heavy eyelids are uncomfortable or they wish to improve their vision by removing redundant skin that causes their eyelids to droop. We have experience dealing with a wide range of scenarios – talk to us to discuss the right treatment path for you.  If you believe an upper blepharoplasty might help you, the next step is to speak with a medical professional during a consultation here at the Evolve Medical clinic. This will help both you and us to decide if you are a suitable candidate for an upper eyelid lift. We will never carry out surgery on a patient if we don’t believe the procedure will achieve the results they desire, so you can always expect an honest and transparent conversation with our team. 

How To Tell If Your Upper Eyelids Need A Lift

You should consider an upper eyelid lift if you are experiencing permanently hooded or droopy eyelids. Whilst it’s true that dark circles under your eyes, eyebags or other eye conditions can be caused by a lack of sleep, if you have permanently hooded eyes it’s likely this is as a result of ageing and is unlikely to change or improve on its own. You will usually be able to see and feel when your skin starts to lose elasticity, though this usually becomes more noticeable as you reach your late forties. This is because your body slows down production of collagen and elastin as it ages, causing your skin to sag.  Everyone ages differently, and the way you feel about your skin is entirely personal. If the excess skin around your eyes begins to bother you, it may be time to book a consultation with the Evolve Medical team. 

The Benefits Of Upper Blepharoplasty 

There are many advantages to having an eyelid lift, such as:

  • Combating the signs of ageing
  • Minimising that ‘tired’ look by improving drooping eyelids 
  • Boosting self-confidence 
  • Improving vision, if drooping eyelids are obstructing your eyes
  • Enhancing your facial expressions 
  • Minimal scarring 

Does Upper Blepharoplasty Work? 

As upper blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure, the results are often impressive and long-lasting. Excess skin and fat is removed from the eyelids which invariably improves hooded or drooping eyelids. Patients can expect noticeable improvements to the eye area once post-surgery bruising and swelling subsides. 

How Long Does Upper Blepharoplasty Results Last? 

How long the results of your upper eyelid lift last will depend on how quickly your body ages. However, on average you should expect to see the results of an upper blepharoplasty last for between five to seven years.  You can help the results of your surgery last longer by looking after your skin. For example, staying hydrated, wearing suncream and following the skin care routine prescribed by our qualified team will encourage production of collagen and help to improve your skin elasticity. 

How Long Does An Upper Eyelid Lift Take?

Upper eyelid surgery takes between one to two hours, though you may be asked to spend a little longer in the Evolve Medical clinic following your surgery to give you the opportunity to ask our team of medical professionals any questions.  

What To Do After Blepharoplasty Treatment

You’ll need to look after your skin in the days and weeks following your upper eyelid surgery to aid recovery and avoid infection. 

  • Keep the affected area dry for at least one week, avoiding any garments and keeping the dressing tape in place. 
  • Avoid contact lenses for at least four weeks
  • Don’t apply any makeup for at least two weeks 
  • Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the elements, such as wind or sun 
  • Where possible, certainly in the early months, cover your scars before prolonged sun exposure
  • Protect your skin with a high factor SPF cream every time your skin may be exposed to sun for at least a year, until your scars have matured 
  • Elevate your head above your chest for the first few days whilst you sleep 
  • Use an ice pack or cool compress to help reduce swelling in the days and weeks following surgery 

There are also some day-to-day activities we recommend avoiding whilst you recover from upper blepharoplasty.  For example, wait between one to two weeks before attempting to drive. You should be able to see clearly and apply emergency stops without difficulty or delay.  It’s recommended to take at least two weeks away from even light work to allow your body to recover post-surgery, though we recommend waiting between four and six weeks before returning to labour intensive work.  We understand you’ll be keen to get back to your pre-op lifestyle as soon as possible, but do wait at least two weeks before undertaking cardiac exercise, and longer for any kind of intensive workout. 

Common Side Effects Of Upper Blepharoplasty Surgery

You should expect to experience some level of pain and discomfort for around two to three days following your surgery, though wounds are expected to heal within one week.  Common side effects of an upper eyelid lift include bruising, swelling and sensitivity around the affected area, which should reduce within a week following surgery. You should also expect some scarring, though this should settle within six months and be almost unnoticeable within eighteen months. As the incision will be made in the natural crease of your eyelid, any visible scarring should be minimal.  Less common complications could include:

  • Eye watering
  • Dry eyes
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Infection
  • Numbness
  • Asymmetry of the eyelids 
  • Corneal abrasion
  • Hypertrophic scarring (when the skin may respond abnormally to wound healing, resulting in thick scars)
  • Skin necrosis
  • Chemosis (fluid retention in the white of your eyes)
  • Lagophthalmos (inability to close eyelids fully)
  • Residual skin excess or fat prominence. 

 Please be aware that most of these side effects are very rare, and every effort will be made to reduce the risk of complications following upper eyelid surgery. If you have any questions or concerns at any stage, don’t hesitate to contact the Evolve Medical team.  You can help to reduce the likelihood of these side effects occurring by following our aftercare advice and limiting certain activities post-surgery, such as avoiding make-up or contact lenses. 

Will Upper Blepharoplasty Affect My Vision?

As upper blepharoplasty involves work being carried out on your upper eyelids, many patients do experience temporary blurred vision. This should subside within a few hours following the surgery. You may also experience a change in vision, such as double vision, blurriness or sensitivity to light, throughout the healing process as the tissue around your eyes repairs itself. 

How Much Is Upper Blepharoplasty? 

Upper eyelid surgery costs from £1980, plus the consultation charge of £150 and the pre-op with a nurse which is £100. Consultation, postoperative reviews and the procedure itself will take place at the Evolve Medical clinic.

Upper Blepharoplasty FAQs 

It’s understandable for patients to have lots of questions whilst they decide whether an eyelid lift is right for them. We’ve listed out a small selection of frequently asked questions but, for personalised advice, please contact our team.

FAQs

Who Will Perform The Upper Blepharoplasty Surgery?

Your upper eyelid surgery will be performed by one of Evolve Medical’s plastic surgeons, Professor Mahajan. We only work with the UK’s most reputable plastic surgeons who specialise in cosmetic surgery. You can rest assured you’re in experienced, safe hands when you book your upper eyelid lift at Evolve Medical. 

Will Upper Blepharoplasty Get Rid Of Wrinkles?

Upper blepharoplasty is designed to remove excess skin, helping to tighten up the upper eyelids and give a more smooth appearance. This will naturally help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles around the eye though it predominantly aims to reduce heavy upper eyelids. 

If you wish to reduce wrinkles, such as crow’s feet or forehead lines, consider the following treatments in addition to your eyelid lift:

Eye cream, such as the Obagi ELASTIderm Eye Cream or NeoStrata Skin Active Intensive Eye Therapy

Will Upper Blepharoplasty Get Rid Of Dark Circles?

Upper blepharoplasty focuses on reducing excess skin around your upper eyelids, so is unlikely to help minimise dark circles under your eyes. 

Get in touch with our friendly team to book your consultation and learn more about upper blepharoplasty surgery. To see real life results of upper eyelid surgery results, follow us on Facebook or Instagram

 Price List

DurationPrice
Upper Blepharoplasty1 – 2 hoursFrom £1980
FinanceAvailableSubject to Status

Please select ‘Consultations – Minor Surgeries’ in the booking form to book your Blepharoplasty consultation.

Other popular Surgical treatments