Blepharoplasty in Turkey

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, removes or repositions the skin and fat that make the eyes look heavy, hooded or tired. It is done on the upper lids, the lower lids, or both. We arrange these operations in İzmir with an ENT and facial plastic surgeon who does this work regularly.

What is blepharoplasty?

Blepharoplasty is surgery on the eyelid itself. The surgeon removes excess skin, and adjusts or repositions the small fat pads that sit around the eye socket. The incisions follow the natural lines of the lid, so the scars sit where the eye already creases.

It is one of the most commonly performed facial operations, and it is usually quick. What it does not do is lift the brow, smooth crow’s feet, or change dark circles caused by pigmentation rather than shadow.

Upper eyelid surgery (upper blepharoplasty)

This is the more commonly requested of the two. Over time the skin of the upper lid loosens and begins to hood over the crease. In some people it reaches the lashes and starts to cut into the outer edge of what they can see.

Upper blepharoplasty removes that band of loose skin, and sometimes a small amount of fat. The incision sits inside the natural fold, so once it has healed the line is hidden when the eye is open.

It typically takes around an hour under local anaesthetic, sometimes with sedation.

In the UK, upper eyelid surgery may be available on the NHS in limited circumstances where hooding is documented to obstruct vision. Where it is done for appearance, it is not.

Lower eyelid surgery (lower blepharoplasty)

Lower lid surgery treats the bags and puffiness under the eye. These are usually caused by fat pads pushing forward as the tissue that holds them back weakens, not by tiredness or fluid.

There are two approaches:

• From inside the lid. The fat is reached through the inner surface, so there is no visible scar. Suitable when fat is the problem and the skin is still firm.
• Just under the lashes. Allows loose skin to be removed as well as fat. Leaves a fine line below the lash margin.

Lower lid surgery is technically more demanding than upper, and the margin for error is smaller. The surgeon will say which approach suits your lid and why.

Blepharoplasty or ptosis surgery?

These are often confused, and they are not the same operation.

Blepharoplasty deals with excess skin. Ptosis is when the lid itself sits low because the muscle that lifts it has weakened; the problem is the muscle, not the skin. Correcting ptosis means tightening that muscle, which is a different procedure.

Some people need one, some need both. This is settled by examination, not from a photograph, which is why the in-person consultation before surgery matters here.

Is it right for you?

Blepharoplasty is usually considered when:

• Loose skin on the upper lid rests on the lashes or narrows your field of vision
• Hooding makes eye makeup difficult to apply or see
• You have bags under the eyes that do not change with sleep or skincare
• The eyes look tired or heavy in a way that does not match how you feel

It may not be the right time if:

• You have dry eye, thyroid eye disease, or glaucoma — these do not rule surgery out, but they change the plan and must be declared
• You smoke, and are not able to stop before and after surgery
• What bothers you is the brow position or dark pigmentation, which eyelid surgery will not change

Whether blepharoplasty is appropriate for you is a decision for the surgeon after examining your eyes.

How the operation works

• Usually local anaesthetic, with sedation if you prefer; general anaesthetic for larger cases or when combined with other surgery
• Upper lids alone: around an hour. Upper and lower together: longer.
• Most cases are a day procedure; some patients stay one night
• Stitches are removed around day five to seven

Recovery

• First few days: swelling and bruising, worst on day two or three. Cold compresses and sleeping propped up help.
• Day 5–7: stitches out
• Week two: most bruising has gone; many people feel ready to be seen
• Makeup: usually from around two weeks, once the incisions have closed
• Flying home: usually once the stitches are out, confirmed by your surgeon
• Final result: three to six months, as the scars soften and settle

Plan to stay in İzmir for at least seven days.

Risks to be aware of

Every operation carries risk. For blepharoplasty these include:

• Dry, gritty or watering eyes, usually temporary but sometimes lasting months
• Difficulty closing the eyes fully for a period after surgery
• Bruising, swelling and temporary blurred vision
• Asymmetry between the two sides
• The lower lid pulling downward or away from the eye, which is more of a risk with lower lid surgery and can need correcting
• Scars that remain visible, particularly in the first months
• Very rarely, bleeding behind the eye. This is a surgical emergency and can affect sight.

Your surgeon will go through the risks that apply to your case before you agree to anything.

What the package includes

Included

• An online consultation with your Aegean Beauty coordinator before you travel
• An in-person consultation and eye examination with the surgeon on arrival, before surgery
• The operation and anaesthetic
• Hospital stay where your surgeon requires one
• Five nights hotel accommodation
• Breakfast at the hotel and all meals during any hospital stay
• Airport, hotel and hospital transfers
• Medication
• Removal of stitches before you fly home
• Turkish–English and Spanish interpreting
• Follow-up contact after you return home

Not included

• Flights
• Other meals and personal spending
• Any further surgery, if it is needed later
• Treatment for complications after you return home
• Extra nights in İzmir if your surgeon asks you to stay longer

Cost

The cost depends on whether you are having the upper lids, the lower lids or both, which approach the lower lids need, and whether ptosis correction is involved. For that reason we quote each case individually rather than publishing a single price.

Send us photographs and we will come back with a written quote covering everything listed above.

Who performs it

We are not a hospital and we do not employ surgeons. We work with ENT and plastic surgeons across İzmir who perform eyelid surgery regularly, and we match you with the one whose experience fits your case — upper lids, lower lids, or a case that also involves ptosis.

You are told who will operate on you, and where, before anything is booked. You can see the surgeons we work with most often on our Our Doctors page.

Depending on your case we may suggest a different surgeon. You are told who will operate on you before anything is booked.

Talk to us about your case

Send us photographs of your eyes — looking straight ahead, eyes open and closed, and one from the side. Tell us what bothers you, and whether you have any eye condition or dry eye. We will come back to you with what is likely to be possible, who we would suggest, and a written quote.

There is no charge for this and no obligation.