Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery) Sydney
Upper Eyelid blepharoplasty
- Non-cosmetic elective procedure
- Hospital fees may covered by private health insurance
- Day surgery only and can be performed under local anaesthetic in clinic
Lower Eyelids blepharoplasty
- Cosmetic elective procedure
- Not covered by private health funds or Medicare
- Day surgery only
Designed to address the appearance of the skin around the eyes, blepharoplasty can remove or reposition fat deposits, tighten muscles, and remove excess skin.
Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, can change the eyelid area that may have been caused by the natural ageing process, sun damage (UV rays), muscle movements (such as repetitive squinting or smiling) or lifestyle habits such as smoking.
At Form & Face in Bondi Junction, Dr Benjamin Norris performs blepharoplasty to help address these common aesthetic concerns around the eyes and, in some cases, to address impaired vision due to excess skin. Sometimes, excess skin may interfere with clear vision, which can be addressed with eyelid surgery.
Addressing signs of ageing with blepharoplasty
As you age, the skin on your eyelid stretches and the supporting muscles weaken. This may cause excess fat to gather above and below your eyelids, which in turn leads to the following concerns:
- Extra skin and wrinkles in the lower eyelid
- Low lower eyelids that reveal too much white below the iris
- Lax skin that creates folds and changes the natural contour of the upper lids
- Excess fatty deposits
These changes in the eyelid skin can also affect your vision. Patients come to Form & Face to address reduced peripheral vision, particularly on the upper and outer edges.
While these concerns are often caused by the natural ageing process, other factors can also contribute to their appearance.
Good candidates for blepharoplasty
Suitable candidates for eyelid surgery will want to address aesthetic and functional issues related to excess eyelid skin. However, all candidates will also need to be considered suitable for the surgery health-wise and in terms of their personal expectations.
At your initial consultation, Dr Norris will ask you questions about what you expect to achieve from the procedure, which will also help to develop your treatment plan. He will then need to ask you questions about your general health, including current and past conditions and any past surgeries or treatments you have had.
Generally, candidates need to be in good health without any serious conditions. They will also need to have realistic expectations about the results of blepharoplasty, understand what the procedure can achieve, and understand its possible limitations.
Dr Norris reminds our patients at Form & Face that this procedure cannot:
- Lift low eyebrows
- Get rid of crow’s feet
- Erase dark circles
To address these concerns, as well as concerns that can be addressed with a blepharoplasty, patients may choose to undergo blepharoplasty simultaneously with other facial procedures, including a coronoplasty (brow lift), rhytidectomy (facelift), and skin resurfacing.
Upper blepharoplasty
Upper eyelid surgery can remove excess skin and fat from the upper eyelids. In particular, it can address heavier upper eyelids, that can interfere with vision.
Heavy upper eyelids can interfere with vision and lead to eye strain and fatigue, especially when trying to keep the eyes open fully. The constant effort needed to lift the eyelids may also cause headaches.
When addressing these concerns that can interfere with vision, it’s considered as a non-cosmetic procedure, and sometimes hospital fees may be covered by Medicare and/or Private Health Insurance if the procedure is considered to be medically necessary.
An upper blepharoplasty can be performed as a day surgery only, performed under local anaesthesia.
Lower blepharoplasty
Particularly addressing the skin on the lower eyelids, a lower blepharoplasty can remove or reposition excess skin and fat from the lower eyelids, as well as tighten muscles. Like an upper blepharoplasty, it can be performed as a day surgery only.
It can focus on under-eye bags, puffiness, lines and wrinkles, and the cause of the eyelids sitting too low which reveals excess white of the eye below the iris.
Since a lower blepharoplasty is primarily performed for aesthetic purposes and not to address issues that may interfere with vision, it is considered a cosmetic elective procedure and will not be covered by Medicare or Private Health Insurance.
Your consultation with Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Dr Benjamin Norris
During your consultation, Dr Norris will assess the condition of the skin around your eyes (such as the condition of the underling muscle tissue), consider your facial dimensions, skin tone, and other individual features, review your medical history, and discuss your current health to ensure that you are a suitable candidate.
When discussing your reasons for choosing blepharoplasty, Dr Norris will also ask you about your goals for the procedure, your personal concerns, and your expectations to ensure that your expectations are realistic and align with what the procedure can achieve.
We document all of our blepharoplasty patients with before-and-after photographs for their medical records.
Should you have any questions, everyone at Form & Face is dedicated to helping you find the answers. After your consultation with Dr. Norris, you’ll be introduced to Shannon, our Practice Manager and “patient guide.” Shannon will be your guide.
How to prepare for upper and lower eyelid surgery
Dr Norris requires that all patients stop smoking for two months before undergoing any type of cosmetic surgery. Smoking inhibits circulation, and good circulation is essential to healing.
Additionally, any medications you are taking that are associated with a risk of increased bleeding should be discontinued two weeks before surgery. This also applies to over-the-counter preparations, prescribed drugs, and herbal supplements. The only exceptions are medications that your surgeon has approved.
Finally, you must arrange a patient escort to take you home after your procedure at Form & Face.
During your consultation, Dr Norris will provide you with personalised instructions on how to prepare for your procedure after assessing your personal needs and discussing health factors.
The outcomes shown are only relevant for this patient and do not necessarily reflect the results other patients may experience. Results may vary due to many factors, including the individual’s genetics and lifestyle.
About Dr Benjamin Norris
Dr Benjamin Norris is a qualified and experienced Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon with clinics in the Sydney (Bondi Junction) and Bella Vista areas.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) within the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Over more than two decades, he has trained in Sydney and abroad, gaining extensive knowledge in the field of General Surgery and Plastic Surgery before specialising in Cosmetic Surgery.
You can read more about Dr Norris here.
She’ll discuss your options for surgery and provide you with a detailed but easy-to-understand quotation for the procedure. Should you decide to schedule your surgery at that time, you will be asked to schedule a second consultation before your procedure.
Blepharoplasty photos
Blepharoplasty 35 year old, lower eyelid lift only. Upper lids untreated
Blepharoplasty, upper eyelids treated
Blepharoplasty surgery costs in Sydney
The cost of blepharoplasty is mostly dependent on what needs to be achieved. The technique used by Dr Norris and the anaesthetist, as well as hospital fees, also need to be considered. The best way to obtain a more accurate cost is by scheduling a personalised consultation either in Sydney (Bondi Junction) or Bella Vista.
Costs will be based on your individual surgery plan, which can be discussed during your consultation and help our team provide you with an accurate quote.
Eyelid surgery: Medicare cover eligibility
In cases where the eyelid is impairing the patient’s vision, or causing other health concerns, some of the surgery costs may be covered by Medicare or private health insurance – you may want to contact your surgeon to determine whether this is an option for you.
For example, if an upper blepharoplasty is needed to address heavy upper eyelids that may be causing issues (such as vision, eye strain, or headaches), it may be considered medically necessary and qualify for Medicare coverage.
On the other hand, if a procedure is performed for purely aesthetic purposes, it will be considered a cosmetic elective procedure and will not qualify for a Medicare rebate or cover from Private Health Insurance.
You can speak to Dr Norris, your GP, or another specialist to determine if your procedure may be medically necessary and meet Medicare’s requirements.
The blepharoplasty procedure
Blepharoplasty is generally an outpatient procedure. However, in some instances, particularly if other procedures are being performed simultaneously, Dr Norris performs this surgery at a hospital.
The specifics of eyelid surgery vary from patient to patient.
Generally, Dr Norris spends approximately one hour performing upper or lower blepharoplasty each. The complete procedure takes about four hours.
What to expect after upper and lower blepharoplasty surgery?
When the surgery is complete, you will be taken to a recovery room and monitored for any post-surgical issues. You may temporarily experience:
- Discomfort
- Numbness in the surgical area
- Swelling and bruising around your eyes
- Bruising visible on the whites of the eyes
- Blurred vision
- Extreme sensitivity to light
Dr Norris works individually with each patient to tailor a pain management and recovery program specific to their needs. You’ll go home with post-operative instructions and a prescription for pain medication.
The discomfort will peak during the first two days following the surgery. On the fifth day, you will return to see Dr Norris at Form and Face to have your stitches removed.
After two weeks, you may return to work but should avoid heavy lifting or use of the upper body. Light exercise is appropriate, but it is generally advisable to wait about six weeks before resuming your regular workout schedule.
Minimising blepharoplasty scars
Depending on the details of your eyelid surgery, Dr Norris may be able to use techniques to minimise the visibility of scars. For example, incisions may be placed within the natural creases of your skin and be concealed.
Your recovery can also influence how visible scarring may be – after your procedure, you can follow certain steps to prevent infection, which will affect wound healing, and to avoid the darkening of scars.
For example, keeping the incision sites clean and following wound care instructions will help to prevent infection, while protecting incision sites from excessive sun exposure can prevent scars from darkening.
If scars are visible, they will typically fade over time. They may initially appear quite red and noticeable, but this should subside as the incision heals.
Possible complications
All surgeries can be linked to some possible complications, which will be discussed during your consultation. A blepharoplasty procedure may be linked to infection, bleeding, and dry and irritated eyes, which may require treatment.
Other complications can include injury to eye muscles, skin discolouration, difficulty closing your eyes, or other eyelid problems that may prompt the need for revision surgery.
While scarring is an inevitable part of surgery, certain techniques may be used to conceal it as much as possible.
Other risks can can be associated with all types of surgeries include blood clots, an adverse reaction to anaesthesia, and more.
When you visit Form & Face for your consultation with Dr Norris, he will review all the risks and help you determine whether blepharoplasty surgery is right for you.
Eyelid surgery with Dr Norris in Sydney
Dr Norris has decades of experience and a wide skillset in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery.
During a consultation, he can discuss your expectations, gain an understanding of your goals and create a plan that suits your needs.
Based on your individual needs, he can recommend whether an upper blepharoplasty, lower blepharoplasty, or a combination of the two is most suitable.
FAQs
Blepharoplasty can be performed under local or general anaesthesia, depending on the extent of the surgery and patient preference. During your consultation, Dr. Norris can discuss the best option for your situation.
Eyelid surgery can be combined with other facial procedures, such as a facelift or brow lift. Combining procedures can address multiple areas at the same time, which may be suited to a patient’s goals regarding their results.
Although surgery makes a permanent change, factors such as the natural ageing process can influence your results after the procedure. Genetics, lifestyle, and other individually-varying factors can also influence the longevity of the results. Generally, while results aren’t necessarily considered permanent, they are quite long-lasting.
Blepharoplasty does not typically affect eyelash growth. The incisions made during the procedure are usually above or below the lash line, which spares the hair follicles. If any disruption to eyelash growth occurs, it is generally temporary.
Dry eyes can occur temporarily after a blepharoplasty due to changes in eyelid position or swelling that affects tear production and drainage. Dry eyes will usually subside after surgery, but Dr Norris may recommend lubricating eye drops or ointments to help relieve dryness during recovery.
We invite you to schedule a consultation with Dr Norris via the form below or call us on 1800 376 677. You can discuss blepharoplasty eyelid surgery, lay out a treatment plan to help you achieve your goals, and obtain a personalised price estimate.
Here at Form & Face, we provide patients with a
Lifetime followup guarantee
This means that we will be there for you far beyond the recovery period.
You can rest assured knowing that you can come to us about any
post-surgical concerns for the rest of your life.