Cost Of Blepharoplasty Eyelid Surgery
Many people who are concerned about aging believe they need a full facelift to restore a more youthful appearance, and it can be daunting to think about the cost and recovery time following that.
However, you can greatly reduce the signs of aging with a less complex eyelid surgery. At Virginia Surgical Arts, we offer upper and lower eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, to help you get back that youthful, refreshed look. Call our facial cosmetic surgery practice to learn if the procedure is right for you.
What is a Blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty refers to the surgical procedure that removes and tightens the skin of the upper and lower eyelids. Plastic surgery to reduce excess skin on or around the eyelids can serve both cosmetic and medical purposes. Cosmetically, blepharoplasty can reduce sagging, fine lines, bags, and wrinkles, improving confidence and helping you feel more vibrant and youthful. Medically, blepharoplasty can keep your upper eyelids from irritating your eyes, causing dry eyes, and obstructing your vision.
When blepharoplasty is performed for medical reasons, it may be covered by insurance.
What Are the Different Types of Eyelid Surgery?
In general, there are three different types of blepharoplasty surgery: upper, lower, and combination eyelid lift procedures in which both upper and lower lids are addressed. In many cases, patients add additional procedures to their eyelid lift surgery to combine recovery time and operating room costs.
Upper Blepharoplasty
In some cases, aging can lead to droopy eyelids, causing changes in appearance and obstruction of vision. In other cases, we perform upper eyelid surgery because patients are unhappy with the appearance of their upper eyelids. During upper blepharoplasty, the upper lids are modified through the removal and/or tightening of excess, sagging skin.
Upper eyelid surgery can be performed with or without anesthesia, and patients typically go home the same day. While changes are noticeable immediately following surgery, it takes four to six weeks to see the final results.
Because every patient’s anatomy is different, upper eyelid blepharoplasty is always a customized procedure. Our surgeons need to evaluate each individual patient and create a plan for surgery that will achieve the desired result. The average cost for just upper eyelid surgery is around $3,200. In many cases, upper eyelid surgery is covered by insurance due to obstruction of vision and medical necessity.
Lower Blepharoplasty
Lower blepharoplasty is designed to address sagging of the lower eyelids or under-eye bags that develop as a result of age, genetics, anatomy, or lifestyle factors. This procedure requires the removal of skin and/or excess fat beneath the eyes to smooth and tighten the skin in that area.
Lower eyelid surgery is almost never performed for medical reasons. Therefore, it is typically paid for out of pocket by the patient. The average cost of lower eyelid surgery is over $6,000.
Following lower eyelid surgery, you can expect some puffiness, swelling, and bruising for up to three weeks after surgery. Most people need a week or two off work and see the final results about three months after the procedure.
Combination Eyelid Lift Procedures
During a combination eyelid lift procedure, the surgeon will correct both the upper and lower eyelids during the same procedure. Many patients with drooping upper eyelids also have extra skin and fat beneath their eyes — and vice versa. Having both corrections done at the same time can help you consolidate recovery time and save money.
Recovery after combination surgery is about the same as recovery after either upper or lower lid surgery; you can expect swelling and bruising as you recover and will likely need up to two weeks off work. You’ll see your final results about three months after your combination surgery. The average price when you choose combination lift procedures is right around $4,600.
How Much Does Eyelid Surgery Cost?
Although the cost of eyelid surgery varies substantially from one patient to the next because of a multitude of factors, averages can be helpful in determining whether blepharoplasty is worth exploring during a consultation appointment. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost is $4,120.
The cost of your procedure can be more or less depending on a number of factors, like the experience of the surgeon, the type of procedure, and your geographical location.
What Can Affect the Cost of Blepharoplasty?
As discussed earlier, blepharoplasty cost can vary significantly from one patient and one procedure to the next. Understanding which factors impact the total cost of your procedure can be helpful as you make decisions.
Combined Procedures
Many patients choose to have other cosmetic procedures done at the same time as their blepharoplasty, which can increase blepharoplasty costs but help them save on expenses and recovery time overall. The most common procedures that are done at the same time as eyelid surgery are a brow lift or forehead lift.
Anesthesia
Typically, estimates for blepharoplasty do not include the cost for general anesthesia because local anesthetic is used in most cases. However, some patients prefer general anesthesia to limit awareness during the procedure. If you elect to have the procedure performed under general anesthesia (and your primary care provider agrees that you’re a good candidate), there are additional costs associated with it.
Pre- and Post-Surgical Expenses
Pre-surgical expenses usually aren’t included in the estimate provided by the cosmetic surgeon’s office because those costs are incurred elsewhere. Sometimes, patients may need a pre-op appointment with their primary care provider to get clearance for surgery prior to their surgery date. Their primary care provider may order labs to ensure it’s safe to move forward with surgery. The cost of this pre-op appointment and any diagnostic screening tests ordered by primary care are not included in the estimate.
Additionally, you may leave your surgery with prescriptions for medications to manage your pain or prevent infection as you recover. There will be costs incurred when filling these prescriptions that are not included in your original estimate.
Hospital Stays
In most cases, blepharoplasty is an outpatient procedure, which means you’ll go home as soon as you recover — the same day as your surgery. If complications occur, a patient may require admission to the hospital. While very rare, any costs associated with a hospital admission are not included in the original estimate you received.
When Will Insurance Cover Eyelid Surgery?
In most cases, eyelid surgery is not covered by insurance. However, your health insurance may cover the cost of your upper eyelid surgery in certain situations. Having a doctor’s note, taking photos of your eyelids that demonstrate medical necessity, and having obstruction of vision fields help you access insurance coverage for eyelids surgery.
Cost Of Blepharoplasty Eyelid Surgery
Many people who are concerned about aging believe they need a full facelift to restore a more youthful appearance, and it can be daunting to think about the cost and recovery time following that.
However, you can greatly reduce the signs of aging with a less complex eyelid surgery. At Virginia Surgical Arts, we offer upper and lower eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, to help you get back that youthful, refreshed look. Call our facial cosmetic surgery practice to learn if the procedure is right for you.
What is a Blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty refers to the surgical procedure that removes and tightens the skin of the upper and lower eyelids. Plastic surgery to reduce excess skin on or around the eyelids can serve both cosmetic and medical purposes. Cosmetically, blepharoplasty can reduce sagging, fine lines, bags, and wrinkles, improving confidence and helping you feel more vibrant and youthful. Medically, blepharoplasty can keep your upper eyelids from irritating your eyes, causing dry eyes, and obstructing your vision.
When blepharoplasty is performed for medical reasons, it may be covered by insurance.
What Are the Different Types of Eyelid Surgery?
In general, there are three different types of blepharoplasty surgery: upper, lower, and combination eyelid lift procedures in which both upper and lower lids are addressed. In many cases, patients add additional procedures to their eyelid lift surgery to combine recovery time and operating room costs.
Upper Blepharoplasty
In some cases, aging can lead to droopy eyelids, causing changes in appearance and obstruction of vision. In other cases, we perform upper eyelid surgery because patients are unhappy with the appearance of their upper eyelids. During upper blepharoplasty, the upper lids are modified through the removal and/or tightening of excess, sagging skin.
Upper eyelid surgery can be performed with or without anesthesia, and patients typically go home the same day. While changes are noticeable immediately following surgery, it takes four to six weeks to see the final results.
Because every patient’s anatomy is different, upper eyelid blepharoplasty is always a customized procedure. Our surgeons need to evaluate each individual patient and create a plan for surgery that will achieve the desired result. The average cost for just upper eyelid surgery is around $3,200. In many cases, upper eyelid surgery is covered by insurance due to obstruction of vision and medical necessity.
Lower Blepharoplasty
Lower blepharoplasty is designed to address sagging of the lower eyelids or under-eye bags that develop as a result of age, genetics, anatomy, or lifestyle factors. This procedure requires the removal of skin and/or excess fat beneath the eyes to smooth and tighten the skin in that area.
Lower eyelid surgery is almost never performed for medical reasons. Therefore, it is typically paid for out of pocket by the patient. The average cost of lower eyelid surgery is over $6,000.
Following lower eyelid surgery, you can expect some puffiness, swelling, and bruising for up to three weeks after surgery. Most people need a week or two off work and see the final results about three months after the procedure.
Combination Eyelid Lift Procedures
During a combination eyelid lift procedure, the surgeon will correct both the upper and lower eyelids during the same procedure. Many patients with drooping upper eyelids also have extra skin and fat beneath their eyes — and vice versa. Having both corrections done at the same time can help you consolidate recovery time and save money.
Recovery after combination surgery is about the same as recovery after either upper or lower lid surgery; you can expect swelling and bruising as you recover and will likely need up to two weeks off work. You’ll see your final results about three months after your combination surgery. The average price when you choose combination lift procedures is right around $4,600.
How Much Does Eyelid Surgery Cost?
Although the cost of eyelid surgery varies substantially from one patient to the next because of a multitude of factors, averages can be helpful in determining whether blepharoplasty is worth exploring during a consultation appointment. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost is $4,120.
The cost of your procedure can be more or less depending on a number of factors, like the experience of the surgeon, the type of procedure, and your geographical location.
What Can Affect the Cost of Blepharoplasty?
As discussed earlier, blepharoplasty cost can vary significantly from one patient and one procedure to the next. Understanding which factors impact the total cost of your procedure can be helpful as you make decisions.
Combined Procedures
Many patients choose to have other cosmetic procedures done at the same time as their blepharoplasty, which can increase blepharoplasty costs but help them save on expenses and recovery time overall. The most common procedures that are done at the same time as eyelid surgery are a brow lift or forehead lift.
Anesthesia
Typically, estimates for blepharoplasty do not include the cost for general anesthesia because local anesthetic is used in most cases. However, some patients prefer general anesthesia to limit awareness during the procedure. If you elect to have the procedure performed under general anesthesia (and your primary care provider agrees that you’re a good candidate), there are additional costs associated with it.
Pre- and Post-Surgical Expenses
Pre-surgical expenses usually aren’t included in the estimate provided by the cosmetic surgeon’s office because those costs are incurred elsewhere. Sometimes, patients may need a pre-op appointment with their primary care provider to get clearance for surgery prior to their surgery date. Their primary care provider may order labs to ensure it’s safe to move forward with surgery. The cost of this pre-op appointment and any diagnostic screening tests ordered by primary care are not included in the estimate.
Additionally, you may leave your surgery with prescriptions for medications to manage your pain or prevent infection as you recover. There will be costs incurred when filling these prescriptions that are not included in your original estimate.
Hospital Stays
In most cases, blepharoplasty is an outpatient procedure, which means you’ll go home as soon as you recover — the same day as your surgery. If complications occur, a patient may require admission to the hospital. While very rare, any costs associated with a hospital admission are not included in the original estimate you received.
When Will Insurance Cover Eyelid Surgery?
In most cases, eyelid surgery is not covered by insurance. However, your health insurance may cover the cost of your upper eyelid surgery in certain situations. Having a doctor’s note, taking photos of your eyelids that demonstrate medical necessity, and having obstruction of vision fields help you access insurance coverage for eyelids surgery.
how to qualify for eyelid surgery
A frequently asked question from patients is, “When is a blepharoplasty a medically necessary procedure?”
The first aspect to consider is the motivation for seeking surgical consultation. If the motivation is for cosmetic purposes, then the surgery is likely not medically necessary.
If you are investigating surgery because you are having vision issues, then there is a possibility that this is a medically necessary procedure, and it may be covered by insurance.
What Deems a Blepharoplasty Surgery Medically Necessary?
Typically, an upper-eyelid blepharoplasty can be considered medically necessary when the upper-eyelid skin is drooping down to the extent that it is blocking vision, usually within the superior visual fields.
When there is significant excess upper-eyelid skin, the skin can hang down and create a curtain-like effect on vision when looking upwards.
There are other conditions that can make the upper eyelid hang down over the eye and contribute to vision loss as well.
This is a result of weakness of the small muscle that is responsible for lifting the upper eyelid. This condition is called upper-eyelid ptosis. There are separate surgeries that can be performed at the same time as an upper eyelid blepharoplasty to help raise the eyelid and alleviate vision obstruction.
How is Medical Necessity Determined for this Procedure?
If patients are having problems with superior visual field obstruction and a physical exam shows a significant amount of excess upper-eyelid skin contributing to vision loss, patients are typically referred to visual field testing.
This is performed by an eye doctor and involves testing when a patient is able to see a signal in their peripheral vision when focusing on an object straight ahead. The eyelids can be temporarily taped upwards to demonstrate that a surgical correction would significantly improve their vision.
What Should People Do About ‘Heavy Brows’?
Another important problem area to consider giving attention to during a blepharoplasty, especially with the upper eyelids, is the brows.
Some patients have “heavy brows” or “brow ptosis,” which can also result in excess upper-eyelid skin.
When performing surgery, there is only so much upper eyelid skin that can be removed without further displacing the brow downwards, therefore sometimes a browlift is considered a medically necessary procedure.
On the other hand, there are many patients that seek a browlift for cosmetic purposes to help alleviate the appearance of a heavy brow. This is important for patients to be aware of because this surgery involves completely different incisions located within the hairline to suspend the eyebrow skin.
It is very common for a browlift and upper eyelid blepharoplasty to be performed concurrently, for both cosmetic and functional purposes.
When is Surgery for the Lower Eyelids Medically Necessary?
A lower eyelid blepharoplasty is rarely covered by insurance. This is due to the fact that, regardless of the amount of excess lower-eyelid skin or fat herniation, it will not obstruct vision.
There are certainly indications for a lower-eyelid surgery to be performed to help protect the eye. However, it rarely results in the removal of excess lower eyelid skin or removal of the fat pads, or “bags,” as well as be covered by insurance for medically necessary purposes.
How Do I Determine if My Surgery is Covered by Insurance?
The best way to determine if the cost of eyelid surgery is covered by health insurance is to ask yourself the motivations for surgery.
If it is to improve your appearance, insurance is unlikely to cover this procedure.
If you are affected by loss of vision in your superior visual fields, then there is a possibility that insurance will cover the procedure and you will require further testing to document obstruction of your visual fields.
It is important to meet with an experienced surgeon because there are components of the physical exam that may be missed by a surgeon that does not frequently perform eyelid surgery.
At The Williams Center, we are able to take care of both cosmetic and functional upper-eyelid surgeries. Having performed thousands of these surgeries, we are experienced and able to identify subtle contributions to eyelid issues, such as a heavy brow and/or a weak upper-eyelid levator muscle.