Cost Of Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery
When you’re tired of tired eyes, eyelid surgery may be the solution. The best eyelid surgery specialists can help you get a more youthful look, with a lot less pain and cost than you may think. Here’s what to expect when you visit an ophthalmologist for an eyelid lift.
In this post, we review the Cost Of Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery, Is eyelid surgery worth it, How painful is eyelid lift surgery, and What is the best age to have eyelid surgery?
There are different forms of eyelid surgery so it’s important to identify your goals.
While eyelid lifts are expensive — the average cost was $4,120 in 2020 — there are ways to pay for them over time.
Whether from aging or genetics, sometimes the skin around people’s eyes begins to sag and droop. To fix the issue, some people have an eyelid lift. It’s a very common procedure, second only to nose reshaping. But, it’s not usually covered by insurance, unless you need an eyelid lift for medical reasons, like to improve your vision.
What is eyelid lift surgery?
An eyelid lift, also known as a blepharoplasty, is a cosmetic surgical procedure that removes excess skin and tissue from above or below the eye.
Many people have eyelid lifts for cosmetic reasons, that is, to improve appearance. But often, drooping skin around the eyes affects a person’s vision. In these cases, eyelid lifts (and sometimes, brow lifts) can help improve vision.
Typically, people have both eyes operated on at once and are able to leave the same day to recover at home.
There are three types of cosmetic eyelid lift surgeries available: upper eyelid, lower eyelid, and double eyelid. Your eyelid specialist will recommend the best type of surgery for you based on your unique eye shape and what you’re hoping to achieve by having the surgery.
How much does an eyelid lift typically cost?
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cosmetic eyelid
lift costs $4,120. That doesn’t include anesthesia or operating room fees. And a clinic’s location and the expertise and experience of the surgeon can make a big difference in the price. That applies to the anesthesiologist’s fees as well.
The cost can also be higher in more expensive cities or areas where demand for the surgery, or for surgeons, is high.
The type of procedure you have done and where you have it done are two factors that affect cost. For example, Cytryn Cosmetic Surgery in Maryland usually charges between $2,500 and $3,000 for a double eyelid surgery.
Factors affecting eyelid lift costs
Along with the baseline fee, there are often other related fees that can add up quickly. Other eyelid surgery costs include:
Consultation fee: This is the fee for meeting with the plastic surgeon to decide whether to proceed with the eyelid lift, which is sometimes applied to your surgery fee.
Anesthesia fees: This represents the cost of the drugs that will put you under for the procedure, as well as the fee charged by the anesthesiologist.
Hospital or surgical facility costs: Your plastic surgeon may need to perform the procedure at an offsite location, which will cost you more.
Medical tests: Some people often undergo bloodwork or other tests before their surgeries.
Medication: Most prescriptions for postsurgical pain medication, antibiotics, eye drops and wound care supplies, are paid for out of pocket by the person.
Post-surgical corrections: You may need a corrective procedure if you are unhappy with your facelift results or have a complication.
Does insurance cover eyelid lifts?
In cases where the sagging eyelids block the person’s vision, insurance may pay for the procedure. This is true of Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance plans. It’s typically easier to prove the surgery is medically necessary if the person has an upper eyelid lift, rather than a lower eyelid lift. A double eyelid lift, meanwhile, is almost always considered a cosmetic procedure, and so is typically not covered by insurance.
The rules to get an eyelift approved by insurance are strict, so it can be hard to get it approved. Medicare, for instance, considers the following factors before approving coverage for the procedure:
The eyelid or skin must interfere with vision that affects sight and/or daily living, such as reading and driving
Debilitating eyelid irritation
Difficulty fitting or wearing a prosthetic eye
Photographic evidence and documentation of a visual problem
You also may still have to pay out-of-pocket costs for the surgery.
For cosmetic eyelid lifts, people can often get financing through their plastic surgery clinic. They can also use a medical credit card, such as CareCredit. But you can’t use funds in a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) to pay for cosmetic surgery. These accounts can only be used to pay for IRS-approved medical expenses.
Is an eyelid lift worth it?
Most people who undergo an eyelid lift are satisfied with the results. To make sure you have all the facts before going under the knife, ask your surgeon about possible side effects and likely results.
To have a cosmetic eyelid lift, you must fit certain health requirements. A plastic surgeon will evaluate your general health. They will pay extra attention to:
A history of eye conditions like dry eye, allergies, or glaucoma
Your health, specifically if you have diabetes, thyroid disease, or high blood pressure
Surgeons also look closely at a person’s anatomy. In some cases, an additional procedure — like a forehead lift or brow lift — may be necessary to get the desired result. Pre-surgery, some people may also need to have an eye exam or vision testing — especially if they are getting eyelid surgery for medical (not cosmetic) reasons. This is to support their insurance claim.
Are there cheaper alternatives to an eyelid lift?
There are nonsurgical options to improve the appearance of aging eyes, but they tend not to help much with saggy or baggy eyelids.
Nevertheless, depending on the issue, some of these procedures may help:
Botox injections may help lift the brow or smooth out crow’s feet at the eye’s outer edge depending on where the botox is injected. But beware, botox that relaxes muscle to smooth lines on the forehead can mean you won’t be able to lift your brows, making droopy eyelids worse instead of better.
Dermal fillers can add volume to skin, plumping areas around the eye that are sagging or drooping.
Skin resurfacing, around the eye with laser or chemical peels, can tighten skin and soften lines around the eyes. But, it should not be used on eyelids.
Radiofrequency procedures may stimulate collagen production and plump the skin around the eyes, but again, this is not an option for the eyelids.
How long does an eyelid lift last?
Typically, upper eyelid lifts can last anywhere from 5 to 7 years to lifelong. Sometimes, the surgery needs to be repeated after several years to maintain results. A lower eyelid lift usually offers very long-lasting results, often permanent.
The bottom line
Eyelid lift procedures are a common type of cosmetic surgery that not only improves physical appearance but can also improve vision and eye health for many people. The cost of these surgeries can be high though, so it’s important to carefully research your options. That starts with finding a plastic surgeon who understands your desires and expectations. Then, you should get an estimate of all the costs involved so you can prepare your finances for this procedure.
Cost Of Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery costs a lot, right? Actually, it depends. In this edition of the blog, we will go through some of the costs of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. We’ll also compare eyelid surgery cost between different parts of the country.
Most people assume eyelid surgery has a high cost. The reason is because people tend to think that eyelid surgery is not covered by their medical insurance. That all depends! If your droopy, hooded upper eyelids are blocking your vision, then most insurance plans will cover upper eyelid surgery to remove the extra skin and lift the eyelids.
Look at the example below: in this picture, the patient has fully relaxed his eyebrows meaning he is not raising his forehead to help open his eyes. Do you see how the pupil (the black dot) in both of his eyes – especially the right eye – are blocked by his overhanging eyelid skin and brows? If your doctor can show in pictures that the upper eyelids are blocking your vision, and if you have a visual field test that shows a meaningful improvement in your vision when your eyelids are raised, then your procedure may be medically necessary. Your eyelid surgery may be covered by your insurance – which means that your cost for surgery will depend on your deductible and your individual insurance plan.
Now, what happens if eyelid surgery is not covered by insurance? If eyelid surgery is not medically necessary, then it is considered cosmetic. And there may be plenty of reasons you would want surgery even if it is not medically necessary!
For example, many patients in our practice say they notice their eyelids hanging in their vision when they are outside, or playing sports, or that when they sweat the beads accumulate in the folds of skin. None of these are affecting the vision, but they are affecting our patients’ quality of life in some meaningful way. More commonly, our patients tell us they feel tired or that others assume they are tired. In fact, research has shown that how our facial expressions look can affect how we feel about ourselves. The two are interrelated! Some patients say that they are getting horizontal lines in their forehead because they are constantly raising their eyebrows to lift away the skin. These are all reasonable concerns. So what are your options if your surgery is not covered?
About 5 years ago, a study in Aesthetic Surgery Journal looked at the pricing for cosmetic surgery procedures among plastic surgeons in 15 different cities. Eyelid lift or blepharoplasty ranged from about $3700 to $7200 depending on the city. In Salt Lake City, the average price was $4400 for a blepharoplasty with all fees included.
What about a brow lift? Or under eye bag removal? Those procedures start around $4500, because of the surgical time and skill required. To have these procedures done, there are costs for the facility where it is performed to rent the operating room and its instruments, sutures, and surgical staff. If done under sedation or anesthesia, there are costs for the anesthesiologist as well.
Is eyelid surgery worth it
Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure that is designed to remove excess skin from the upper or lower eyelids. Eyelid reduction may also involve the removal of eyelid fat and tightening of the weakened eyelid muscles for a more refreshed and youthful appearance. Despite eyelid surgery being considered a relatively minor procedure, it is important to consider the risks and benefits of surgery before making an informed decision. Here, we cover all the important details about eyelid surgery.
What does eyelid surgery involve?
Blepharoplasty can involve surgery on the upper or lower eyelids or a combination of both.
Once you have had a clinical assessment, your Surgeon will be able to determine the most appropriate type of eyelid surgery. Upper blepharoplasty can also be combined with a lower Blepharoplasty in the same procedure.
Eyelid surgery is customised to the needs of the individual patient
It is important to bear in mind that everyone will have different degrees of excess skin affecting the eyelids. This will determine the amount of surgical correction required, and therefore no two upper eyelid procedures are identical. Every procedure is customised to match a patient’s expectations for treatment to achieve the best eyelid surgery results.
Eyelid surgery is ideally performed by expert consultant plastic surgeons who will have a detailed understanding of what youthful-looking eyes look like. Several factors will be taken into account when planning an eyelid surgery, including ethnic origin and gender. Any eyelid surgery must also respect the intricate functional anatomy of the eyelids to prevent dry eyes after blepharoplasty. This is why it is important to spend time carrying out detailed research to choose the best blepharoplasty surgeon in London.
How is eyelid surgery performed?
Eyelid surgery is customised to each patient, and the extent of surgery will be determined by the amount of surgical correction required. Most types of eyelid surgery can be easily undertaken with a local anaesthetic. For patients who prefer to be asleep, or for more complex cases, a general anaesthetic is recommended. Before upper eyelid surgery, the surgeon will first carefully mark the position of the eyelid crease and the amount of skin that needs to be removed. Once the eyelids have been injected with a local anaesthetic, the excess skin will be removed with a surgical scalpel, and any pinpoint bleeding will be controlled with fine cautery. It is important to remove the correct amount of skin to produce a natural-looking result, although removing too much skin could result in difficulties in closing the eyelids.
Lower eyelid surgery involves making incisions along the eyelash margin followed by the repositioning of fat to achieve a natural-looking eyelid contour. Sagging eyelid skin is surgically removed and is often combined with tightening of the muscles which form the lower eyelid. The eyes are checked for symmetry prior to closing incisions with dissolvable stitches.
What blepharoplasty results can I expect?
Final results will vary between patients, although the procedure is designed to achieve tighter skin with more alert and open eyes. The best types of eyelid surgery are designed to produce a subtle but defined appearance which takes years off you. Although you may notice results soon after the procedure, any bruising and swelling will persist for up to 2 weeks. Most patients return to work within 7 to 10 days, and it can take up to 4 weeks for swelling to settle down. Final results of eyelid surgery are usually observed at six weeks postoperatively.
Traditional scalpel blepharoplasty vs laser blepharoplasty
Here at Centre for Surgery, blepharoplasty surgery is most commonly undertaken using the scalpel method. Some surgeons may opt to use a CO2 laser to make incisions and remove loose skin. Results of eyelid surgery are more commonly determined by the skill of the surgeon rather than the type of instruments used. Although similar results are achievable with both procedures, we believe blepharoplasty scarring is minimised with the traditional scalpel technique of blepharoplasty.
What are the risks of eyelid surgery?
As with any type of surgery, there are risks involved, and blepharoplasty surgery is no different. When performed by a skilled plastic surgeon, eyelid surgery is considered to be a very safe and effective procedure.
Common side effects of eyelid surgery include:
These side effects are commonly observed after any type of eyelid surgery and will settle down on their own after a few days.
Potential complications of eyelid surgery include:
The risk of blepharoplasty complications can be minimised by choosing to have your eyelid surgery with a highly skilled and experienced plastic surgeon at Centre for Surgery in London.
How long does it take to recover after blepharoplasty?
Recovery after eyelid surgery is typically very smooth, provided you follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions in full. It is normal to experience mild bruising and swelling, although it is unusual to experience significant pain and discomfort. Bruising and swelling can be minimised by applying cold packs intermittently and keeping your head elevated while sleeping. These simple measures will help to minimise swelling and speed up your recovery. Only light activities should be carried out for the first two weeks after surgery, and any heavy lifting should be avoided. Most patients can return to office-based work after three days.
Is it normal to have blurred vision after eyelid surgery?
It is normal to have temporary blurred vision after eyelid surgery, and this is most commonly due to mild swelling of the cornea and the eye lubricant drops, which your surgeon will apply to the eyes before the procedure begins. Any blurred vision will resolve completely after two days, and there is no requirement to wear eyepatches during this period.
How to minimise scarring after blepharoplasty?
Any type of surgery involving incisions will result in scarring. Eyelid surgery involves short incisions which are positioned in the eyelid crease. This means any blepharoplasty scars are virtually invisible once you have fully healed. The incisions may initially appear red during the early recovery period, but these will fade to a faint white colour after a few weeks.
How long do eyelid surgery results take to appear?
Eyelid surgery results are considered to be long-lasting, with most patients reporting their results to last for at least five years. The natural ageing process is not prevented with eyelid surgery, however, and the elasticity of the skin and the tightness of the facial muscles will continue to diminish over time. We would recommend regular application of moisturiser and sunscreen to the area around the eyes to maintain the results of your eyelid surgery for longer.
Am I suitable for blepharoplasty?
Ideal candidates for a Blepharoplasty include men and women who have started to develop signs of ageing affecting the area around their eyes. Typical features which may be noticed include hooded eyelids, droopy eyelids or bags under the eyes. Some people are genetically predisposed to developing drooping eyelids and under-eye bags that may cause them to look much older than they actually are.
There is no age limit when it comes to determining suitability for the procedure. Patients should be in good overall health and ideally be non-smokers to reduce the risk of wound complications occurring. Eyelid surgery is considered to be worth it if you are wanting to look younger and more refreshed. Eyelid surgery results are designed to appear natural looking and enhance facial features. The vast majority of patients report their recovery after blepharoplasty to be very smooth, with very little in the way of pain or discomfort.