Aesthetic

Eyelid surgery: the smallest operation with the biggest effect

Forty minutes under local anaesthesia removes the tired look that no cream and no sleep will fix.

Upper lids: skin, not fat

The upper lid problem is almost always excess skin folding over the lash line. Removing a precise ellipse restores the eyelid platform, and in heavier cases restores part of the upper visual field — which is why it is sometimes medically indicated.

Lower lids: fat, not skin

Under-eye bags are herniated fat pads, not swelling. Repositioning that fat into the tear trough — rather than simply removing it — avoids the hollow, skeletal look that older techniques produced.

Why it is done awake

Local anaesthesia with light sedation is safer than general for a 40-minute procedure and allows the surgeon to ask you to open and close your eyes during marking, which is how symmetry is controlled.

Recovery in real numbers

Stitches out at day 5–7, bruising largely gone at day 10, makeup at two weeks, final settling at three months. Most patients fly home on day four or five.

Swedish Clinic
Swedish Clinic IstanbulReviewed by our clinical team
Frequently asked questions

Eyelid surgery: the smallest operation with the biggest effect

Correctly done, no — it restores the lid you had ten years ago. Aggressive skin removal is what creates a changed, startled look.

From our library

Related treatments