The eyes are the first thing people notice on a face — and often the first area to show visible signs of aging. Drooping upper eyelids, under-eye bags, and excess skin around the eyes can make someone look perpetually tired or older than they feel. Blepharoplasty is the surgical procedure that addresses all of this, and it’s one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries worldwide. Here’s a clear guide to what it involves and why Greece has become a destination of choice for international patients considering eyelid surgery.
What Is Blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin, fat, and sometimes muscle from the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both. The goal is to restore a more open, rested, and youthful appearance to the eye area without altering the natural expression of the face. In cases where drooping upper eyelid skin is obstructing peripheral vision, the procedure also carries a functional benefit beyond aesthetics.
It’s one of the more delicate operations in plastic surgery — the eyelid skin is the thinnest on the entire body — but recovery is relatively quick compared to most facial surgical procedures, and results are long-lasting.
Upper vs. Lower Blepharoplasty: What’s the Difference?
The two procedures target different concerns and use different techniques. They can be done independently or combined in a single operation.
Upper Eyelid Surgery
Upper blepharoplasty addresses excess skin that has loosened and drooped over the natural eyelid crease, creating a hooded or heavy appearance. The incision is placed precisely along the natural crease of the upper eyelid, making it effectively invisible once healed. Excess skin and any appropriate amount of fat are removed, and the incision is closed with very fine sutures. The result is a more open, defined eye contour.
Lower Eyelid Surgery
Lower blepharoplasty targets under-eye bags, puffiness, and loose skin in the lower eyelid area. The standard approach places the incision just below the lower lash line, allowing excess skin and fat to be removed or repositioned. In patients who have puffiness caused solely by fat prolapse — without significant excess skin — a transconjunctival approach can be used instead, where the incision is made inside the lower eyelid and no external scar is created at all.
The Procedure: What Happens Step by Step
Blepharoplasty is typically performed under local anaesthesia, with sedation used when both upper and lower eyelids are treated simultaneously or when the patient prefers it. The procedure takes approximately one to one and a half hours and does not require an overnight hospital stay. Patients return home the same day.
A pre-operative consultation is essential — the surgeon assesses the eyelid anatomy, skin quality, the position of the eyebrows, and the degree of fat prolapse before deciding on the precise technique and the amount of tissue to be addressed. Removing too little or too much in the eyelid area has significant consequences, which is why choosing an experienced plastic surgeon matters more here than in almost any other procedure.
Recovery: What to Expect
Swelling and bruising around the eyes are expected in the first few days and typically peak within 48 to 72 hours before gradually subsiding. Most patients feel comfortable returning to office-based work within five to seven days. Sutures are removed five to seven days after surgery. Full resolution of swelling takes up to ten to fifteen days, and strenuous activity, swimming, and abrupt head movements should be avoided for one month. Cold compresses in the first 24 hours help manage swelling, and keeping the head elevated when sleeping speeds up recovery.
Can Blepharoplasty Be Combined with Other Procedures?
Yes, and it’s common practice. Blepharoplasty is frequently combined with a brow lift when the position of the eyebrows is contributing to upper eyelid drooping. It can also be performed alongside a facelift for comprehensive facial rejuvenation, or with non-surgical treatments like Morpheus8 or injectables to address the broader periorbital area. Combining procedures reduces overall downtime for patients who are travelling for treatment.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Blepharoplasty is suitable for both men and women, typically from the mid-thirties onwards when age-related laxity becomes apparent — though it can be performed earlier in patients with a hereditary predisposition to heavy or baggy eyelids. Good candidates are in overall good health, have realistic expectations about the outcome, and are not currently experiencing dry eye syndrome or other active eye conditions that could complicate recovery.
Why Choose Greece for Eyelid Surgery?
Greece has a strong tradition of plastic surgery excellence, with board-certified surgeons trained to European and international standards performing blepharoplasty routinely as part of a broad facial surgery practice. The combination of surgical quality, accessible pricing compared to the UK, US, or Northern Europe, and Athens as a practical travel hub makes it a logical destination for patients considering eyelid surgery abroad.
At Aegean Med Aesthetics, blepharoplasty is offered as part of a comprehensive plastic surgery programme with fully coordinated care for international patients — from the initial virtual consultation through to post-operative follow-up.
FAQ
Will blepharoplasty leave visible scars?
Upper eyelid scars are hidden within the natural crease and become virtually invisible once healed. Lower eyelid scars, when the external approach is used, sit just below the lash line and fade to near-invisibility over several months. The transconjunctival approach for lower lids leaves no external scar at all.
Does blepharoplasty hurt?
The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia and is not painful during the operation. Post-operative discomfort is mild — most patients manage it with standard over-the-counter painkillers for the first day or two.
How long do the results last?
Upper blepharoplasty results are generally long-lasting — often 10 to 15 years or more before any further correction is considered. Lower eyelid results also endure well, though the skin continues to age naturally over time.
Can blepharoplasty fix dark circles?
Blepharoplasty removes excess skin and repositions or removes fat but does not treat pigmentation-based dark circles. It can improve the shadowing effect caused by fat prolapse or skin laxity under the eyes, which in some patients significantly reduces the appearance of darkness in that area.
