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Eyelid surgery

Reduce drooping eyelids or under-eye bags and achieve a fresher, more rested, and more open look.

Good to know

  • Anesthesia: Procedure performed under local or general anesthesia
  • Duration: 30–90 minutes
  • Recovery: 3–10 days
  • Price: starting at €525 (per eye)
Free consultation
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About eyelid surgery

An eyelid correction removes excess skin and, if necessary, fat and muscle tissue around the eyes. An upper eyelid lift can reduce drooping eyelids and a heavy feeling, while a lower eyelid lift targets bags and excess skin under the eyes. You’ll discuss with your plastic surgeon which procedure best suits your situation and preferences.
  • An eyelid correction is possible from €525 for a one-sided upper eyelid correction. A correction of both upper eyelids costs €750 and a lower eyelid correction from €1,350. The final cost depends on the type of correction. During a free, no-obligation consultation, the plastic surgeon discusses your wishes and you receive a transparent cost overview.
  • An eyelid correction can be reimbursed if the treatment is medically necessary and you meet the conditions of your health insurer. If you come to Boerhaave for insured care, you need a referral from your GP. Check with your health insurer in advance about the conditions and reimbursement that apply to your situation.
  • After an eyelid correction, swelling and bruising may develop around the eyes. These gradually subside after the first few days. An upper eyelid correction usually recovers slightly faster than a lower eyelid correction. Allow about 7 to 14 days before you have largely recovered. Most people return to work after about one week.
  • At Boerhaave, an eyelid correction is performed by experienced plastic surgeons with an eye for safety, quality and a natural result. You can count on personal guidance and comprehensive aftercare, so that you know where you stand throughout the entire treatment process.

Here's how the treatment works

Here you will find all the important information about this treatment, from the consultation and the treatment itself to follow-up care, the results, and potential risks.

  • Types of Eyelid Surgery

    Aging, genetic predisposition, and lifestyle can cause the skin and muscles around your eyes to sag to a greater or lesser extent. This can make you look more tired and older than you actually feel. Bags under your eyes, in particular, give you a tired appearance.

    By removing the excess skin, fat tissue, and sometimes muscle tissue around your eyes, you’ll regain an open, fresh, and well-rested appearance. Eyelid surgery is, in fact, one of the most common procedures in cosmetic plastic surgery.

    Upper Eyelid Surgery

    Over the years, your skin loses its elasticity, which is perfectly normal. Around your eyes, this loss of elasticity will become visible slightly sooner, because the skin there is thinner. You can correct this with an upper eyelid lift, in which a small strip of skin is removed from your upper eyelid. This often achieves the desired result.

    Do you have more pronounced drooping eyelids? In that case, a small amount of fat and muscle tissue will also need to be removed. Keep in mind that if you are over 30 years old, there is a good chance that a more extensive upper eyelid lift will be recommended.

    To give you a youthful appearance, the shape and contour of your eyelid are also important. That is why an extensive upper eyelid lift involves removing more than just excess skin. It may also be necessary to subtly lift a drooping eyebrow at the outer edge to create a fresher appearance. The plastic surgeon will discuss this with you during your initial consultation.

    Sleepy-looking eyes

    We refer to “sleepy eyes” when your eyelid on one or both sides has begun to droop partially over your pupil. This is caused by a weakening of the muscle that lifts the upper eyelid and gives the appearance that you are very tired or have just gotten out of bed. It is possible to tighten this muscle slightly, allowing it to function more effectively and helping your eye open more fully. This procedure can be performed on its own or in combination with an upper eyelid lift.

    Lower Eyelid Correction

    As your skin sags, excess skin may develop around your lower eyelids. When this is accompanied by protruding fatty tissue, we refer to it as “eye bags.” These can make you look tired and older. If these bags bother you, a lower eyelid lift can offer a solution. During this procedure, the excess skin is removed and any protruding fat is reduced.

    A more extensive procedure is also an option for lower eyelid correction. In addition to removing excess skin and any fat, the procedure may also involve tightening the orbicularis oculi muscle around your eye to prevent the lower eyelids from drooping. It is also possible to reposition fat from your eye socket to fill in your tear troughs.

    Preferably, the above procedures are performed under light anesthesia.

    Canthopexy

    A canthopexy is a surgical procedure in which the outer corner of the eye (lateral canthus) is reinforced. The tendon that supports the outer corner of the eye is tightened and reattached to the rim of the eye socket. This provides the lower eyelid with more support and improves the position of the eyelid.

  • Plastic Surgeon
    At Boerhaave, your consultation always takes place with the plastic surgeon who will be treating you. During this consultation, you can explain what bothers you most about your eyelids and what you’d like to change. Together with the plastic surgeon, you can discuss your goals for your eyelid surgery in front of a mirror. Based on this discussion and the photos taken, the most appropriate surgical technique will be proposed to you and discussed with you. The plastic surgeon will demonstrate in front of the mirror what this technique entails and what you can expect in terms of the final result.

    At the end, your consultation will be summarized in a treatment plan that includes the total costs. These will be discussed with you immediately, as will the recovery period and any potential risks and complications. This will allow you to make a well-informed decision.

    Would you like to know more about your consultation? Read more here.

    Consultant
    Following your initial consultation, you will also have a meeting with your consultant. During this meeting, you will be informed about the general procedures that need to be arranged regarding your eyelid surgery.

  • On the day of your procedure, you are expected to arrive at the clinic half an hour early. Please note that lower eyelid surgery takes about 45 minutes. In contrast, a combined procedure takes about one to one and a half hours.

    Read here to learn how a typical treatment day generally unfolds.

    Before the local or general anesthesia is administered, the plastic surgeon will mark the area where the procedure will take place. This allows you to see what will happen. Through an incision made just below or above the lash line, excess fat, muscle, and skin are removed. A fine, non-dissolvable suture is then used to close the incision. These are removed one week after the surgery.

    Do you not have sagging skin, but only fat pockets under your eyes? In that case, an incision will be made in your lower eyelid. We also refer to this as a transconjunctival blepharoplasty, and it is usually performed on younger people who only have fat bags. This procedure does not tighten the skin, but it reduces the bags without leaving visible scars.

  • If your eyelid surgery was performed under local anesthesia, you can usually go home half an hour later. If you underwent general anesthesia, you can go home when the plastic surgeon and the nurse deem it safe to do so. In most cases, this is three hours after the surgery.

    Cooling Goggles
    After the surgery, you’ll be given special cooling glasses to take home so that you can properly cool the treated area right away once you’re home. Be sure to follow the instructions for use provided by the nurse.

    Post-operative pain
    In general, patients experience virtually no pain after eyelid surgery. However, your eyes will feel slightly burning, and you’ll notice some additional swelling almost immediately, which will subside after the third day. During this period, it’s advisable to use your cooling glasses regularly.

    Initially, the glasses are meant to reduce swelling around your eyes, especially during the first 24 hours after the procedure. Later, you can use the glasses to help your eyes relax.

    Recovery
    You can expect the recovery period to last 7 to 14 days. An upper eyelid lift typically heals slightly faster than a lower eyelid lift.

    What Can You Expect?
    After the procedure, the skin around your eyes will feel a bit tighter, and you may experience minor swelling and/or bruising. You may also experience eye irritation for a few weeks. This is all a natural reaction of your body and generally nothing to worry about. Did you undergo a combined procedure? If so, you may also experience blurred vision for the first few weeks.

  • After your eyelid surgery, you’ll be amazed by the results. Your eyes will look open and refreshed again, and your tired appearance will be a thing of the past. You’ll need to wait a few weeks to see the full results, as the treated area will still be somewhat swollen and red. This will gradually subside until you can fully assess the results.

    Generally, the results of an eyelid lift are long-lasting. However, the aging process continues, which may affect the longevity of your results.

    Scars
    The scars will heal to the point of being virtually invisible, as the stitches are placed in the skin fold and just below or above your eyelashes. We do everything we can to ensure the scars are barely visible.

    It’s important to know, however, that a scar takes one to one and a half years to fully settle. Be sure to keep them out of the sun and to protect and care for them properly. Eventually, your scars will fade into thin, nearly invisible lines.

  • Any surgical procedure can involve risks and complications. In the case of plastic surgery, these risks are minimal because, in principle, the patients are healthy individuals. Through thorough patient education, a comprehensive medical history, and our professional approach, we further reduce these risks to an absolute minimum.

    Possible complications may include:

    • Numbness of the eyelid
    • Discoloration of the skin
    • Dry eyes
    • Wound opening
    • Infection
    • Pain
    • Bruising
    • Allergic reaction to bandages
    • Hematoma (a collection of blood under the skin that requires removal)
    • Adverse reaction to the anesthetic
    • Change in sensation
    • Permanent unsightly scars
    • Damage to underlying structures
    • Unsatisfactory aesthetic result
    • Specific to the lower eyelid: Ectropion, the outward turning of the lower eyelid

Real results from our patients' eyelid surgeries

View the results of eyelid surgeries performed on patients who have been treated at our clinic before you. The before-and-after photos provide a realistic picture of what this treatment can achieve.

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In the hands of our experienced specialists

Our team of plastic surgeons combines years of experience with personalized care.
During a consultation, we take the time to discuss your wishes and provide honest advice about the options that are right for you.

Meet our teamIcons
Drs. P.P.G.M. Kouwenberg

How much does eyelid surgery cost?

The exact price depends on the treatment that’s best for you. Because every body and every goal is different, we’ll develop a treatment plan during a personal consultation, including a clear, transparent price.

  • Unilateral upper eyelid correction
    Procedure under local anaesthesia
    €525
  • Upper eyelid correction
    Procedure under local anaesthesia
    €750
  • Extended upper eyelid correction
    Procedure under local anaesthesia
    €1,050
  • Levatorplasty
    Procedure under local anaesthesia
    €1,000
  • Lower eyelid correction
    Procedure under local anaesthesia
    €1,350
  • Extended lower eyelid correction
    Procedure under local anaesthesia
    €1,700
  • Discount when combined with eyelid surgery
    -€100
  • Surcharge for additional levatorplasty
    €600
  • Surcharge for internal brow fixation
    €600
  • Surcharge for canthopexy
    €700
  • Surcharge for general anesthesia
    €600

Our patients experiences

Every patient has their own story. Read about their experiences with their care at Boerhaave.

Plan a free consult with a specialist

Every body is different. During a free consultation, an experienced specialist will take the time to discuss your wishes and expectations in detail. You’ll receive personalised treatment advice, a clear explanation of the process and a transparent cost estimate.

You can also easily ask Bo, our AI medical assistant, any questions you may have.

Plan your free consultAsk Bo
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • An eyelid correction, also called blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure in which excess skin (and possibly fat or muscle tissue) is removed from the eyelids. This can both improve your vision and give you a fresher, less tired appearance.
  • In an upper eyelid correction, a strip of excess skin is removed from the upper eyelid, which mainly helps with obstructed vision and a "sleepy" look. In a lower eyelid correction, by contrast, excess skin and bulging fat (bags) under the eyes are treated. Both procedures can be performed separately or in combination, depending on what bothers you most.
  • Eyelid correction usually takes place under local anaesthesia, although treatment under general anaesthesia is also possible. This will be discussed with you during the consultation.
  • Artiss is a tissue glue that the plastic surgeon uses to glue different tissue layers together. Artiss contains substances that are important for blood clotting and act as a kind of glue. Artiss is applied in the form of a spray between the skin and the underlying tissue. How it works In many plastic surgery procedures, the skin tissue is detached from the underlying tissue. After stitching, there is often space between the detached skin tissue and the underlying tissue. The tension on the skin and the stitches can stand in the way of the scars healing nicely. To prevent this, the plastic surgeon can glue the detached skin and the lower tissue layers together with Artiss. This puts less tension on the stitches. This can result in the scars healing more nicely. Advantages of Artiss After a plastic surgery procedure, (secondary) bleeding can occur under the skin. This then becomes visible as bruising. Artiss prevents space from forming between the tissue layers by gluing them together. The risk of secondary bleeding and bruising is therefore lower. Because the tissue layers are glued together with Artiss, there is no room for wound fluid to accumulate and cause swelling. This promotes a faster recovery and a better result. With a facelift, for example, you will also be presentable sooner after the treatment. Because the skin adheres better and less wound fluid accumulates, a pressure bandage and drains may even be unnecessary with, for example, an S-lift. Safety Artiss is a reliable product that is used as standard in many hospitals for all kinds of surgical procedures. It has been available for more than 30 years and its safety has been demonstrated in numerous scientific articles.

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