Double eyelid surgery

Double eyelid surgery in Turkey: what it creates and how it works

Double eyelid surgery, often called Asian blepharoplasty, creates a crease in the upper eyelid where there is none or where the crease is weak, low or uneven. A single eyelid (monolid) lacks a visible fold because the tissue that anchors the skin to the lid muscle is absent or low. The surgeon forms a new anchor so that the skin folds inward when the eye opens, giving a defined line above the lash. Surgery does not change eye shape or colour; it changes how the lid opens, and a crease that sits in a harmonious place is the goal.

This guide explains the main methods, how long the result lasts, what evidence supports it, who it suits, what it costs in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany, and how recovery goes. People seeking a different aim, such as removing excess skin, may find our guide to upper eyelid surgery more relevant. The wider range is in our plastic surgery treatments in Turkey.

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Which method creates the crease: sutures, partial incision or full incision?

There are three families of technique. The non-incision (suture) method passes fine stitches through the lid to form adhesions that hold a crease; it is quick and leaves almost no scar, but the crease can loosen over time. The partial (mini) incision uses one or two short cuts to place the anchoring stitches under direct vision. The full incision method opens the whole crease line, can remove a strip of skin, muscle and fat, and builds a deliberate attachment, which gives the most durable, adjustable result but a longer recovery and a thin scar hidden in the crease. The choice depends on lid thickness, fat, skin laxity and how permanent a crease you want.

Does double eyelid surgery work, and how long does it last?

For appropriate candidates it works: studies of incisional methods report stable creases in most patients over years, and the operation is one of the most common cosmetic procedures in East Asia. Durability depends on technique and lid anatomy. Suture methods have higher rates of crease loss than incisional methods, which is the usual trade-off for lower downtime. What is less predictable is the exact crease height, shape and symmetry, since swelling and individual healing both shape the line. A touch-up is not unusual, and a clinic should tell you its approach to revisions before you book.

Double eyelid crease styles: how high, how wide and what looks natural?

The surgeon chooses between several crease shapes. A parallel crease follows the lid margin and sits above the lash line at an even distance; a tapered crease starts at the inner corner and widens outward, which looks subtler and is often chosen for a natural effect. Crease height is typically a few millimetres, and a lower, tapered fold usually looks more natural on a smaller eye than a high, wide one. A good plan is made with you in a mirror, using a gentle probe to simulate the crease while the eye is open. A surgeon who suggests a tapered or low crease for your face is not being unhelpful; they are matching your anatomy.

Double eyelid surgery cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany

The figures below are approximate ranges for both eyes, not hospital quotes. Price depends on the technique, the anaesthesia and any added procedure.

What changes the price: suture versus incision (the full method takes longer), local anaesthesia with sedation versus general anaesthesia, whether fat removal, inner-corner (epicanthoplasty) or ptosis correction are added, and whether you stay overnight. A package normally covers tests, the operation, anaesthetist, medication, a check-up and transfers. Ask in writing what happens, and who pays, if a revision is needed.

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Who is a good candidate, and who is not?

Good candidates are adults with a stable expectation, healthy eyes and a clear idea of the crease they want. People with a droopy lid (ptosis), very heavy or puffy lids, dry eye or a past eyelid operation need an assessment first, because a crease alone will not fix a functional problem. It is wise to wait if you have an eye infection, uncontrolled thyroid disease or unrealistic expectations. Many people also consider a related shape change; our guide to fox eye surgery explains a different operation with a different aim.

The operation step by step

After marking the planned crease with you sitting up, the surgeon numbs the lids with local anaesthetic, with or without sedation. In the full incision method a fine cut follows the marked line, a strip of skin and sometimes a small amount of muscle or fat is removed, and fine sutures anchor the skin to the deeper tissue so that a fold forms. The skin is then closed with very fine stitches. Both eyes usually take 45 to 90 minutes; the suture method can take less. You can go to your hotel the same day, with cold compresses and lubricating ointment.

Double eyelid surgery before and after: what are realistic results?

Immediately afterwards the crease looks higher and heavier than the final one, because of swelling. Swelling and bruising are most visible over the first week, with the crease settling and softening over four to eight weeks and the final shape at three to six months. Photographs show a defined line above the lash and a more open look, but they do not show asymmetry that is natural in most faces, or the weeks of swelling in between. The scar of an incisional method fades to a thin line in the crease within months. Ask to see patients with a lid anatomy similar to yours.

Trip length and recovery milestones

Stay about five to seven days in Turkey. Stitches are removed after five to seven days, at which point the bruising has started to fade. In the first week keep your head raised, apply cold compresses and avoid rubbing your eyes; do not wear contact lenses for about two weeks. Most people return to desk work after about a week, hide the bruising with glasses and avoid make-up on the incision until it is healed. Exercise and swimming wait about two to four weeks. Swelling can fluctuate for several weeks, especially in the morning.

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Risks and complications of double eyelid surgery

Common effects are swelling, bruising, tightness, dry or watery eyes and temporary blurred vision from ointment. Possible problems include asymmetry, a crease that is too high or too low, loss of the crease, visible scarring, infection, difficulty closing the eye fully and, rarely, bleeding behind the eye, which is an emergency. Eye surgery of any kind should be done by a surgeon trained in eyelid or plastic surgery; the NHS and professional societies such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons advise choosing a qualified surgeon and understanding what revision involves. Ask who reviews you if a problem appears after you return home.

How to choose a surgeon and what to ask the clinic

Look for a surgeon who does many eyelid operations, shows examples that match your eyelid type, checks your eyes before agreeing to operate and gives a written plan and price. Red flags include copying a celebrity crease, a single method for every patient, guarantees of permanence and no revision policy. Read how our process works and send photographs through the free quote page.

• Which method do you advise for my lids, and why?
• What crease shape and height do you propose?
• How often does the crease need a touch-up in your experience?
• What does the price include, including revisions?
• Who do I contact once I am home?

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Hospitals with Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery in Turkey

Academic Hospital

Üsküdar, Istanbul

MoHHealth Tourism Licence+2

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Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital

Pendik, Istanbul

JCIMoH+2

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