5.0(14)
Op. Dr. Murat Yaman
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 11+years exp.
- 5,000+surgeries
- 6Treatments
Turkish · English
From€2,890
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Facial Surgery
Upper eyelid surgery
What upper eyelid surgery (upper blepharoplasty) removes and repairs, when hooded lids are cosmetic and when they affect vision, how the operation is done under local anaesthesia, approximate costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, scarring, recovery by week, realistic results, risks and how to choose a surgeon.
A written plan with the surgeon's name and the full price — usually within 24 hours.
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Verified surgeons for Upper Eyelid Surgery
4 doctors Compare doctors, ratings and prices — ask any of them for a free quote.
Prof. Dr. Ayhan Numanoğlu
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 56+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
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Dr. Erdem Tezel
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 37+years exp.
English · Turkish
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Prof. Dr. Özhan Çelebiler
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 44+years exp.
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Upper eyelid surgery in Turkey: what it is and what is removed
Upper eyelid surgery (upper blepharoplasty) removes excess skin, and sometimes a little fat and muscle, from the upper lids. With age the skin of the lid stretches and folds over the natural crease, which can make you look tired, hide the lash line and, in some people, narrow the field of vision. The surgeon marks the crease while you sit upright, cuts along it, takes out a strip of skin, adjusts any bulging fat and closes the wound with a fine stitch so that the scar sits in the natural fold. In Turkey it is a short operation that is often done under local anaesthesia with or without sedation.
This guide explains what the operation changes, how it differs from a brow lift, what it costs against the UK, US and Germany, what the scar and recovery look like and how to choose a surgeon. If the lower lids also bother you, see our guide to lower eyelid surgery.
Is it hooded eyelids, a low brow or true ptosis?
Three different problems can look like ‘heavy lids’, and upper eyelid surgery only treats the first. Excess skin (dermatochalasis) hangs over the lid and is what a blepharoplasty removes. A descended eyebrow pushes the skin down from above and is treated with a brow lift. Ptosis is a weak lifting muscle that makes the lid edge itself sit low and needs a different operation to tighten the muscle. A surgeon should test which of these you have, because removing skin alone from a ptosis eye can leave the problem unchanged.
Does upper eyelid surgery work, and can it improve vision?
For excess skin, upper blepharoplasty is a well-established operation and the result is usually predictable: a clearer lid, a visible crease and a less tired look. In some countries, including the UK, the NHS may fund it when hanging skin blocks the upper field of vision and a formal visual-field test confirms it; purely cosmetic cases are not funded. What the operation cannot do is stop ageing: the brow continues to descend over the years, and the effect on lines at the outer corner of the eye (crow’s feet) is small. Tell the surgeon what bothers you most so that the plan targets it.
Upper eyelid surgery cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges, not hospital quotes. Upper lids alone cost less than upper and lower lids together.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €1,200 – €3,000 |
| United Kingdom | €2,800 – €5,500 |
| United States | €3,000 – €7,000 |
| Germany | €2,200 – €5,000 |
What changes the price: skin only or skin and fat, local anaesthesia against general, whether the brow or a ptosis repair is added, hospital against clinic setting and the length of stay. A package normally includes the consultation, tests, surgeon and anaesthetist fees, medication, follow-up checks and airport transfers; ask for the list in writing, and check whether suture removal is included.
Upper eyelid surgery or brow lift: which one do I need?
The choice depends on where the heaviness comes from. If the brow sits at a good height and only the lid skin hangs, upper blepharoplasty is enough. If the brow droops, taking only lid skin can pull the brow lower still. A brow lift or a combined operation may then be advised, and combining upper and lower lids is described in our guide to upper and lower eyelid surgery.
| Option | Suits | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Upper blepharoplasty | Excess lid skin and small fat pads | Does not lift a low brow or fix ptosis |
| Brow lift | Low or uneven brow causing lid heaviness | Larger operation; scars sit in the hairline or scalp |
| Ptosis repair | Weak lifting muscle, low lid edge | Needs a specialist assessment |
Who is a good candidate for upper eyelid surgery, and who should wait?
Good candidates are healthy adults with loose or folded upper-lid skin, realistic expectations and eyes that are moist enough to cope with the change. You should wait or ask for a specialist opinion if you have dry-eye disease, thyroid eye disease with active inflammation, uncontrolled high blood pressure, a bleeding disorder, or if you take blood thinners that cannot be stopped. A clinic will also ask about glaucoma, previous eye surgery and contact-lens use.
The operation step by step
The surgeon draws the planned skin strip while you sit, then numbs the lids with local anaesthetic. The marked skin is removed, and in people with bulging fat a small amount is taken out through the same cut. The wound is closed with a thin, fine suture or a running stitch, and cold compresses are placed on the eyes. Each lid takes around 30 to 45 minutes, so the operation lasts about an hour. Most people go back to the hotel the same day.
How long to stay in Turkey and what recovery looks like by week
Plan about four to five nights so the stitches can be removed on day five to seven and the surgeon can check the lids before you fly.
| Time | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | Swelling, bruising, tight and dry eyes; cold compresses, head raised |
| Days 5–7 | Stitches removed; bruising still visible but covered by glasses |
| Weeks 2–3 | Most bruising gone; contact lenses and light make-up often allowed |
| Weeks 4–6 | Exercise resumes; scar pink but flattening |
| Months 3–6 | Scar fades in the crease; the final look settles |
Upper eyelid surgery before and after: what do scars and results look like?
Photographs usually show a more open eye, a visible crease and more of the eyelid line, with a thin scar hidden in the fold that fades over several months. They do not show the first two weeks of bruising and swelling, nor the variation between people: thicker or darker skin may scar more visibly, and a small asymmetry between the two sides is common. Ask the coordinator for photographs of patients with your age and skin type, taken with the eyes open and closed.
Risks and complications of upper eyelid surgery
General risks are bleeding, infection and reaction to the anaesthetic. Specific to the eyelids are dry or watery eyes, difficulty closing the eye fully, asymmetry, a visible scar, small cysts along the scar and, very rarely, bleeding behind the eye that threatens vision and needs urgent treatment. If the surgeon takes too much skin the lids may not close properly. The NHS and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons advise choosing a qualified surgeon who explains these risks. Ask who treats you after you go home.
How to choose a surgeon and clinic, and what to ask
Check that the surgeon is a registered specialist who performs eyelid operations regularly, that you see them at the consultation rather than only a coordinator, and that a written plan and price are provided before you pay a deposit. Red flags include a plan that skips examining your eyes and brow, promises of a specific eye shape and pressure to add procedures. See how our process works and use our free quote page to ask for a plan.
- Is my problem skin, fat, brow position or ptosis?
- Where will the scar sit and how long will the stitches stay?
- Local or general anaesthesia, and who is the anaesthetist?
- How many nights should I stay and who checks me before the flight?
- What happens if the lids need a touch-up?
Hospitals with Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
Upper eyelid surgery, or upper blepharoplasty, removes excess skin and sometimes a little fat from the upper lids through a cut in the natural crease. It reduces hooded or drooping lids and can clear the upper field of vision.
Yes, when the heaviness comes from loose skin. If the cause is a low brow or a weak lifting muscle (ptosis), skin removal alone may not be enough, so an examination should decide the right operation.
Approximate ranges are €1,200 to €3,000 in Turkey, against about €2,800 to €5,500 in the UK. The price depends on skin only or skin and fat, the anaesthesia, and whether other procedures are added.
A more open eye with a visible crease and a thin scar hidden in the fold, which fades over several months. Ask for photographs of patients of your age and skin type, as swelling hides the result at first.
Stitches come out after five to seven days, bruising fades in two to three weeks and most people return to desk work in about a week. The scar keeps improving for three to six months.
The lids are numbed during surgery. Afterwards most people feel tightness, dryness and mild discomfort rather than strong pain, which is usually controlled with simple painkillers.
Removed skin does not return, and results often last many years, but ageing continues and the brow may descend over time. Some people choose a later touch-up.
No. Blepharoplasty removes lid skin, while a brow lift raises the eyebrow. A droopy brow can make the lids look heavy, so a surgeon may recommend a brow lift or both.
It is a common, short operation, but risks include dry eyes, asymmetry, scarring and, very rarely, bleeding behind the eye. Safety depends on a qualified surgeon, a licensed hospital and sensible aftercare.
Most patients stay four to five nights so the stitches can be removed and the surgeon can check the lids before the flight home.
Patient stories