Eyelid lift

The term ‘eyelid lifting’ denotes a surgical procedure to tauten the upper and lower eyelids. Bags under the eyes, drooping eyelids and wrinkles around the eyes are also removed as part of the procedure. The skin’s natural ageing process may result in excess skin forming around the eyes which cannot be hidden by cosmetic applications alone. In lid lifting, we remove this excess skin and, in doing so, open up the eyes. On the other hand, bags form under the eyes when layers of tissue become slack, meaning that the fat tissue becomes more visible or apparent. Such issues can also be resolved in a lid lifting treatment.

Lid lifting is usually carried out as an outpatient procedure and lasts about 1–2 hours. Depending on the patient’s requirements, we can carry out an upper eyelid lift, a lower eyelid lift or a combination of the two. In some cases, it can also be prudent to tauten the muscles in the eye ring. The doctor treating you will inform you of the advisable treatment steps in your case during a one-to-one consultation.

A lid lift can be carried out on both the upper and lower eyelids. An upper lid lift primarily helps to remedy drooping lids, giving the eye a more open appearance. In lower lid lifts, on the other hand, we treat bags under the eyes that make a person appear tired and worn-down.

In both methods, incisions are made where they will be least conspicuous. When lifting the upper eyelids, the incision is generally made along the fold in the skin around the eye. To tighten the lower lid, the surgeon makes a fine incision below the lash line or, alternatively, on the inside of the lower eyelid. This means that the fine surgical scars follow the natural contours of your eye, making them almost invisible over time.

Before the lid lifting procedure, you’ll receive an in-depth personal consultation. In this appointment, the doctor treating you will discuss the most suitable treatment steps for your case and what results you can expect to achieve. They will also provide some important tips on how you can prepare yourself for the surgery. The doctor will ask about any known allergies, intolerances and any medications you’re taking. These factors can impact on the surgery and must be taken into consideration when planning the procedure.

We normally carry out eyelid corrections under local anaesthetic – though you have the option of twilight or general anaesthetic if you’d prefer. However, a general anaesthetic is only necessary in very rare cases, and most patients are able to leave the practice the same day. The treatment itself takes between 60 and 90 minutes depending on the scope of treatment. Including preparations and aftercare, you should allow about half a day for a lid lifting treatment.

To begin with, the doctor will mark the planned sites of the incisions. In doing so, they will follow the contours of your eyes in order to achieve as natural a result as possible. The eyelid skin is then separated from the underlying muscle and fat tissue. The surgeon then removes any excess skin and fat tissue before suturing the incisions back together. To make sure that the surgical scars are as inconspicuous as possible, the doctor may suture intradermally in places, i.e. under the skin.

Following eyelid lifting, the first step is to cool the eye area. You should also make sure to cool the area regularly at home, and also to avoid direct sunlight and get sufficient rest. You can start exercising again after about 2 weeks.

The sutures are removed around a week after the lifting procedure. It will take some 10–14 days for your eye area to appear presentable again. By then, any initial side effects of the surgery – such as swelling, feelings of tightness and bruising – should have completely subsided.

After surgery to lift the eyelids, temporary effects may include slight feelings of tightness, bruising and swelling. Occasionally, patients experience blurred vision for a short period, or the sensation of a foreign body in the eye. However, such symptoms usually subside after a few days. Any post-operative complaints can be treated with medication if required.

Our lid lifting treatments allow us to achieve long-lasting eyelid corrections. However, the natural ageing process will also continue after the procedure, which means that new wrinkles and excess skin may form again over time. As a general rule, patients normally wait ten years before contemplating another lid lift.

Just like any surgical procedure, eyelid lifting does involve certain surgical risks. These include, for example, vascular injuries, secondary haemorrhages and wound healing deficits. That being said, lid correction is a relatively straightforward procedure in which you shouldn’t expect any serious complications. As we usually carry out eyelid lifting surgeries under local anaesthetic, the risks of a general aesthetic don’t apply.

Lid lifting results in minimal scarring; over time, the scars will become barely visible to the naked eye. To reduce scarring further still, the wounds are partially sutured under the surface of the skin. The surgeon will also take care to suture the wounds in such a way that the scars follow the natural contours of your eye and thus remain inconspicuous when healed.

We perform lid lifting treatments for around €2,800–3,600 (upper and lower lid lift combined for €5,500); the exact price varies from case to case. Influencing factors in this context include whether the treatment concerns an upper or lower lid lift.