Is Eyelid Surgery Right for Me? Blepharoplasty and the Non-Surgical Options

Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is one of the most effective cosmetic operations there is, and for the right person nothing else comes close. For plenty of others, the problem is milder than it looks in the mirror, and a non-surgical treatment can make a real difference without an operation. This page explains what blepharoplasty involves, who it suits, what it costs and the non-surgical options we offer at our clinic in Whickham, Newcastle, along with an honest view of where each one stops working.

What blepharoplasty involves

Upper blepharoplasty removes a strip of excess skin, and sometimes a little fat, from the upper eyelid through an incision hidden in the natural crease. Lower blepharoplasty removes or repositions the fat that forms eye bags, sometimes through the inside of the lid. It is done by an oculoplastic or plastic surgeon, usually under local anaesthetic for the upper lids. Expect bruising and swelling for one to two weeks, stitches out after about a week, and the final result after a few months. In the UK, private upper eyelid surgery typically costs a few thousand pounds, with lower lids and both together costing more. If drooping skin blocks your vision, it may be available on the NHS, so it is worth speaking to your GP.

Signs surgery is the right choice

Surgery is the honest recommendation when the upper lid skin rests on the lashes or hides the eyelid crease completely, when hooding affects your field of vision, or when the lower lid has distinct bags that push forward and stay the same whatever you do. No machine or injection removes excess skin or herniated fat in the way an operation does, and we won't pretend otherwise.

Non-surgical options for the eye area

When the change is milder, these are the treatments we use.

HIFU for the eyes and brow

Focused ultrasound tightens the deeper tissue around the brow and upper eye, which can give a small but visible lift to the brow and open up mildly hooded lids. It is one session, the result builds over two to three months and lasts 12 to 18 months. HIFU for the eyes and brow is £895. More on HIFU in Newcastle and what HIFU can and can't do for eye bags.

Exilis Ultra for crepey skin

Radiofrequency and ultrasound heat the skin to firm it and build collagen, which suits fine, crepey skin on the lids and around the eyes rather than a heavy fold. A course of four sessions for the eyes and brow is £775. See Exilis Ultra Face.

Vitaran Eyes polynucleotides

For thin, crepey skin and hollowness under the eyes, polynucleotides improve skin quality from within. They are prescriber-led, £250 a session after a £25 consultation, usually as a short course. Details are on the polynucleotides and skin boosters page.

Which is right for you?

A simple test: look straight ahead in a mirror. If you can still see most of your upper eyelid and the skin is just a little soft or heavy, a non-surgical option may be enough. If the skin folds down over the lashes or the lid has disappeared, book with a surgeon. For lower lids, under-eye hollows and crepey skin respond well to polynucleotides, while puffy bags made of fat need surgery. At a consultation we look at your eyes with you and give you a straight answer, including when that answer is surgery.

Common questions

Can HIFU replace eyelid surgery?

Not for heavy hooding. It can lift the brow a little and tighten mild laxity, which is enough for some people and not for others.

Is non-surgical eyelid treatment permanent?

No. HIFU lasts around 12 to 18 months and Exilis results last about a year, with top ups to maintain them. Surgery lasts many years, although the skin keeps ageing.

Do you offer tear trough filler?

No. We use Vitaran Eyes polynucleotides for under-eye hollows instead, which we consider a safer approach for that delicate area.

Read more

• HIFU for eye bags: what it can and can't do
• HIFU in Newcastle
• Non-surgical face lift in Newcastle
• Polynucleotides and skin boosters