
You may be concerned that you look tired, or have an aged appearance, because of your heavy eyelids. There is a solution. Blepharoplasty is the medical term to describe surgery around the eye region, in which excess skin and fat is removed from around the eyes. Both upper and lower blepharoplasty procedures can revitalise your appearance and help take away your tired or aged look. Upper blepharoplasties are often performed when upper eyelid skin obstructs vision, and lower blepharoplasty performed to remove ‘bags’ under the eyes.
As blepharoplasty is a simple, quick and relatively minor procedure, it is a very popular surgery for both men and women.
Dr Alastair Taylor FRACS
Find out more about our treatments by selecting an option from the drop down menu.
Eyelid surgery, also known as a blepharoplasty, is a procedure that removes excess fatty tissue and/or loose skin surrounding the eyes to give the area a more rejuvenated appearance.
The Upper Blepharoplasty is realitively simple procedure performed under local anaesthetic as a day stay.
Lower blepharoplasties are performed to remove ‘bags’ under the eyes, but as this is not as simple, Dr Taylor prefers you have a general anaesthetic to undergo this procedure.
Both upper and lower blepharoplasty procedures vitalise the appearance and take away the tired look that is often a concern to the patient.
No matter what type of surgery you end up undertaking, the recovery from facial surgery is the same as the main issue is bruising and swelling. This surgery is generally not too painful and can be well managed with pain relief. Sutures come out on day five and once this occurs the tightness seems to settle quite quickly. Sleeping elevated and the use of cold packs can be an effective method of reducing swelling but really it is just time that works.
Upper blepharoplasty may be performed as a day stay procedure. For lower blepharoplasty, the surgery is performed under general anaesthetic and requires an overnight stay. You will require 2 weeks off work and up to 6 weeks before returning to normal activity.
You will have sutures in your eyelids for five days following surgery and will need to allow two weeks for the noticeable bruising to subside.
All patients are encouraged to refrain from physical exercise or contact sport for up to six weeks. Your eyes will be swollen and sore, prolonged reading or looking at screens will tire the eyes quickly. We recommend the hour on – hour off principle.
Blepharoplasty removes the heaviness of the eyes, simple, quick and relatively minor it is a very popular surgery at my practice.
Dr Alastair TaylorYour blepharoplasty surgery will be performed at our private hospital, Sole’vita Surgery, a licensed medical hospital accredited under the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards. Sole’ vita Surgery is part of The CAPS Clinic, with all services conveniently based in the one location in Deakin, Canberra.
Our facilities include modern surgical theatres, sterilisation services and recovery areas. Our overnight rooms feature flexible privacy glass-panelling and a personal ensuite.
All of the Sole’ vita team are fully qualified and registered medical personnel, with no more than 5 patients staying at once, our patient-to-nursing-care ratio is the best in Australia.
The Upper Blepharoplasty is a relatively simple procedure performed under local anaesthetic as a day stay procedure.
Lower blepharoplasties are not as simple so the surgery is performed under general anaesthetic. We believe in providing an overnight stay after your upper blepharoplasty surgery, so that you can take your time to rest and recover. This allows us to ensure your pain relief and any postoperative nausea is well controlled before being discharged.
Dr Alastair Taylor (MBBS, FRACS) is a highly qualified, leading plastic surgeon with over 20 years experience in plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, including breast, body, and facial rejuvenation surgery. Dr Taylor qualified as a Specialist Plastic Surgeon in 1998. He holds a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS). Learn more about Dr Taylor.
Dr Taylor leads a dedicated team of qualified health care professionals, including anaesthetic staff and nurses, who work in the Sole’vita Surgery private hospital. His team have built a reputation for quality and are committed to achieving results for our clients whilst providing personalised care, with your safety, privacy and comfort at the forefront of all work.
If you are not ready for eye lid surgery, you may consider the non-surgical anti-ageing options offered at our My Genesis Clinic. These include:
Titan Laser treatments bridge the gap between non-surgical rejuvenation and facial surgery, to improve the appearance of aged skin.
Injectables, such as filler and anti-wrinkle cosmetic injections, can banish wrinkles and loss of volume to achieve a refreshed, more youthful appearance.
Chemical skin peels, microdermabrasion and LaseMD (fractionated laser) treatments can nourish, repair and rebuild the structures of your skin, as they trigger activity of your collagen and elastin making factories to reduce the signs of ageing.
Depending on how much surgery is needed, generally, these procedures are considered cosmetic and do not attract any Medicare, health fund or tax rebates.
Fees include Dr Taylors surgeon fee, Anaesthetist fee, Theatre and the Overnight Stay in Hospital costs:
To receive a formal quote you are required to have a consultation with Dr Taylor. The quote for the cost of your surgery is valid for 3 months. Some fees may not be included in this quote, including medications, pathology, physiotherapy and costs arising from any complications. Further information will be provided to you during your consultation.
Dr Taylor’s fee includes:
ANY SURGICAL OR INVASIVE PROCEDURE CARRIES RISKS. BEFORE PROCEEDING, YOU SHOULD SEEK A SECOND OPINION FROM AN APPROPRIATELY QUALIFIED HEALTH PRACTITIONER (EG. YOUR GP).
Dr Taylor will discuss the general and specific risks during your consultation, where you can ask questions and discuss any concerns you may have. Is it important that you have enough information to weigh up the benefits, risks and limitations of your surgery. You will also be provided with more information to take home and read, and discuss with your family or loved ones.
Risks specifically associated with blepharoplasty surgery may include:
Some general risks and complications of surgery may include:
To help you prepare for your surgery and enhance your recovery, we offer you a pre-surgery program to start 4 to 6 weeks prior to your surgery. This includes taking a multivitamin to aid recovery and get you back on your feet faster. We also recommend an effective herbal medication to reduce the bruising and swelling associated with your surgery. You will also need to stop certain medications leading up to your surgery and we recommend ceasing smoking six weeks prior.
Planning for your surgery and your recovery in advance is vital. Understanding what you can and cannot do will ensure you are not put in a position where you put yourself or the success of your surgery at risk. All this will depend on your personal situation. Dr Taylor insists you refrain from any major or minor physical duties and take two weeks off work. You will be provided with a discreet medical certificate to accommodate any time required off work.
On discharge from Sole’vita Surgery we recommend:
After your operation, you will have sutures in place.
Upper blepharoplasty may be performed as a day stay procedure. For lower blepharoplasty, you will stay overnight in our Sole’vita Surgery private hospital and Dr Taylor will check on your recovery the next day. For either operation, our nursing staff will assist with your discharge, including wound care and management of any dressings, prescriptions for medications, and follow up appointments.
Bruising and swelling from the surgery is to be expected, and there will be discomfort. Taking regular oral pain medication can assist you to be more comfortable, and steps are taken to reduce bruising and swelling.
Swelling and bruising can be minimized by resting, keeping the head elevated at all times (use extra pillows when resting/sleeping, don’t bend down even for short periods such as tying shoe laces) and using cold compresses as instructed.
You are encouraged to take 2 weeks off work and plan not to be back to normal routine and activity for at least 6 weeks.
Five days after your surgery, you will come to Sole’vita Surgery to have your sutures removed and your wounds checked by one of our nurses.
You will have follow up appointments with Dr Taylor at both the 6 week and 6 month stage of your journey.