Stop looking so tired

Your 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:

• Upper Face – Brow and Eyes starting from $10,000

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:

• All pre and post operative care for up to 6 months
• Access to our 24 hours support line
• Pre-surgery appointment with Dr Taylor’s nurse
• Pre-surgery kit (information, vitamins, herbal products, surgical bag)
• Post Surgical Kit (information, products to aid recovery)
• Scar Management Program

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:

• Infection is uncommon in facial operations, especially in eye operations. Antibiotics are administered during the operation to prevent this as much as possible, and wound care instructions provided before your discharge.
• Upper Eyelid skin redundancy Skin resection of the upper eyelid is done in a conservative fashion to preserve eye closing, which is frequently impaired owing to the initial tension of the browlift. This may relax over a period of time and some skin redundancy may be visible at about six months or so or even earlier. Further surgery to remove skin needs to wait six months to allow all the swelling to come out of the brow and upper lid area.
• Lower eyelid drooping will usually recover but occasionally requires further surgery.
• Blindness is an extremely rare risk of an upper eyelid operation is blindness caused by bleeding around and behind the eye.
• Removal of too much skin, possibly exposing the cornea to injury
• Asymmetry of the eyelids
• Scarring of the incisions that is noticeable
• Itchiness, watering or dryness of the eyes
• Temporary changes in vision. In rare cases, changes in vision may be long lasting or permanent

Some general risks and complications of surgery may include:

• Bleeding can occur during and after the operation. Dr Taylor takes appropriate measures taken to reduce bleeding where possible during the surgery.
• Risks associated with general anaesthesia, including nausea. Anti-nausea medication will be administered during the operation, and as required during your recovery. Your anaesthetist will discuss specific risks related to anaesthesia with you further.
• Pain, bruising and swelling around the incisions and operated site(s). Pain relief will be administered and steps taken to reduce bruising and swelling, including how you can manage this yourself.
• Heavy bleeding from an operated site. In the unlikely event that blood loss during surgery has been large, a transfusion may be needed. Steps are taken during your procedure to limit bleeding. You may also be asked to reduce or stop certain medications leading up to your surgery.
• Infection that may require treatment with antibiotics or further surgery in some cases. Antibiotics are administered during the operation to prevent this as much as possible, and wound care instructions provided before your discharge.
• Allergic reaction to sutures, dressings, antiseptic solutions, or medications. Please notify Dr Taylor and the nursing staff of any known allergies that you may have.
• The formation of a large blood clot, or haematoma, an accumulation of blood around the surgical site that may require drainage. It is rare that a clot can move to the lungs and become life threatening.
• Keloids and hypertrophic scars that are raised, red and thickened scars that may form over the healed incisions. These may be itchy, annoying and unsightly but are not a threat to health.
• Slow healing (often related to smoking or diabetes), separation of wound edges or areas of skin that do not heal and may require a skin graft.
• Numbness around operated sites. While numbness typically subsides slowly over several months, some numbness may be permanent.

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:

• You have someone drive you home.
• You have someone with you for the first day at home.
• Do not drive a car for five days postoperatively.
• Ensure you can rest for two weeks, getting as much sleep as possible.
• Do not undertake activities including physical exercise, contact sport or sexual activities for six weeks post surgery. The face tends to swell fairly easily on straining and excessive exertion is not recommended.
• Do not leave Canberra prior to staples or sutures being removed.
• Do not fly internationally during the six week postoperative period.

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.