EYELID SURGERY (Blepharoplasty)
Upper and lower eyelid surgery by a consultant plastic surgeon, under local anaesthetic, as a day case. Upper £2,695, lower £2,995, both £4,995.
Eyelid surgery, clinically called blepharoplasty, removes excess skin from the upper eyelid or addresses the fat that bulges in the lower eyelid. It is distinct from a brow lift and from ptosis correction.
Heavy, hooded upper lids and puffy lower lids are the two things eyelid surgery does well. Upper lid surgery removes the excess skin that folds over the lid and, in some people, encroaches on the top of their field of vision. Lower lid surgery addresses the bulge of fat that reads as permanent tiredness. The most useful thing we can tell you at consultation is whether your problem is actually your eyelid, because a heavy brow and a drooping lid margin look similar in the mirror and need different operations. All surgery on this page is for adults aged 18 and over.
- Consultant-led care
- Dermatologist assessment
- Histology where needed
- Dedicated theatre
- Surgical nurse throughout
- CQC registered
Why the diagnosis matters more than the operation
Three different problems produce the same complaint in the mirror, and only one of them is treated by eyelid surgery.
The first is excess upper lid skin, which folds over the lid and sometimes rests on the lashes. That is what upper eyelid surgery treats, and it treats it very well. The second is a heavy brow: as the brow descends, it pushes the lid skin down, and the appearance is almost identical, but removing lid skin then gives a limited result because the weight above it has not been dealt with. The third is ptosis, where the lid margin itself sits low because the muscle that lifts it has weakened, which is a different operation again, on the muscle rather than the skin.
A proper examination separates these in a few minutes, and it is the single most valuable part of the consultation. We would rather tell you that eyelid surgery is not your answer than take your money for the wrong operation.
Am I suitable for eyelid surgery?
Eyelid surgery suits a specific complaint, and it is worth checking yours is that complaint.
- Upper lid skin that folds over the crease, catches on lashes, or affects the top of your field of vision.
- Lower lid bags that are present regardless of sleep, salt or time of day.
- Realistic expectations: you want the lid addressed, not the whole eye area rejuvenated.
- Stable eye health. Dry eye, thyroid eye disease and previous eye surgery all matter and must be declared.
A conservative amount of skin and fat is removed, deliberately, because taking too much upper lid skin can leave the eyes unable to close fully, and taking too much from the lower lid can pull it downwards, a complication called ectropion. Both are far harder to correct than to avoid, which is why a restrained result by an experienced surgeon is the right one. Eyelid surgery also does not treat crow's feet, dark under-eye pigment or fine lines. It changes structure, not skin quality.
How eyelid surgery is done
Under local anaesthetic, as a day case, and you are awake throughout. Upper lid surgery takes around 30 minutes per side and lower lids around 45, though you should allow two to two and a half hours in the building, because marking up, anaesthetic and paperwork all take time. You go home the same day. Because there is no general anaesthetic, there is no starving beforehand and no need for someone to collect you, though your vision will be blurry from the ointment, so do not plan to drive yourself home.
How much does Blepharoplasty Cost?
We publish our prices, because the cost is the first thing people want to know and the last thing most clinics will tell them. Upper, lower and both are three operations at three prices, and the consultation includes the examination that establishes which one you actually need.
Private Medical Consultations
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| In-Clinic Consultation | £95 |
| Video Consultation | £79 |
| Telephone Consultation | £49 |
| Additional Services | |
| Prescriptions | £25 |
| Letters (sick notes & referrals) | £100 |
| Other Letters/Reports | From £195 |
Recovery And Aftercare
Your surgeon, Mr Samuel George
Your eyelid surgery is performed by Mr Samuel George, a consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register (GMC 7013435) and our clinical lead surgeon. Mr George is a consultant plastic, hand, reconstructive and peripheral nerve surgeon at the Birmingham Hand Centre, a member of BAPRAS and BSSH, and was named PLASTA Plastic Surgery Trainer of the Year for the UK and Ireland in 2025. For an operation this close to the eye, where a conservative, experienced hand is the difference between a natural result and a poor one, the surgeon is the most important decision you make. Clinical governance is led by Dr Sabina Hanoman-Singh, and Dr Simon Khela is our Medical Director. The clinic is CQC registered.
CQC Registered Clinic
Regulated and inspected to meet UK clinical standards.
Consultant Plastic, Hand and Peripheral Nerve Surgeon
Mr. Samuel George completed his plastic surgical training at the Northwest Deanery in 2019, after graduating from the University of Aberdeen in 2008. Samuel is a prominent surgical educator in the United Kingdom and a member of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) and the British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH).
Physician Associate
Priya is a devoted Physician Associate working at Private Medical Clinic. She holds a BSc in Biochemistry from Keele University and an MSc in Physician Associate Studies from Buckinghamshire New University.
Private GP with a Special Interest in Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine
Dr Sonia Khorana is a private GP with a special interest in dermatology and an aesthetic doctor. She graduated from the University of Liverpool Medical School and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dermatology, awarded with Distinction, from Queen Mary University of London.
Why Choose Private Medical Clinic for eyelid surgery?
A CONSULTANT PLASTIC SURGEON THROUGHOUT
<p>You are assessed and operated on by Mr George, not a salesperson.</p>
A CONSERVATIVE, NATURAL RESULT
<p>Restraint is what avoids the over-done and botched results people fear.</p>
TRANSPARENT PUBLISHED PRICING
<p>Upper £2,695, lower £2,995, both £4,995, not a figure hidden until the consultation.</p>
LOCAL ANAESTHETIC, DAY CASE
<p>No general anaesthetic and no overnight stay.</p>
THE RIGHT DIAGNOSIS FIRST.
<p>Lid skin, brow descent and ptosis told apart before anything is planned.</p>
HONEST ABOUT THE RESULT.
<p>Including the scar, the recovery, and what eyelid surgery will not change.</p>
Patient Experience
Rated for fast, professional, and personalised care.
- Verified
Exceptional Dr totally understanding…
Exceptional Dr totally understanding totally listened and got the pain. - Verified
Fast appointment
Fast appointment, consultation was not rushed. - Verified
Good and efficient service
I got an appointment immediately on a Saturday. The doctor, Priya, called right on time and was thorough. - Verified
First time coming to the private
First time coming to the private medical clinic in Oxford. Starting with such a warm welcome and professional care.
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All Your Questions, Answered
Everything you need to know about our clinics.
Yes. Blepharoplasty is simply the medical name for it. Upper blepharoplasty is upper eyelid surgery, and lower blepharoplasty is lower eyelid surgery. We use both sets of words because people search for both.
The results people call botched almost always come from taking too much: too much upper lid skin, so the eyes cannot fully close, or too much lower lid skin, pulling the lid down into an ectropion. They are avoided by a conservative approach in experienced hands, which is exactly why this is done by a consultant plastic surgeon who removes what is needed and no more.
No. It is done under local anaesthetic, so you are awake and the lids are numb, with no starving beforehand and no recovery bay, though you should not drive yourself home because the ointment blurs your vision.
Upper lid surgery typically lasts 10 to 15 years and lower lid surgery longer still, often 20 years or more. Your face continues to age around it, and a descending brow can eventually recreate some heaviness.
Only up to a point. Non-surgical options, such as energy devices, can tighten very mild skin laxity a little, but they do not remove excess skin or fat, and the effect is limited and temporary. For genuinely hooded upper lids or true lower lid bags, surgery is the treatment that actually works, which is worth knowing before spending on non-surgical alternatives that will not deliver it.
Yes. Bring the details to a consultation and Mr George will assess honestly what can and cannot be improved. Revision around the eye is more delicate than a first operation, so the assessment is careful and the advice is realistic.
No, and this is worth being clear about before you book. Eyelid surgery changes structure, not skin quality or pigment. It removes excess lid skin and addresses fat. It does not treat fine lines or under-eye darkness.
Sometimes for upper lids, where the excess skin genuinely obstructs your field of vision, which is a functional rather than a cosmetic problem and is usually tested formally. Lower lid and purely cosmetic surgery is not NHS funded. If we think you might meet the visual-field threshold, we will tell you, because it would be free on the NHS.
Heavy lids or eye bags bothering you?
Book a consultation with Mr George. You will find out whether the problem is your lid, your brow or your lid margin, what each would take to fix, and a clear price. Upper £2,695, lower £2,995, both £4,995. Currently performed at our Edgbaston clinic in Birmingham.