Reviewed by Op. Dr. Ali Çetinkaya — a qualified physician and specialist plastic surgeon (ISAPS, TPRECD). Surgery is carried out at Acıbadem, an accredited private hospital in Istanbul. General information, not medical advice.
Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, refreshes tired-looking eyes by removing excess skin and puffiness from the upper or lower lids. It is one of the most effective ways to look rested and more youthful, with a relatively gentle recovery — and it is often combined with a brow lift or facelift.
What is blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty corrects the changes that make eyes look tired or heavy: hooded or sagging upper lids, and puffiness or bags on the lower lids. The surgeon removes or repositions excess skin and fat to open the eyes and restore a rested appearance, without changing your fundamental look.
Upper, lower, or both — and where the scar goes
Blepharoplasty is planned around exactly what bothers you — hooded upper lids, under-eye bags, or both.
| Option | What it means |
|---|---|
| Upper blepharoplasty | Removes excess skin (and sometimes fat) from hooded upper lids that can make you look tired. |
| Lower blepharoplasty | Treats under-eye bags and, where suitable, loose lower-lid skin. |
| Transconjunctival (scarless) | A lower-lid approach from inside the eyelid — no external scar — ideal when the issue is mainly fatty bags. |
| With a brow lift | A heavy, low brow can mimic hooded lids; a brow lift may be advised instead of, or with, upper surgery. |
Are you a good candidate?
Good candidates have:
- Hooded or heavy upper eyelids, sometimes affecting the field of vision.
- Under-eye bags or puffiness on the lower lids.
- Good general health and realistic expectations.
Eyelid surgery refreshes the eye area; it does not lift the brow or remove fine crow’s-feet lines, which other treatments address. Your surgeon advises whether upper, lower or both, and whether a brow lift would help.
Wondering if you are a candidate?
Send photos and a short note about what bothers you. Dr. Çetinkaya assesses them personally and gives you a realistic surgical opinion.
How it is performed
Under local anaesthetic with sedation, or general anaesthesia, fine incisions are made in the natural crease of the upper lid or just below the lower lash line, so scars are well hidden. Excess skin and fat are refined and the incisions closed. It is frequently combined with a brow lift or facelift for a harmonious result.
Recovery
Bruising and swelling around the eyes settle over one to two weeks, and many people feel presentable within about ten days. Vision may be a little blurry at first from ointment. The eyes continue to refine over the following weeks.
Risks and safety, honestly
Blepharoplasty is a refined, generally safe procedure, but honesty about risk matters. Temporary dry, watery or gritty eyes and short-lived swelling and bruising are common; rarely, over-removal of lower-lid skin can pull the lid down (ectropion), which is why a conservative, experienced approach matters. It is not a treatment for dark circles from pigment, or for crow’s-feet, which other treatments target. At Clinic Elia your surgery is performed by Op. Dr. Ali Çetinkaya at Acıbadem, after an honest assessment of what it can and cannot do.
Results
Upper eyelid results are generally long-lasting; lower-lid puffiness correction is durable too, though the eyes continue to age. Well planned, the result looks rested and natural — you, but less tired.
Cost in Turkey
Eyelid surgery in Turkey typically costs well below UK, EU and North American prices, within a package covering the procedure, aftercare, hotel, transfers and a coordinator. Your quote follows an assessment.
Your surgeon
Procedures at Clinic Elia are led by Op. Dr. Ali Çetinkaya, a specialist in aesthetic, plastic and reconstructive surgery. Your suitability and plan are confirmed after an honest assessment.
Get a surgeon’s honest opinion
Send photos from the front and in profile on WhatsApp. Dr. Çetinkaya assesses them personally and you get a realistic opinion and one clear, all-inclusive quote — with no pressure and no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Will eyelid surgery change how I look?
No — it refreshes the eye area without changing your fundamental appearance. The aim is to look rested, not different.
Upper lids, lower lids, or both?
It depends on your concern. Hooding is an upper-lid issue; bags and puffiness are lower-lid. Your surgeon advises which suits you.
Where are the scars?
In the natural upper-lid crease and just below the lower lashes, where they heal discreetly.
Is it painful?
Discomfort is usually mild and well controlled. The main effects are bruising and swelling, which settle within one to two weeks.
How long is recovery?
Most people feel presentable in about ten days to two weeks; the result refines over the following weeks.
Can it be combined with other procedures?
Yes, often with a brow lift or facelift for overall facial harmony.
How long do I stay in Turkey?
Usually around a week for surgery and initial recovery, confirmed in your plan.
Upper or lower eyelids — which do I need?
Hooded, heavy upper lids point to upper surgery; under-eye bags to lower surgery. Many people benefit from both, decided at assessment.
Will it remove my dark circles or eye bags?
It treats puffy fatty bags and loose skin well. Dark circles from pigment or hollowing are a different problem, sometimes better suited to other treatments.
Is there a scarless option?
For lower-lid fatty bags, a transconjunctival approach from inside the lid leaves no external scar.
Is it the same as ptosis correction?
No. A droopy lid margin (ptosis) is a muscle problem corrected differently from removing excess skin — your surgeon distinguishes the two.
How long do results last?
Long-lasting; you continue to age naturally, but the improvement does not simply undo.
Are the before-and-after photos real?
We show only genuine, consented results. Learn what to check in our honest before & after guide.
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Considering eyelid surgery?
Send photos on WhatsApp for a free, honest assessment and an all-inclusive quote. See also brow lift and facelift.