Upper Eyelid Surgery in Türkiye

Upper eyelid surgery, also called upper blepharoplasty, is an operation that removes excess skin — and sometimes small amounts of fat or muscle — from the upper eyelids. It suits people whose lids have become heavy or hooded with age, creating a tired look even when well rested. Where hooded skin hangs low enough to restrict the upper field of vision, surgery may also improve sight. Because the incision is hidden in the natural crease of the lid, the resulting fine scar is typically difficult to see once healed.

Is this treatment right for you?

Suitable for: adults with excess upper-lid skin causing a heavy, hooded or tired appearance, and realistic expectations of a refreshed rather than dramatic change.

Less ideal if: you have unassessed dry eye or other eye conditions, or your main concern is a drooping lid caused by muscle weakness (ptosis), which needs a different operation.

Suitability can only be confirmed by a qualified clinician after assessing you, which is why every plan begins with a free, personalised review rather than a fixed promise.

Process & recovery

Upper eyelid surgery is usually performed as a day case under local anaesthetic, often with sedation, and typically takes under an hour for both eyes. The surgeon removes a measured strip of excess skin — and any protruding fat — through an incision hidden in the natural lid crease, then closes it with fine stitches, usually removed within about a week. Bruising and swelling settle over one to two weeks, and the scar fades over the following months. The main risks — dry or irritated eyes, temporary blurred vision, asymmetry, visible scarring and, rarely, difficulty closing the eyes fully — are explained before you decide.

What is upper eyelid surgery?

Upper eyelid surgery — known medically as upper blepharoplasty — is one of the most frequently requested procedures for the eye area. With age, the skin of the upper eyelid gradually loses elasticity and begins to fold over the natural crease, a change sometimes called dermatochalasis. Small pockets of fat around the eye can also push forward, adding puffiness towards the inner corner of the lid. The combined effect is hooding that can make the eyes look tired, heavy or smaller than they once were; in more pronounced cases the skin rests on the lashes or narrows the upper field of vision.

Genetics play a part as well as age, so some people notice hooded lids from their thirties or forties while others never develop them. Surgery addresses the problem directly: the excess skin, and where needed a small amount of fat or muscle, is removed through an incision concealed in the crease of the lid.

It is equally important to understand what upper eyelid surgery does not treat. If the lid margin itself sits too low because the lifting muscle has stretched or weakened — a condition called ptosis — removing skin will not correct it, and a different repair is required. Heaviness caused by a descended brow is often better addressed with a brow lift, on its own or in combination. An honest assessment establishes which of these applies to you before any surgery is planned.

How upper eyelid surgery works

On the day of surgery, the treating surgeon marks the excess skin while you are sitting upright with your eyes open, so the planned removal matches how your lids naturally sit. The procedure is usually performed under local anaesthetic, often with light sedation to keep you relaxed, and typically takes under an hour for both eyes. A measured strip of skin is removed along the crease, protruding fat is reduced or repositioned where needed, and the incision is closed with fine stitches. Most people go home the same day with cold compresses and ointment to ease early swelling.

Because several different issues can make the upper eye area look heavy, the right operation depends on the underlying cause:

Where the lower lids are also puffy or hollow, lower eyelid surgery can often be performed during the same session for a balanced result.

Recovery: what to expect

Recovery varies from person to person, but the general arc looks like this:

Strenuous exercise, swimming and rubbing the eyes are avoided in the early weeks, and the healing line should be protected from strong sun. Warning signs — increasing pain, spreading redness, discharge or any change in vision — should be reported promptly, wherever you are in your recovery.

Results and longevity

Upper eyelid surgery produces a visible but usually subtle change: the hooded fold is gone, the crease is defined again, and the eyes look more open and rested. The improvement is generally apparent within a few weeks and continues to refine over several months.

Results are typically long-lasting, because the removed skin does not grow back. That said, no operation stops the ageing process — skin continues to lose elasticity, and the brow can gradually descend — so some laxity may slowly return over many years. A small number of people later choose a further procedure or a complementary treatment; this possibility, along with the limits of what surgery can achieve, is discussed openly before you decide.

Having upper eyelid surgery in Türkiye

As a medical travel facilitator, we coordinate upper eyelid surgery at accredited, Ministry of Health–authorised partner hospitals in Türkiye. Before you commit to anything, your photographs and medical history are reviewed so the treating surgeon can confirm whether upper blepharoplasty — or a different approach such as ptosis repair or a brow lift — is genuinely appropriate, and you receive a free, no-obligation personalised treatment plan.

Packages are all-inclusive and transparent, typically covering the procedure, hospital fees, hotel accommodation, airport and clinic transfers, and an English-speaking patient coordinator who stays with you throughout. Before you fly home, the treating surgeon checks your healing — usually removing the stitches at the same visit — and confirms you are fit to travel. After your return to the UK, follow-up continues remotely with photo updates and direct access to the medical team. You can read more about how each stage works on our patient journey page.

This page is for general information and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice; suitability can only be confirmed after an individual assessment.