Blepharoplasty in Turkey

Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) removes or repositions excess skin, muscle and fat in the upper or lower eyelids. It helps people whose hooded upper lids weigh on the lashes or narrow their side vision, and those with puffy under-eye bags that make them look tired. In Turkey, a typical package costs about €1,500–€3,500 depending on how many lids are treated, and most visitors plan 5–7 days so stitches come out before flying home.

What blepharoplasty is and how it works

With age, eyelid skin stretches and the membrane holding fat around the eye weakens, so fat bulges forward: upper lids look hooded and bags form underneath. Blepharoplasty works through incisions hidden in the upper-lid crease, just below the lower lashes, or inside the lower lid. The surgeon removes surplus skin (sometimes a strip of muscle), trims or repositions fat and may tighten supporting tissues. According to the NHS, it takes around 45 minutes to 2.5 hours and most people go home the same day. It does not lift sagging brows, erase crow's feet or remove dark circles — a brow lift, Botox or dermal fillers may suit those better.

Functional or cosmetic?

When overhanging skin rests on the lashes and blocks part of your vision, the surgery is functional; an eye doctor can document this with a visual-field test, which some insurers require. When the aim is a fresher, more alert look, it is cosmetic — many patients have both. A droop of the lid margin itself (ptosis) is a different problem caused by a stretched lifting muscle and needs a different repair; removing heavy skin can even unmask a mild ptosis, so a careful surgeon checks lid height first.

Upper, lower and combined eyelid surgery

The transconjunctival route reaches lower-lid fat from inside the eyelid, removing no skin and leaving no external scar; some surgeons add a peel or laser for discolouration. Brow position matters too: when the eyebrows descend, the skin beneath them drops onto the upper lid like a roller blind, and BAAPS notes that eyelid surgery alone will not fully correct that hooding. That is why blepharoplasty is often paired with a brow lift, and sometimes with a facelift.

Who is a good candidate

• Adults with excess upper-lid skin that makes the eyes look heavy or rests on the lashes
• People whose hooding narrows their field of vision (functional cases)
• People with persistent under-eye bags caused by fat rather than fluid, pigment or shadows
• Healthy non-smokers — BAAPS advises stopping smoking and nicotine products 6 weeks before surgery
• Anyone with realistic expectations: a rested, fresher look, not a different face

When to wait or think twice

• Dry eye or low tear production — surgery can make dryness worse
• Thyroid eye problems such as Graves' disease, which need an eye specialist's assessment first
• Poorly controlled diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart and circulation problems
• A droopy lid margin (ptosis) or a low brow as the main cause — you may need a different or additional operation

The procedure step by step

Recovery timeline

1. Days 1–3

   Swelling and tightness

   Lids feel tight and puffy and may not close fully; eyes may water or feel gritty. Keep your head raised and use cold compresses and the prescribed drops. Vision is often blurry at first but usually clears within 2–3 days.

2. Days 5–7

   Stitches out

   Stitches or strips usually come off within a week — the natural point to fly home once your surgeon has checked you.

3. Weeks 2–3

   Back to routine

   Most people return to desk work after about two weeks; contact lenses usually go back in after at least two weeks. Bruising fades over 2–4 weeks and can be covered with make-up.

4. Weeks 3–6

   Exercise resumes

   Avoid lifting, bending and hard exercise for about three weeks, then build up gradually. Keep wearing sunglasses outdoors.

5. 3–6 months

   Final result

   Swelling settles and scars soften into a fine line, though they can stay slightly pink for six months or more.

Results and how long they last

Results are long-lasting. BAAPS notes that excess upper-lid skin rarely returns once removed, and MedlinePlus says the more alert look usually lasts for years — permanently for some people. Your face still ages, and descending brows can bring back some hooding. Removing heavy skin may also let the forehead relax so the brows settle slightly lower — one reason surgeons assess brows and lids together. Sun protection and not smoking help preserve the result; a small touch-up is occasionally needed.

Risks and how to reduce them

• Dry, gritty or watery eyes — common early on and usually temporary, but longer-lasting if you already have dry eye
• Difficulty closing the eyes completely for a while after surgery; rarely permanent
• Asymmetry — no face is perfectly symmetrical, and the lids may heal slightly differently
• Noticeable or tight scarring, tiny whiteheads along the stitch line, or slow healing
• Blurred or double vision, usually temporary
• Lower-lid problems: the lid pulling down or turning outwards (ectropion)
• Rare but serious: bleeding behind the eye and damage to vision
• General surgical risks: bleeding, infection, blood clots and reactions to anaesthesia

Cost of blepharoplasty in Turkey and what's included

These are indicative 2026 ranges, not fixed prices: the surgeon, hospital, city, anaesthesia and package contents all change the figure, so ask for an itemised written quote. For comparison, the NHS puts UK prices at £2,000–£6,000, while ASPS reports an average US surgeon's fee alone of $3,359 (upper) and $3,876 (lower lids), excluding anaesthesia and facility costs. You can get free quotes from several accredited clinics to compare like for like.

Choosing a clinic safely

• Choose a specialist — a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon or an oculoplastic (eyelid) surgeon — and ask how often they perform eyelid surgery
• Surgery should take place in a licensed, accredited hospital with an anaesthetist whenever sedation or general anaesthesia is used
• Check the facility's Ministry of Health health-tourism authorisation (Uluslararası Sağlık Turizmi Yetki Belgesi)
• Get a written quote covering surgery, anaesthesia, nights, medication, stitch removal, aftercare and the revision policy
• Ask for realistic before-and-after photos of the surgeon's own patients, taken months after surgery
• Red flags: no consultation with the operating surgeon, pressure to pay on the spot, 'scarless' or 'no downtime' promises, or unusually cheap deals

Good eyelid surgery is measured in millimetres: the eyes should look rested, close fully and feel comfortable. Put eyelid experience and aftercare ahead of price.

— WhichClinic Editorial Team