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Blepharoplasty
  • Aesthetic Medicine
  • /
  • Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty – For an alert, fresh look

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Woman with closed eyes and bare shoulders against gray background, symbolic image for Blepharoplasty at BONITAS in Nuremberg

Do drooping upper eyelids or under-eye bags make you look older, tired, or even more serious than you really are? An eyelid lift – also called eyelid surgery or cosmetic eye correction – can restore freshness, openness, and radiance to your appearance, without leaving you with an “operated” look.

At BONITAS, a leading practice for Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, you can expect the highest precision and a strong focus on natural results – for a refreshed look that reveals your inner vitality

At a glance: The eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) removes excess skin on the upper and/or lower eyelid for a more awake, younger look.

  • Surgery time: 45–90 minutes
  • Anaesthesia: local anaesthesia or twilight sedation
  • Hospital stay: outpatient
  • Recovery: 1 week, sport after 4–6 weeks
  • Final result: visible after 2–3 months (scar healing)
  • Prices: in our price overview

What is an Eyelid Lift?

Blepharoplasty – commonly referred to as eyelid lift or eyelid correction – is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin, fat, or tissue from the upper and/or lower eyelids. The result is a more open, fresh, and alert appearance, while maintaining your natural facial expression.

Cosmetic eyelid surgery is one of the most sought-after procedures in aesthetic surgery, because it is discreet, highly effective, and delivers long-lasting results.

When is a Blepharoplasty Recommended?

  • Drooping upper eyelids (“hooded eyelids”)
  • Tired, sad, or stern facial expression
  • Eye bags or swollen lower eyelids
  • Restricted field of vision due to excess skin
  • Desire for a younger, more open look

Upper eyelid or lower eyelid? Or both?

Area Problem Solution
Upper Eyelid Hooded eyelids, excess skin Tightening & Skin Removal
Lower Eyelid Eye bags, swelling Fat Removal & Tightening
Both Lids Overall tired facial expression Combined Eyelid Surgery

At BONITAS, a Plastic Surgeon analyzes your face holistically – so that your result not only looks younger, but above all harmonious and authentic.

How the Eyelid Lift Procedure Works

Before the Surgery

  • Detailed consultation with our expert
  • Condition analysis & surgical planning
  • Clarification of health prerequisites

On the Day of the Procedure

  • Under local anesthesia or conscious sedation
  • Duration: approx. 45–90 minutes
  • Fine skin incisions in natural eyelid creases
  • Removal of excess skin/fat
  • Skin closure with fine sutures

After the operation

  • Cooling & resting the eye area
  • Swelling reduction within a few days
  • Suture removal after approx. 5–7 days
  • Socially presentable usually after 7–10 days

Which techniques does Alejandro Marti use?

  • Classic Blepharoplasty with skin and fat removal
  • Transconjunctival technique (for lower eyelids without external scar)
  • Microsurgical suture material for virtually invisible scars
  • Optional: Combination with laser or botulinum for wrinkle reduction

The Result – Your Eyes Appear More Alert, Younger, More Vibrant

  • Harmonious eyelid contour
  • Smoother skin in the upper and/or lower eyelid area
  • No “operated on” look – just fresh radiance
  • Long-lasting effect with stable results
  • Scars run in the natural eyelid crease and are barely visible later

Your Advantages at BONITAS Clinic

  • Treatment by an expert – highly specialized in eyelid surgery
  • Individual consultation & natural result planning
  • State-of-the-art surgical techniques & gentle methods
  • Stylish practice atmosphere with discreet service
  • Combination with additional treatments possible (e.g., forehead wrinkles, botulinum)

Risks & Side Effects

As with any surgical procedure, there are certain risks:

  • Mild swelling & bruising (in the first few days)
  • Temporary feelings of tightness or dry eyes
  • Asymmetries or small corrections
  • Scars in the eyelid crease

Tips for your aftercare

  • Elevate & cool in the first 48 hours
  • Avoid rubbing & pressure on the eyes
  • No contact lenses for the first 10 days
  • Make-up only after complete healing
  • Consistently apply sun protection to the scars

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

For an eyelid lift, costs in our practice start from approx. €3,000 for the upper eyelids, or from approx. €4,500 for a combined upper and lower eyelid correction. The price includes the surgeon’s fee, operating room, and follow-up appointments; individual additional services may increase the amount. Since each eyelid region is anatomically different, the specialist will only create the binding cost estimate after the preliminary examination.

The rejuvenating effect of an eyelid lift remains visible for an average of 8 – 12 years; with favorable skin elasticity, it can last significantly longer. Aging processes, UV damage, smoking, and significant weight fluctuations can shorten the result. Regular sun protection, nicotine abstinence, and a stable weight curve support a permanently fresh field of vision. Should excess skin form again over time, a renewed correction is possible.

Statutory health insurance only covers an eyelid lift if there is a proven medical indication, for example, if drooping upper eyelids restrict the field of vision by ≥ 20%. Required are: ophthalmological visual field measurement (perimetry), meaningful side-view photos, and a plastic-surgical finding. Based on these documents, the Medical Service of the Health Insurance Funds (MD) decides on cost coverage; purely aesthetic reasons are not sufficient.

Most patients undergo an upper eyelid lift between 40 and 65 years of age, when natural excess skin becomes visible. In cases of genetically determined hooded eyelids, the procedure may be advisable as early as the late 20s, provided function or aesthetics are significantly impaired. What is decisive is not chronological age, but the findings, skin quality, and degree of distress. A detailed consultation with functional testing of the palpebral fissure and visual field is essential.

As a rule, you are considered socially presentable again after 7–10 days: The sutures are removed on days 5–7, and bruising and swelling usually subside enough by then that they can be concealed with light make-up. Cooling, sleeping with the upper body elevated, and abstaining from nicotine accelerate the healing process; however, physically strenuous activities should only be resumed after two weeks. In individual cases – for example, if prone to bruising – the downtime may be longer.

Smiling man with dark hair and beard in white coat against light background: Alejandro Marti, specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery, BONITAS Nuremberg
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Scientific References

  1. Vagefi MR et al. „Health-Related Quality-of-Life Outcomes for Upper Blepharoplasty and Blepharoptosis Surgery: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.“ Ophthalmology. 2025. PubMed PMID 40913605
  2. Alghoul M. „Blepharoplasty: Anatomy, Planning, Techniques, and Safety.“ Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2019. PubMed PMID 29474509
  3. Rodrigues C et al. „Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty: Surgical Techniques and Results-Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.“ Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 2023. PubMed PMID 37430010
  4. Gimenez AR et al. „Safety and Complications in Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty: A Systematic Review.“ Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. 2025. PubMed PMID 40995580
  5. Domela Nieuwenhuis I et al. „Assessment of Patient Satisfaction With Appearance, Psychological Well-being, and Aging Appraisal After Upper Blepharoplasty: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.“ Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2022. PubMed PMID 34791033

Medically reviewed and written by
Specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery 🇩🇪 🇪🇸 · Consulting surgeon
With more than 1,000 plastic and aesthetic procedures performed. Comes from a family with a long tradition in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery.
Last reviewed: August 2026