What Are the Risks of Eyelid Surgery You Need to Know?

Eyelid surgery is generally a safe and effective way to quickly refresh your appearance. However, as with any surgical procedure, there are certain risks involved. In this article, we’ll review all the key risks of eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) you should be aware of.  

If you’re considering this procedure to improve your vision or enhance your appearance, we recommend visiting the Eye Center at Al Batal Specialized Complex in Jeddah, where the medical team is experienced in all types of oculoplastic and ophthalmic procedures.

Also read: Tips to Speed Up Healing After Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery

What Is Eyelid Surgery?

Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure designed to improve the appearance of the eyelids, whether to correct a functional problem or for aesthetic enhancement. Blepharoplasty can rejuvenate the area around the eyes.

Eyelid lift surgery can be used to correct the following:

Also read: What Types of Eye Cosmetic Surgeries Can You Have?

Droopy Eyelid Lift Surgery

Eyelid surgery, or upper and lower lid blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure that improves the appearance of the eyelids. It can be performed on the upper lids, lower lids, or both. Whether your goal is to look younger or to address functional issues with your eyelids, blepharoplasty can refresh the area around your eyes.

The procedure involves removing excess skin and muscle from the upper or lower eyelid and either reducing or repositioning the underlying fat to create a more youthful contour.  

Upper eyelid surgery focuses on the area between the eyebrow and the eyelashes.  

Lower eyelid surgery targets the area between the lashes and the cheek.

Do Eyes Get Smaller After Eyelid Surgery?

Eyelid surgery can significantly change a person’s appearance and self-confidence. Whether done for medical reasons or purely cosmetic ones, it is a powerful tool to combat signs of facial aging. While the actual size of your eyeball does not change, tightening and reshaping the eyelids can dramatically improve how open and bright your eyes look.

Eye Swelling After Eyelid Lift

Swelling and bruising usually appear within the first two hours after surgery and tend to be most noticeable around day 3–4. The swelling then gradually improves over the next two weeks, although it may take 6–8 weeks for all residual swelling to fully resolve.

“Hooded” Eyelid Surgery

Upper eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) is one of the most common functional and cosmetic facial surgeries. This type of oculoplastic surgery focuses on the upper and lower eyelid region, including treatment of hooded or overhanging lids that can interfere with vision or cause a tired look.

When Will I See Results After Eyelid Lift?

During your initial consultation, your surgeon will determine whether you are a good candidate for eyelid surgery. They will review any factors that could increase surgical risk, such as diabetes, thyroid eye disease, or significant dry eye problems. If you smoke, your surgeon will likely advise you to stop several weeks before surgery because smoking can slow healing.

It may take about two months to appreciate the final, stable result of blepharoplasty. However, improvement is usually visible as soon as the stitches are removed and the early swelling subsides.

Laser Eyelid Lift Surgery

Eyelid surgery generally involves removing excess skin and either removing or repositioning underlying fat. It is typically performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. Upper and lower lids together usually take about 2–3 hours.

For the upper lids, Dr. Khatri makes an incision in the natural eyelid crease to hide any visible scars. Excess skin is removed, fat is either repositioned or conservatively trimmed, and the underlying muscle that has lost tone is tightened.

At Al Batal Specialized Complex, the oculoplastic surgeon pays special attention to preserving eyelid fat, preferring to reposition it rather than remove it completely. Over-removal of fat can leave the eyes looking hollow and aged.

For the lower eyelid, the surgeon has two main options for the incision:  

– Just below the lash line (subciliary approach), or  

– On the inside of the lower lid (transconjunctival approach).  

In the lower lid, bulging fat pads are often the main issue. Removing or redistributing excess fat and skin smooths the under-eye bags and puffiness.

Although eyelid surgery demands precision, recovery is usually not very painful and does not require a long downtime.

All patients experience some degree of bruising and swelling, usually lasting about a week, though in some individuals it can persist a bit longer. After surgery, you will be given cold compresses and lubricating eye drops. When used correctly, cold compresses can significantly reduce swelling and bruising.

What Does Eyelid Surgery Involve?

When performed by a board-certified surgeon, blepharoplasty can be done under local or general anesthesia, depending on your condition and the extent of surgery. It may involve the upper lids, lower lids, or both.

Upper eyelid surgery typically includes:

Lower eyelid surgery typically includes:

Upper blepharoplasty may take up to one hour, while lower eyelid surgery can take up to two hours. Most patients go home the same day. After surgery, your surgeon may place support tapes or sutures to help maintain the new eyelid contour; these are usually removed after about 7 days.

Also read: The Difference Between Surgical Eyelid Lift and Thread Eyelid Lift

Complications of Eyelid Lift Surgery

All surgical operations carry some degree of risk. Possible complications of blepharoplasty include, but are not limited to:

This is not a complete list. Your personal medical history and lifestyle may increase your risk of certain complications. You should discuss your specific risks in detail with your eye surgeon.

Complications of Droopy Eyelid Surgery

Most plastic surgeons recommend taking about 10 days off work to recover from eyelid surgery and avoiding driving for the first few days afterward. In addition, some common temporary side effects can be expected, such as:

To minimize side effects and reduce the risks of eyelid lift surgery, several measures can be taken, including:

You can visit the Eye Center at Al Batal Specialized Complex in Jeddah to help reduce side effects and risks and to achieve complete recovery from eyelid surgery under the care of experienced specialists.

Also read: The Difference Between Surgical Eyelid Lift and Thread Eyelid Lift

Complications of Eyelid Cutting

Although eyelid surgery is a relatively straightforward and commonly performed procedure, it is still surgery, and like any operation it carries certain risks.

Some of the potential risks of eyelid lift surgery include:

Rare but more serious risks of eyelid lift surgery include:

To learn more about the cost, benefits, risks, and possible side effects of eyelid surgery, contact the Eye Center at Al Batal Specialized Complex in Jeddah and book an appointment to help you make the safest decision.

Also read: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment of Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction in Adults

Eye Shape After Eyelid Lift

Eye shape after eyelid lift

Risks of Eyelid Lift Surgery

The decision to undergo cosmetic surgery is deeply personal. You will need to balance the potential benefits of achieving your goals against the possible risks and complications of eyelid surgery. Only you can make this decision for yourself.

Potential risks of eyelid surgery include:

Signs of Failed Eyelid Lift

Several problems can occur if eyelid surgery is performed by someone without adequate training, skill, or experience, or if the procedure is done without proper care and attention. Some of the most common signs of poorly performed eyelid surgery include:

Cost of Eyelid Lift Surgery

A typical blepharoplasty procedure costs between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on how many lids are being treated. If your eyelid surgery qualifies as a functional procedure (for example, if drooping skin obstructs your vision), private insurance or public coverage (such as Medicare in some countries) may pay part or all of the cost. At Al Batal Specialized Complex, special pricing packages are available, particularly for eyelid lift surgery.

When Can I Wear Makeup After Eyelid Surgery?

You should allow your incisions to heal fully before resuming makeup around the eyes, which may take about 2–3 weeks. Although most people return to work and routine daily activities within a few days, the skin incisions themselves take longer to seal and become strong enough to tolerate makeup application and removal.

Risks of Thread Eyelid Lift

Thread lifts are generally considered low-risk procedures with minimal downtime, but they still carry potential side effects and complication risks. After a thread lift, it’s not unusual to experience:  

– Bruising  

– Swelling  

My Experience With Eyelid Lift Surgery

Fatima is one of the patients who underwent eyelid lift surgery at Al Batal Specialized Complex:

Choosing to have eyelid surgery was a decision Fatima made after years of feeling unhappy with how her eyelids looked. She struggled to apply makeup and felt that the excess skin made her double eyelids look prematurely aged.  

“I had been thinking about surgery for a while and brought it up with my doctor during a consultation. The clinic was able to create a simulated image to show what my blepharoplasty results might look like, and that made a huge difference for me.”

Also:

Suad decided to have double eyelid surgery two years after graduating from university. It was not a decision she made quickly, and her family initially had some reservations.  

“My family is very proud of their roots, and I think they saw my decision as if I were trying to erase part of my identity.

It took a lot of explanation on my part to make them understand that I was doing this for myself, not to conform to any social standard. I was really unhappy with how my eyes looked, and it was almost impossible for me to apply eyeliner the way my friends did—which might sound trivial, but even compared to others in my own community, I felt my eyes looked much worse than most people’s.”

“My recovery went smoothly. Because the scars are in such a visible area, it was hard to do everyday tasks without wearing sunglasses, but otherwise things were fine. There was swelling, but I managed it with regular ice packs. My vision returned to normal within a week, and I was back at work in two weeks. It actually gave me a chance to get some rest, which I rarely allow myself!”

Success Rate of Droopy Eyelid Surgery

The success rate of eyelid surgery is about 90%. However, like any surgery, blepharoplasty carries risks. Some potential complications include anesthesia-related risks, such as allergic reactions, which in rare cases can be life-threatening.

Eyelid Cutting Surgery Before and After

Eyelid cutting surgery before and after

Eyelid cutting surgery before and after in detail

Most Common FAQs

Does Eyelid Cutting Surgery Make the Eyes Look Bigger?

Yes. Double eyelid surgery (upper and/or lower blepharoplasty) can make your eyes appear larger by removing excess skin around the eyes and lifting sagging tissues.

How Long Does Eyelid Lift Surgery Take?

Upper eyelid blepharoplasty usually takes about 45 minutes to one hour. If both upper and lower lids are operated on at the same time, the procedure can take around two hours.

How Long Does Eyelid Swelling Last After Surgery?

Eyelid swelling after surgery typically lasts a few days—anywhere from about 6 to 20 days, depending on the individual case.

How Is Upper Eyelid Lift Performed?

For the upper eyelids, the surgeon makes an incision along the natural eyelid crease. Through this incision, the surgeon removes some excess skin and muscle and may remove or reposition fat. The incision is then closed with fine sutures.

For the lower eyelid, the surgeon makes an incision just below the lash line in the natural fold, or on the inside of the lower lid (transconjunctival approach), depending on your anatomy and goals.

Is Eyelid Lift Surgery Dangerous?

Eyelid surgery is generally considered safe and not inherently dangerous, but there is always a small risk of complications. These may include eye infection, increased swelling, or temporary difficulty moving the eyelids as freely as before until healing is complete.

Also read: Femto-LASIK Vision Correction Surgery

Whatever visual symptoms, refractive errors, or eye problems you may have, these delicate conditions require thorough examination and appropriate treatment by a skilled ophthalmologist using effective medical technology for the best outcomes. Whatever eye disease or problem you are dealing with, you can book an appointment at Al Batal Specialized Complex to undergo the necessary evaluation and start addressing your eye issues, no matter how complex they may be.