Blepharoplasty: eyelids that look rested and work well.

Eyelid surgery removes the excess skin and bags that make you look permanently tired and, in advanced cases, even limit your upper field of vision. It is performed under local anaesthesia in the operating theatre, as day surgery.

When to consider blepharoplasty

Over the years, eyelid skin loses elasticity and the fat around the eye changes in volume. This leads to two very common situations:

Lower eyelid bags, which make you look tired even after a good night's sleep.
Excess upper eyelid skin (dermatochalasis), which in advanced cases rests on the lashes and limits upper vision.

Blepharoplasty corrects both. It can be done for cosmetic reasons (a fresher look), functional reasons (restoring your field of vision), or both.

What the operation involves

Surgery takes place in the operating theatre at Hospital Santa Clotilde, under local anaesthesia — with sedation if you prefer — as a day case (you go home the same day). It takes about 60–90 minutes, depending on whether the upper lids, lower lids or both are treated.

In upper blepharoplasty, the incisions are hidden in the natural eyelid crease. In lower blepharoplasty, they are made just below the lashes or on the inside of the lid (transconjunctival, with no visible scar). The stitches are very fine and are removed after 5–7 days.

Recovery

In the first few days, bruising and swelling are normal and are managed with cold compresses, sleeping with your head raised and the prescribed medication. Visible swelling settles in 1–2 weeks, although the final result is assessed at 3 months.

Stitch removal: 5–7 days.
Back to normal social life: 1–2 weeks.
Strenuous exercise and sun exposure: after 3–4 weeks.

Travelling for eyelid surgery? Because stitches are removed after about a week, plan to stay in Santander for 7–10 days. We will confirm the exact plan in the online consultation.

Other eyelid conditions we treat

Ptosis: a drooping upper eyelid, present from birth or acquired.
Ectropion and entropion: an eyelid that turns outwards or inwards.
Persistent chalazion and stye: surgical removal when medical treatment fails.
Eyelid lesions: removal of cysts, warts, papillomas and suspicious lesions, with laboratory analysis.
Eyelid reconstruction after removal of skin tumours.

Frequently asked questions

Will there be visible scars?

Incisions are placed in the natural crease of the upper lid and just under the lashes on the lower lid. After a few weeks they are practically invisible. With transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty there is no external scar.

Can it be combined with cataract surgery?

In some cases, yes — particularly when excess skin gets in the way during surgery. It is assessed case by case.

Can I see the result before deciding?

In the consultation we examine your eyelids, take clinical photographs and explain realistically what can be achieved. You will receive a written quote before deciding.