Blepharoplasty Cost – Surgery of the Eyelid

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that changes the shape and dimensions of the eyelid. It is often chosen by people that wish to aesthetically enhance their face and usually involves the removal fat from the upper, lower, or both eyelid areas. For those with large “bags” under their eyes, blepharoplasty can dramatically improve the look of the eyes. As many as one in two people born of Asian descent have eyelids that do not permit the application of eye makeup. Thus, many choose to have their eyelids surgically revised through blepharoplasty. With the exception of severe ptosis (eyelid droop) which is a medical condition, blepharoplasty is a purely cosmetic procedure. As a cosmetic procedure, health insurance companies will not pay for this procedure; therefore it is important to carefully consider blepharoplasty cost prior to undergoing the surgical procedure. This article provides a brief overview of direct and indirect blepharoplasty costs.

 

 

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the average surgeon’s fee portion of blepharoplasty cost is $2,882. Surgeon’s fees can vary depending on the knowledge, training, and expertise of the plastic surgeon. Also, surgeons that are fully board certified in plastic surgery usually charge higher fees. Surgery that is performed on the East and West coasts costs more that blepharoplasty in the interior of the United States, on average.

 

Often the best blepharoplasties are the ones that do not create dramatic changes to the face. Less experienced surgeons often remove too much subcutaneous fat from the below the eyelid making the eyes appear sunken. This sunken eye look can be revised and corrected, but can cost as much or more than the original procedure therefore it is sometimes better to pay a little more up front for a good surgeon than have to pay for an additional corrective surgery.

 

Another major determinant of the overall blepharoplasty cost is whether the procedure is performed under local or general anesthesia. Local anesthesia involves infusing anesthetic medications directly near the eyelid to numb the skin and surrounding structures. Patients are awake during procedures that use local anesthesia though they may receive a sedative intravenously to help calm them. Blepharoplasty cost increases if the procedure is performed under general anesthesia. In general anesthesia, the patient is rendered unconscious by the anesthesiologist and breathing is usually supported with the help of a machine. As might be expected, procedures that use general anesthesia cost more than those that use local anesthesia--general anesthesia may add $1,500 to the blepharoplasty cost.

 

Facility fees vary widely. A rule of thumb is that hospital procedures cost more than outpatient surgical centers which both cost more than blepharoplasty performed in a physician’s office. The venue for the surgical procedure is often chosen by the surgeon themself, so any discussion of blepharoplasty cost must include an estimate of the facility fees.

 

Also, as you are obtaining estimates for blepharoplasty cost, remember that some surgeons can discuss their fees in terms of a single eyelid, just the upper or lower eyelids, or all four eyelids. The usual convention is to quote blepharoplasty costs for just uppers or just lowers, so make sure that the precise procedure is named in the estimate.