Costs

The cost of eyelid surgery depends on the country in which the operation is performed, the extent of the lift and whether the lower or upper limb or even both are treated surgically. In Germany, the costs amount to about 1800 to 3400 Euros and are in most cases borne by the patients themselves, as they are often an aesthetically indicated measure and not absolutely necessary from a medical point of view. The costs include the entire treatment, which consists of the consultation, the operation itself as well as preventive and aftercare. If complications or errors on the part of the surgeon make it necessary to perform follow-up operations, these must also be borne by the patient. This is also the case if the first operation was medically indicated and thus covered by health insurance.

Aftercare

After the operation, the patient requires a short inpatient stay and cooling of the freshly operated wound. After about four to ten days the stitches of the wound can be removed. In addition, a check-up by the attending physician on the first day after the operation is recommended, as well as one and two weeks afterwards.

The operated patient needs about one week to return to his or her usual daily routine. In the first period, sunglasses should be worn to protect the eyes. Special eye fluids and creams can help to reduce the swelling of irritated skin more quickly. Overall, a complete regression of the scars can only be expected after a period of about six months. However, these are very small and can usually be easily covered with make-up in women.

Risks

The removal of the lacrimal sacs and the associated eyelid lift is a surgical procedure and carries risks, especially if performed under general anesthesia. In addition to the typical risks such as thromboses, embolisms and haematomas, harmless swelling, redness or inflammation can occur especially on the eyelids, but these should subside after a few days. In rare cases, for example, incorrect incisions can lead to an asymmetrical appearance of the facial areas, as well as to a lack of complete closure of the eyelids or reduced humidification of the eye.

If too much of the fatty body of the eye is removed during the operation, the eye can easily sink back into the eye socket. This results in a hollow-eyed appearance, which is also undesirable. However, these risks are extremely rare and should not happen to a renowned plastic surgeon.