Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) in Turkey: A Complete Guide
Upper and lower blepharoplasty in Turkey — what's involved, realistic costs, recovery, and finding a qualified oculoplastic or plastic surgeon.
- →Blepharoplasty in Turkey costs €1,200–€3,500 per eyelid area, versus €3,000–€6,000 in Western Europe.
- →Upper blepharoplasty removes excess skin causing hooding; lower blepharoplasty addresses under-eye bags and puffiness.
- →Some upper blepharoplasty cases qualify as functional (obstructed vision) and may be covered by health insurance.
- →Recovery: most patients are presentable within 10–14 days; bruising typically resolves within 10 days.
- →Asian eyelid surgery (double eyelid) is a distinct sub-specialism — seek surgeons with documented specific experience.
What Is Blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty surgically removes or repositions excess skin, fat, and muscle around the eyes. It is one of the most commonly performed aesthetic procedures globally — and one of Turkey's most popular for international patients.
Upper blepharoplasty addresses drooping upper eyelid skin (dermatochalasis) that can impair vision in severe cases, or simply create a tired, hooded appearance.
Lower blepharoplasty addresses under-eye bags (herniated fat pads), excess skin, and laxity that creates a persistently tired look.
Both can be performed together. Recovery is manageable, and the scar placement (in the eyelid crease for upper; just below the lash line or inside the lid for lower) makes results very natural.
Costs in Turkey
| Procedure | Turkey | UK | Germany | |-----------|--------|----|----| | Upper blepharoplasty | €1,200–€2,500 | €3,000–€5,500 | €3,500–€6,000 | | Lower blepharoplasty | €1,500–€3,000 | €3,500–€6,000 | €4,000–€7,000 | | Upper + lower (4 lids) | €2,500–€4,500 | €6,000–€10,000 | €7,000–€12,000 |
Prices include local or general anaesthesia (your preference and surgeon recommendation), facility, and surgeon fee.
Upper vs Lower — What You Need
Upper blepharoplasty candidates: Excess skin overhanging the upper lid, visible hooding in photos, difficulty applying eye makeup, visual field impairment in severe cases.
Lower blepharoplasty candidates: Persistent under-eye bags that do not improve with sleep, dark hollow under the eye (may need fat repositioning rather than removal), excess skin below the lower lid.
Note: Not all under-eye hollows are surgically correctable. Tear trough hollowing (a groove below the under-eye bag) may respond better to filler or fat grafting than to surgery alone. A good surgeon will differentiate.
Recovery
Blepharoplasty has one of the more manageable recovery profiles in facial surgery.
- Days 1–3: Ice packs. Swelling and bruising peaks. Eyes may be difficult to fully open.
- Days 5–7: Sutures removed. Swelling 50% resolved.
- Days 10–14: Presentable in public. Most patients fly home at this point.
- Month 1: Incision lines still pink but easily concealed.
- Month 3: Scars fade. Final result visible.
Surgeon Type — Who Should Perform Blepharoplasty?
Two specialties are qualified to perform blepharoplasty:
Plastic surgeons: Appropriate for cosmetic blepharoplasty in most cases.
Oculoplastic surgeons (ophthalmologists with plastic surgery subspecialisation): Specifically trained in eyelid anatomy and function. Preferable for cases with functional concerns (vision impairment), complex lower lid reconstruction, or for patients who have had prior eyelid surgery.
In Turkey, most blepharoplasty is performed by plastic surgeons. For revision or complex functional cases, seek an oculoplastic specialist.
The Asian Eyelid and Double Eyelid Surgery
Double eyelid surgery (creating a supratarsal crease in eyelids that lack one) is increasingly requested in Turkey by patients from East Asian backgrounds. This is a distinct and specialised procedure — ensure your surgeon has specific experience with Asian eyelid anatomy before proceeding.
What to Ask
- Will this be under local anaesthesia, sedation, or general anaesthesia?
- For lower blepharoplasty: will you remove fat, reposition it, or add volume?
- What is the risk of lower lid retraction (ectropion), and how do you mitigate it?
- What is your revision rate for this procedure?