Upper Blepharoplasty
lifts tired-looking eyesEnhances visual fielda more youthful appearance
What Is Upper Blepharoplasty?
Upper blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin, and sometimes a small amount of fat, from the upper eyelids. It restores a more refreshed, open appearance to the eyes. Where drooping skin overhangs the lid and blocks part of your sightline, it can also improve your visual field.
For many people the change is subtle but meaningful. The eyes look less tired and heavy, and the face as a whole tends to look more rested.
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Small, discreet incisions are made along the natural crease of the upper eyelid. Excess skin and sometimes fat are removed, giving the eye a lighter, more open appearance.
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You may be suitable if you:
Have excess upper eyelid skin
Are in good general health
Do not have uncontrolled eye conditions
A consultation is essential to assess eyelid anatomy and rule out brow-related causes of heaviness.
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Recovery and downtime
First 3–5 days: swelling and bruising peak
1 week: stitches removed (or dissolvable)
7–10 days: most people feel comfortable returning to work
2–3 weeks: bruising largely resolved
6–12 weeks: final results settle
You’ll be advised to:
Use cold compresses
Keep the head elevated
Avoid strenuous activity for ~2 weeks
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Performed under local anaesthetic with an experienced surgical team, this is a low-risk procedure with high patient satisfaction.
Risks, although uncommon, can include:
Bruising and swelling
Dry eyes or irritation
Infection or bleeding
Asymmetry
Over- or under-correction
However, we ensure careful patient selection and technique minimise these risks.
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Why Choose FrownDocs for Your Upper Blepharoplasty?
Because experience, honesty and support genuinely matter here.
Your procedure will be performed by Mr John Biddlestone, a specialist head and neck surgeon. He spends around 80 percent of his operating time working in this area, which is exactly the kind of focus every patient should be asking about when considering surgery near the eyes. Mr Biddlestone trained at the University of Cambridge, completed his PhD at the University of Dundee, and chose to work in Scotland because of its reputation for excellence in plastic surgery.
Upper blepharoplasty is one of the most commonly requested procedures within our surgical team. You are not getting someone who occasionally performs this. You are getting a team that does it regularly, and our patient reviews consistently reflect high satisfaction with both results and the overall experience.
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Treatment areas
Upper eyelids
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Treatment time
1–1.5 hours
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Downtime
1–2 weeks
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Results
Lifted, youthful eyes
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Frequency
One-off
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Risks
Scarring, mild asymmetry, infection (rare)
Upper Blepharoplasty Before & Afters
Support at Every Stage of Your Upper Blepharoplasty Journey
We know surgery is not only about the result. It is about how you feel throughout. From your first consultation through to well beyond suture removal, our team is there to support you, and we take real pride in our aftercare.
On the day itself, the atmosphere is calm, friendly and relaxed. This is routine for us, but we understand it can feel like a big deal for you, so we keep things human. Your biggest decision on the day will likely be whose hand to hold and what music you want playing.
Beyond surgery, we offer a genuinely multidisciplinary approach. Our team includes expert injectors and laser and device specialists, so we can give you balanced, unbiased advice on what suits your specific concern. Because we offer the full range of options, we are never trying to fit you into a single solution.
And we will not sugarcoat anything. We will talk you through all the risks and benefits clearly and honestly so you can make the right decision for you. If at any point it does not feel right, you can walk away. No pressure, no obligation.
The goal is simple. For you to feel informed, comfortable and confident at every stage.
What Upper Blepharoplasty Can Improve
Heavy or hooded upper lids can affect how you look and, in some cases, how you see. This procedure is often chosen to help with:
A tired or heavy look, even after a good night's sleep
Hooding that rests on the lashes or crowds the natural lid crease
A reduced visual field, where overhanging skin sits in the upper part of your sightline
Difficulty with make-up, where eyeshadow disappears under a fold of skin
An uneven appearance between the two eyes
It is worth being clear about what this surgery does not do. Upper blepharoplasty addresses excess skin on the upper lid. It does not lift the brow, treat lower lid bags, or remove fine lines and crow's feet on its own. During your consultation we will look at the whole picture and tell you honestly whether the eyelid skin is the real cause of the heaviness, or whether the brow position is playing a part. If a brow lift or a non-surgical option would serve you better, we will say so.
Why Expertise Around the Eyes Matters
The eye area is delicate and unforgiving. Small differences in technique can make a real difference to how natural the result looks and how comfortable your recovery feels.
This is where Mr Biddlestone's background counts. As a head and neck surgeon who works in this region day in and day out, he understands the anatomy in real depth. That knowledge helps him plan incisions that sit within the natural crease, judge how much skin to remove, and protect the structures that keep your eyes working and looking as they should. The aim is always a refreshed, natural result rather than an operated one, with your safety leading every decision.
What to Expect, From Consultation to Recovery
We like you to know what is coming at each stage.
Your consultation. We assess your eyelid anatomy, check your general eye health, and discuss what you would like to change. This is also where we rule out brow-related causes of heaviness. There is no rush and no pressure. You will leave with clear information and the time to think.
The procedure. Performed under local anaesthetic with an experienced surgical team, this is a low-risk procedure with high patient satisfaction. Small, discreet incisions follow the natural crease of the upper lid. Most procedures take around one to one and a half hours.
The first days. Swelling and bruising tend to peak in the first three to five days. Cold compresses and keeping your head elevated help. Stitches are usually removed at around one week, or dissolve on their own.
Getting back to normal. Most people feel comfortable returning to work within seven to ten days. Bruising has largely settled by two to three weeks. We advise avoiding strenuous activity for around two weeks.
Final results. The eye area continues to refine over six to twelve weeks as everything settles.
Throughout all of this, our team stays in your corner. If you have a question or a worry between appointments, we would much rather you asked than sat wondering.
How Combined Care Supports Healing and Final Refinement
One of the advantages of choosing FrownDocs is that your care does not stop at the surgical result.
We can optimise your outcome and the appearance of any scarring with advanced skin and scar treatments carried out on site by specialists in their field. Where it suits you, gentle skin rejuvenation such as Morpheus8 or Fraxel can refine texture and freshen the skin around the eyes once healing allows. Every recommendation is based on what genuinely helps your result, never on selling an extra treatment.
This joined-up approach is only possible because of how our clinic is set up.
Why Patients Choose FrownDocs in Scotland
FrownDocs is one of the few clinics in Scotland where expert non-surgical aesthetic practitioners and plastic surgery work side by side. That means you get truly balanced advice under one roof, with surgical and non-surgical options weighed honestly against each other for your specific concern.
Add to that a specialist head and neck surgeon in Mr Biddlestone, an approachable team known for careful pre and post-operative care, and a calm, supportive environment on the day, and you have a setting built around your experience rather than a conveyor belt of procedures.
You are always free to take your time, ask anything, and decide in your own way.
Book Your Upper Blepharoplasty Consultation
If you are considering upper blepharoplasty, the best next step is a relaxed, honest conversation. We will assess your eyes, answer every question, and give you clear guidance on whether this procedure is right for you.
Upper Blepharoplasty FAQs
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Results are long lasting and, for most people, a one-off procedure is all that is needed. Your eyes will continue to age naturally over time, but the excess skin that was removed does not simply return.
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Incisions are placed within the natural crease of the upper lid, where they are well hidden once healed. Scars usually fade to a fine line. We can also support healing with on-site skin and scar treatments where appropriate.
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It is performed under local anaesthetic, so you should not feel pain during surgery. Afterwards, most people describe mild tightness or discomfort rather than significant pain, and this settles quickly.
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If overhanging upper lid skin is blocking the top of your sightline, removing it can improve your visual field. We will assess this properly at your consultation.
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Not always. Sometimes what looks like heavy eyelids is actually a low brow position. During your consultation we will tell you honestly whether an eyelid procedure, a brow lift, or a combination will give you the best result.
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Most people return to work within seven to ten days. We advise avoiding strenuous activity for around two weeks while everything settles.
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Your procedure is performed by Mr John Biddlestone, a specialist head and neck surgeon who focuses heavily on this area and has deep anatomical expertise.
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That is completely fine. We believe surgery should never be sold. You can take your time, and if it does not feel right, you are free to walk away with no pressure and no obligation.
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Upper blepharoplasty costs £2,995.