Patients frequently inquire about blepharoplasty cost at their consultation appointments. And while we do aim to provide an accurate cost estimate once we see you for an in-person consultation, it’s typically too difficult to do so any time before this.
Most importantly, we need to see you in person so that we can assess the extent of your concerns and discuss your goals with you. If you are considering several different plastic surgeons at once, it’s also important to understand that all surgeons will charge a different amount based on their experience and training, surgical facilities, anesthesia, and other factors. In some cases, insurance may cover all or part of eyelid surgery as well.
All of these topics can be discussed in-depth with you at your consultation. For now, let’s go over what a blepharoplasty procedure actually entails and the factors to consider regarding the cost of eyelid surgery.
What Is Blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty is a facial plastic surgery that improves the appearance of the upper and lower eyelid area. Most blepharoplasty patients want to remove sagging skin and excess fat from the upper or lower eyelids. Sometimes, a bit of muscle tightening can help as well. These situations can cause appearance issues for patients, and upper eyelid drooping especially can actually cause obstruction of vision for the patient.
Sometimes, blepharoplasty patients are those who simply have sagging upper eyelids genetically or carry fat bags under their eyes because of genetics. Other times, excess fat and skin and loose eye muscles are simply the result of aging. It can even be related to significant weight loss and or too much sun exposure.
How Much Does Blepharoplasty Cost?
Blepharoplasty costs truly vary. There are no two patients undergoing eyelid surgery who are exactly alike, and no two eyelid lift procedures are alike either.
Moreover, all eyelid surgery costs a different amount depending on who your surgeon is, what their experience is like, and where they are located in the nation. Larger cities often come with higher prices for cosmetic surgery, including eyelid lift surgery.
You’ll also need to take into consideration things like how much the surgical facility or hospital charges for using their facilities, how much anesthesia will be, and whether you’ll have recovery expenses.
Lower Blepharoplasty Cost
Also known as lower eyelid surgery, the lower blepharoplasty procedure corrects sagging lower lids and excess fat, skin, and/or tissue in the lower eyelid area. In many cases, you’ll find that lower eyelid surgery is slightly more expensive than upper cosmetic eyelid surgery. Some patients may also opt to undergo both upper and lower eyelid surgery.
Upper Blepharoplasty Cost
Also called upper eyelid surgery, upper blepharoplasty is a procedure that many individuals undergo when they have drooping upper eyelids. This can obscure vision and/or cause a constant tired
or depressed look.
Sometimes, drooping eyelids (excess skin on the upper lids) are related to aging, and other times, it’s genetic or a combination of the two. Again, upper eyelid surgery tends to cost slightly less than lower eyelid surgery.
Will Insurance Cover Eyelid Surgery?
In some cases, a plastic surgery such as blepharoplasty may be covered by insurance. While it is rare for most types of cosmetic surgery to be covered by health insurance, blepharoplasty is sometimes covered because correcting drooping upper eyelids can often correct vision problems.
If drooping upper eyelids are causing you vision issues and you would like to have insurance pay for all or part of your surgery, keep in mind that there are certain requirements you’ll need to meet. These are based on your individual insurance company and your individual plan.
Requirements often include things like keeping a record of seeking medical help for vision problems leading up to surgery, trying alternative methods of treatment (that don’t end up working), and getting a doctor’s clearance for surgery, which states that the procedure will be medically necessary to improve your vision.
FAQ: Cost of Blepharoplasty
What is a good age for blepharoplasty?
Many patients who undergo this surgery are of mature age because their eyelid issues are related to aging. They tend to be over the age of 40.
But there really is no age minimum or age limit for undergoing eyelid surgery. Some patients have drooping upper eyelids or pockets of fat beneath their eyes and they are younger than 40. These issues can often be genetic, and they may have been plaguing younger patients for many years.
If you are unhappy with the appearance of your upper or lower eyelids or if you’re having vision problems due to sagging upper eyelids, book a consultation appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in blepharoplasty. There, you can find out if you’re a good candidate for this procedure.
How long does a blepharoplasty last?
While there’s no way to stop the aging process, your blepharoplasty results should last for many years. Of course, the longevity of your results will also depend on when you undergo surgery (your age) and how well you care for your skin after the procedure. Be sure to use proper skincare and protect your eye area by wearing sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat when outdoors.
Arrange a Consultation Appointment Today
Reconstructive surgery for the eyelids can correct vision issues and give you a more youthful, awake look — especially if you’re struggling with eye area wrinkles and fine lines in addition to drooping lids.
To learn more about blepharoplasty surgery, including eyelid surgery cost, eyelid surgery recovery, and more, please get in touch with us today. Board certified plastic surgeon New Jersey Dr. Smita Ramanadham would be happy to further advise you and provide you with your top options.