Drooping eyelids make the eyes look significantly smaller and often give a tired, sad impression. An eyelid lift (upper eyelid lift, drooping eyelid correction), technically also called blepharoplasty, can make your eyes shine again. Through a small, outpatient procedure under local anesthesia in our clinic in Basel, you can have your drooping eyelids operated on and look fresh and rested afterwards.
The consultation for an eyelid lift in Basel
In an initial detailed consultation, Dr. Lüdi will take the time to address your concerns, analyze the findings together with you and advise you on treatment options. Furthermore, Dr. Lüdi will explain the surgical technique and the exact incision with the help of pictures and drawings and discuss the aftercare as well as possible risks and complications with you. It is very important to us that you are well informed about the procedure, that all open questions are answered and that your wishes are taken into account.
On the day of an eyelid lift surgery
Before the operation, Dr. Lüdi creates a photo documentation and draws in the excess skin on the upper eyelid. You will then be prepared for the upcoming operation and accompanied to the operating room.
The operation - how does an eyelid lift work?
The upper eyelid lift is performed in our clinic's own operating room in Basel on an outpatient basis and under local anesthesia (if desired, also under twilight sleep or general anesthesia). During the operation, the excess skin and the fatty tissue often disturbing the inner corner of the eye are gently removed. The skin is then closed again with the finest suture material. Since the incision is made in the fold of the upper eyelid, the fine scar is well hidden and usually no longer visible after complete healing.
Immediately after the eyelid lift
After the operation, you can recover from the procedure in our beautiful patient rooms with a view of the Rhine and cool the eye area for about 1 hour. Afterwards, you may be picked up by an escort and return home the same day.
The aftercare
- For an optimal healing process after upper eyelid lift and to reduce swelling, we recommend regular cooling of the eye area and sleeping with the upper body slightly elevated during the first days.
- To keep the eye well moistened, eye drops are administered 3 times a day.
- The fine special patches and stitches are removed after 1 week in the consultation for an upper eyelid lift.
- Afterwards, scar care can be started.
Risks and complications of eyelid surgery
The drooping eyelid surgery is a very well-tolerated, low-risk operation and complications are rare. In the first days after the operation, swelling of the eye area and possibly slight bruising are to be expected, but these heal well within the first few days. An upper eyelid lift is usually not painful. Due to the swelling, the eyelid may not close completely for a short time during the first few days after the operation, so that the eyes may feel somewhat dry. Moisturizing eye drops help here. The scars are hidden in the fold of the eyelid and usually heal very finely and are hardly visible. Bleeding and infections occur very rarely after eyelid surgery.
Costs for eyelid lift in Switzerland
The costs for an upper eyelid lift depend on the type and extent of the operation as well as the type of anesthesia. During a consultation, Dr. Lüdi will put together a treatment tailored to you personally and provide you with an individual cost estimate.
As a rule, health insurance companies do not cover the costs of an eyelid lift, as it is an aesthetic procedure. In rare cases, where there is a demonstrable restriction of the field of vision due to the strong excess skin, the health insurance company will cover the costs of treatment after prior application for a cost approval.
Frequently asked questions
Read also our Journal article "Eyelid Lift - Small Surgery, Big Impact!".
Simona Lüdi, MD, will be happy to welcome you for a personal consultation at our clinic in Basel.
We look forward to seeing you.