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How Long Does an Upper Eyelid Surgery Usually Take?

asked 3 years ago by brook607 in NYC
Latest answer by Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Question viewed 2,138 times
Tags: eyelids, upper eyelids

The doctor who is going to do my upper Blepharoplasty said that the procedure will take about 1 1/2 to 3 hours, and he is going to use a local. Is that right? 3 hours? Isn't that way too long? I've heard 1 or 2 hours at the most.

18 answers to How Long Does an Upper Eyelid Surgery Usually Take?

Length of Blepharoplasty surgery

Typically, an upper eyelid blepharoplasty takes about an hour. You need to make sure you are comfortable with the surgeon operating on you and if you are having eyelid surgery the surgeon should be an oculoplastic surgeon. Hope this helps. see video

Kami K. Parsa, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

www.oculoplastic.info

Upper Blepharoplasty surgery duration

I would agree with my collegues that the usual amount of time for a straight forward upper lid blepharoplasty is usually less than an hour. Using local anesthetia for a blepharoplasty is very common. Hope this helps.

Andrew Y. Kleinman, MD
Westchester Plastic Surgeon

Blepharoplasty of Upper Eye Lids; How Much Time Should it Take? On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

Hi Brooke, Upper blepharolplasty should take about one hour to perform unless there are complicating factors. The procedure is usually done under local anesthesia in an office treatment room to avoid the costs of an anesthesiologist and the operating room. If you are being charged for 3 hours of operating room time I would definitely question your surgeon. The eyelids require meticulous attention to get consistantly excellent results. You do not want your surgeon racing against the... more

Michael A. Persky, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Generally an hour or less

It usually takes an experienced surgeon an hour or 45 minutes to do a precise upper lid blepharoplasty. There are differences in time but faster is not necessarily better and neither is slower. 3 hours is exceptionally long for upper lids.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

One hour is enough usually

Upper eyelid surgery usually only involves removal of skin, maybe some muscle and some fat. It is a relatively quick surgery. But every surgeon is different and you certainly don't want him to go fast just to get it done quickly. Surgery time can be increased if he plans on doing lacrimal gland suspension or the endotine mini brow lift or corrugator resection (hopefully not). Ask why such a large time discrepancy.

Christopher L. Hess, MD
Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

Many notable plastic surgeons perform Blepharoplasty for an hour or less

Looking at the reviews below you see long ones and short ones. The anecdotal review suggests that the longer the reviewer writes, the longer they suggest it may take to perform an upper blephgaroplasty. In reality, there are many notable cosmetic plastic surgeons, and with almost all of them, an upper blepharoplasty takes about an hour or less. My concern is that excessive time will cost you extra money and may put you at added risks. Best of luck!

Robert M. Freund, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Under one hour for upper blepharoplasty without other periocular procedures

Typical upper blepharoplasty times are under one hour. Only a few minutes is added if fat needs to be removed. If additional procedures are being performed through the upper blepharoplasty incision, this may take additional time. Corrugator myotomies can be performed as well as other procedures. Be sure to discuss with your surgeon exactly what procedure he is performing.

Kevin Ende, MD
Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgeon

Blepharoplasty

Usually blepharoplasty takes between 1-2 hours for most people. Speed should not be the issue, but quality should be. Good luck finding the right surgeon. 3 hours sounds a bit excessive.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

The speed of surgery is largely irrelevant.

Dear Brook I like you surgeon and I don't even know who it is. Speed is really unimportant. What is important is doing meticulous work and not having a crowded surgery schedule compromise the care that is provided to each and every patient. If you don't think that surgeons compromise what they do to get through a busy or schedule, think again. It happens all the time. I would much rather have a surgeon who is focused on what they are doing for me and not focused on the clock and the... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Upper blepharoplasty takes around an hour.

Dear Brook, As an isolated procedure, I typically reserve a 1 hour slot at the Ambulatory Care Center. This allows for placement of an IV, mild sedation, and operating time. I hope this helps, and best regards.

Eric M. Joseph, MD
West Orange Facial Plastic Surgeon

Upper blepharoplasty should take 30 to 60 minutes.

Hi! I don't believe in rushing, but a competently performed upper eyelid plasty should take less than an hour. Check on your surgeon's experience. Ask to see lots of before and after pictures. Is he a board certified plastic surgeon? In Manhattan, we do upper blepharoplasty under local anesthesia with sedation by an anesthesiologist. With sedation, I think the patient is more comfortable, and the surgeon can do a better job.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Upper eyelid blepharoplasty should definitely take less than an hour

I recommend that you consult an experienced eyelid surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Experienced board certified plastic surgeons usually do an upper blepharoplasty in 35 to 45 minutes after the anesthesia is established. See before and after photos of Laser Blepharoplasty and Brow Lift.

Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

www.drseckel.com

It's a little on the long side for me

If you are only having your upper lids done, it should take less than an hour. This can be done under straight local , but most of my patients opt for a mild sedation. I can do a full facelift in three hours.Make sure that your doctor is a board certified plastic surgeon and that he is on the staff of a good hospital in NY. Also, if he is operating in his office, is the office certified for surgical procedures. That is now the law in New York State.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Sounds like an inexperienced surgeon!

Generally we do isolated upper eyelid blepharoplasties under a local anesthetic without sedation and our patients tolerate it very well. It usually takes us no more than 30-45 minutes to complete this operation so I am not sure why your surgeon might take this long?

S. Randolph Waldman, MD
Lexington Facial Plastic Surgeon

Blepharoplasty, Eyelid Surgery, Beverly Hills Blepharoplasty, Beverly Hills Brow Lift

I have performed Blepharoplasty for over 20 years and the procedure takes me about 30 minutes or less to perform under general or local anesthesia at my surgery center in Beverly Hills.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Eyelid surgery duration

I agree with all the other opinions. The surgery should take about and hour. If I was you I'd get a second opinion from another surgeon certified by the AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY. You can find one in your area. Three hours seems way too long, unless he/she wants you to "hang around" after the surgery to observe you prior to going home. I read your comment at the bottom, and you don't seem very confident in this surgeon, find another one.

Jack Gelman, MD
Frankfort Plastic Surgeon

Time length of upper eyelid surgery

Upper eyelid surgery usually takes approximately 30 minutes to perform. Lower eyelid surgery takes approximately 30 minutes to perform. It is best that the surgery is performed under general anesthesia if fat is being removed from the eyelid because of the deep proprioceptive fibers. These fibers will make surgery painful if done under local anesthesia. For the patient’s safety and comfort it is best to be placed under general anesthesia by a nurse anesthetist or physician... more

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Upper eyelid surgery time usually less than 1 1/2 hour, but it depends...

Brook607: The important questions about what precisely will be done shoud be addressed to your surgeon. Through the same incision in the upper eyelid surgeons can do a variety of different techniques that may vary greatly in the time needed. Since we commentators don't know enough, we can only say things like, "the average upper blepharoplasty takes me 1-1.5 hours." That may not be much help to you. Wish you the best.