How Much Does Double Eyelid Surgery Cost?
The average cost of double eyelid surgery is $3,625, but it can range up to $8,000, according to 475 reviews from RealSelf members.
Also known as Asian blepharoplasty, this specialized type of upper eyelid surgery creates or enhances an upper-eyelid crease and makes the eyes look larger, rounder, and more open.
When consulting with providers, ask if their cost quotes are all-inclusive and cover the surgeon's fee, anesthesia, facility fee, and follow-up visits.
Read on to find out why you might pay less or more than the average cost, whether actual patients say the procedure is worth the money, and when insurance might pay for it.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Double Eyelid Surgery
Is double eyelid surgery worth the money?
Double eyelid surgery has an impressive 88% Worth It Rating from RealSelf members, so most people who reviewed their procedure think it was worth the investment.
Many reviewers were pleased with their natural-looking results—subtle yet distinct, as one RealSelf member put it.
The procedure often also offers benefits that go beyond the aesthetic. Heavy eyelids can cause discomfort, and some people overuse their forehead muscles to compensate for "sleepy eyes," leading to headaches. Surgically removing excess skin to lift your eyelids can help alleviate these issues.
Not all surgery is a total success, however. Possible complications include asymmetry, numbness, and the inability to completely close your eyes (if too much skin is removed), which can cause dry eyes.
Another possibility is that your result might not look the way you had hoped. To avoid what one RealSelf member referred to as "a strong misalignment of expectations, as well as differences in aesthetics," it's important to carefully vet your surgeon.
What affects the cost of double eyelid surgery?
These are the biggest factors that will impact your double eyelid surgery cost:
1) Your provider’s credentials and level of experience
The popularity of double eyelid surgery is increasing, and more and more surgeons are offering the procedure.
"A lot of surgeons are willing to say, 'Yeah, I can do your Asian eyelid surgery. I've done it many times before.' They may mean that they did it 10 times in the last five years, and they're technically capable of doing it, but it's not something that they have a passion for or that they're focused in," explains Dr. Chase Lay, a facial plastic surgeon in San Jose, California. "There are quite a few surgeons across the globe and in North America who have made this their focus," he explains. Dr. Lay devotes much of his practice to performing Asian blepharoplasty.
Double eyelid surgery is different from a standard blepharoplasty, and it requires detailed knowledge of Asian-eyelid anatomy. It’s especially important to see an experienced surgeon, ideally a board-certified plastic surgeon or oculoplastic surgeon who specializes in double eyelid surgery. Look at before and after photos to make sure you like their results, and read patient reviews for this specific procedure.
During your consultation, ask lots of questions about their technique and discuss your aesthetic goals in great detail (showing them wish pics always helps). There are many variations in surgical technique—for instance, how high you want the eyelid crease and whether you want it to be tapered or parallel at the inner corner—and it's important that you and your surgeon are on the same page about your desired outcome.
The more experienced a surgeon is in performing double eyelid surgery, and the more well-versed they are in all the latest advancements of this delicate procedure, the more you'll pay for their services.
Most people want to look natural and maintain their unique cultural identity, and, according to Dr. Lay, "it takes a very specific skill set to be able to deliver results, but still maintain the way the person looks."
Asian eyelid surgery has a higher revision rate than regular blepharoplasty, and it can be worth paying more up-front to have your procedure performed by someone who will do it right the first time.
"Anything less than $2,500, be wary," says Dr. Lay. "Paying the right price with the right doctor gets you personalized surgery, a number with a doctor on the other end of the phone (even at night), and excellent post-operative care.
2) The type of double eye surgery you have
There are two ways to create a double eyelid from a monolid.
The open technique (the most commonly used one) involves:
- making a long incision in the upper lid
- removing a crescent-shaped strip of eyelid skin, muscle, and fat along the fold
- suturing the incision shut to create the eyelid crease
The suture technique simply involves stitching the crease into position with a series of permanent sutures. Because this approach is quicker (15–20 minutes) and relatively easy, it costs less than the incision method, which takes at least an hour to perform.
However, the suture technique is less reliable and may have to be repeated in the future, at additional expense.
3) Whether you combine double eyelid surgery with other procedures
A number of other cosmetic surgery procedures can be performed at the same time as double eyelid surgery, to complement your results:
- An epicanthoplasty or a canthoplasty adjusts the shape of the inner or outer corners of the eyes, respectively, to make the eye more open and almond-shaped.
- Lower eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) removes eye bags, loose skin, and excess fat from the lower eyelids.
- A brow lift can also be performed, to raise a low or sagging brow.
Combining surgeries into one operation typically costs less than having the procedures done separately—there's one charge for the operating room and anesthesia—plus you only have to undergo one recovery.
Your surgeon may also give you a discount for having multiple plastic surgeries done at the same time. Still, additional procedures will increase your overall bill.
4) Where you have your surgery performed
All cosmetic procedures cost more in major metro areas, which have a higher cost of living. This is especially true if your provider is in a more expensive part of town.
Double eyelid surgery is typically performed in an office setting or surgical center under local anesthesia or IV sedation, which is much less expensive than surgery performed in a hospital setting under general anesthesia.
Depending on where you live, you may need to travel to have your surgery done by an experienced provider. Be sure to factor in the additional costs for travel expenses.
Is double eyelid surgery covered by insurance?
Double eyelid surgery is considered to be a cosmetic procedure, so it isn't usually covered by health insurance.
However, if you have severely drooping lids that impair your vision—a medical condition known as ptosis—insurance might cover some of the cost of the surgical procedure.