How Much Does Eyelid Surgery Cost?

The average cost of eyelid surgery is $4,950, though the price can range as high as $12,149, according to 6,447 reviews from RealSelf members. 

Cosmetic eyelid surgery (aka an eye lift or blepharoplasty surgery) tightens and repositions the skin and underlying tissues of the upper or lower eyelids. 

An upper blepharoplasty can lift sagging tissue, remove excess skin, and address hooding, while surgery on the lower lids can include the removal of excess fat pockets or under eye bags, to make eyes look younger and more rested. (Double eyelid surgery, which creates or deepens a crease in the upper lid, typically costs just over $3,000.)

Read on to learn all the factors that play into eyelid surgery costs, including when it’s covered by health insurance.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Eyelid Surgery

What does your eyelid surgery price include?

During your initial consultation with a prospective surgeon, you’ll discuss your concerns and their recommendation for a personalized treatment plan. This is the right time to request an all-in cost estimate that includes: 

  • The surgeon’s fee
  • Anesthesia fees
  • Operating facility fees (if your procedure isn’t performed in-office)
  • Surgical supply costs
  • Any follow-up care
  • Any recovery supplies, like prescription pain medication

Getting a written estimate in advance will help you avoid unpleasant surprises when the bill comes. You may also want to ask about their policy on revision surgery costs, in case you’re not happy with your results or have a complication.

What affects the cost of eyelid surgery?

These are the key factors influencing your blepharoplasty cost.

1) Your surgeon’s credentials and level of experience

A blepharoplasty performed by a board-certified oculoplastic surgeon (a specialist in cosmetic and reconstructive eyelid surgery) will usually cost more than surgery done by a board certified plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon. 

Why the difference? “The oculoplastic surgeon may be more experienced and capable of handling complex cases and complications,” says Harrison, New York, oculoplastic surgeon Dr. James Gordon. Because they specialize in eyelids, they perform many more blepharoplasties on average than their peers who also operate on other areas of the face and/or body.

As you’re selecting your surgeon, pay close attention to their board certifications, along with their patient reviews and photo gallery. Prioritize experience with this particular procedure over who quotes you the lowest price. You only have one set of eyes, and because complications can arise, it’s important to make sure you’re in skilled hands.

2) Where your procedure is performed

If your surgeon practices in a city with a high cost of living or in a high-rent neighborhood, they’ll have to pass some of that overhead onto you in the form of higher fees.

Most upper eyelid surgeries are performed in an office setting under local anesthesia, so you probably won’t have to pay a separate facility fee for this type of procedure.

A lower blepharoplasty is more complex, so it’s typically performed in a private surgery center. While that will come with a facility fee, it’s much less than you’d pay to have it done in a hospital operating room. Just be sure to ask if the facility has been accredited and if they have hospital privileges nearby, in the event of an emergency..

3) The complexity of your surgical procedure

In most cases, lower eyelid surgery is more expensive than upper eyelid surgery. That’s because a lower lid procedure is usually more complex and time-consuming: it may involve the removal of excess skin and fat to eliminate under-eye bags and reduce puffiness, or fat grafting to fill in under-eye hollows. 

Oftentimes, surgeons will reposition periorbital fat pads, moving unwanted tissue from an area of excess to an adjacent hollow that’s in need of fullness. The best surgeons are very careful not to remove too much fat, as this can leave the eyes sunken and older-looking.

Many surgeons offer a slightly discounted price if you have both an upper and lower blepharoplasty procedure in one operation (compared to what you’d pay to have them done separately).

4) Whether you combine an eye lift with a brow lift or other procedures

Depending on your goals, upper eyelid surgery may also need to be accompanied by brow lift surgery, to increase the longevity of your results. 

It can also be combined with a ptosis repair (to correct drooping lids and asymmetries), a canthoplasty (commonly called cat-eye lift surgery), a facelift, or fat transfer. These procedures could add thousands to your eyelid surgery price.

Providers often give a discount for having multiple procedures at the same time. But while that will decrease the cost of each individual procedure, it will of course inflate your overall bill. 

5) The type of anesthesia you have

It’s often helpful for upper blepharoplasty patients to be awake and cooperative during surgery (to ensure adequate eyelid height adjustment by moving your lids), so upper eyelid surgery is often done using local anesthesia with oral sedation. This can be administered by your surgeon or a trained member of their staff.

For a lower blepharoplasty, you’ll probably need IV sedation. This means you’ll also need to pay to have it administered by an anesthesia provider, who will monitor your vitals throughout the procedure. An anesthesiologist (an MD) will charge more for their services than a nurse anesthetist (CRNA), but some providers prefer them because of their advanced training.

General anesthesia, which adds more risk and cost, is generally not required for cosmetic eyelid surgery.

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Is the cost of an eye lift worth it?

Eyelid surgery has a 92% Worth It Rating on RealSelf, so while some weren’t happy with their investment, a majority of people who wrote reviews think their results were worth the expense.

Those who rated their procedure as “Worth It” say it made them look younger and less tired.

People who say it was “Not Worth It” commonly complained about asymmetry and visible incision scars. One reviewer even reported nerve damage.

Correcting a bad result can be very difficult (especially if too much skin was removed), so it’s important to choose a well-trained, experienced surgeon. Prioritize finding a board-certifiedfacial plastic or oculoplastic surgeon who can show you an extensive photo gallery of their own patients with beautiful, natural-looking results. 

If you want to avoid the expense and downtime of blepharoplasty surgery—and aren’t looking for a drastic change—you may want to consider these nonsurgical treatments that can also tighten eyelid skin:

  • A resurfacing laser, like an erbium or carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, can reduce laxity and smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
  • Thermage uses radiofrequency (RF) energy to tighten skin by a millimeter or two, and it’s commonly used in the eye area. 
  • RF microneedling devices can be used on the lower lids to subtly tighten the skin and improve the look of mild under-eye bags. The firming effect won’t be as significant as that which can be achieved with a CO2 laser.
  • Botox can be injected into the muscles that pull the eyebrows down, allowing the eyebrows to lift subtly. It can also smooth crow’s feet.

While all of these treatments can help improve the appearance of eyes, they can’t match the dramatic and lasting results of surgery. You would also need multiple sessions to provide visible and sustained results, which can get costly. 

Ultimately, only you and an experienced provider can determine which cosmetic procedure will be the most worth it for your goals and budget.

Will insurance pay for eyelid surgery?

Cosmetic eyelid surgery is typically not covered by insurance. 

Surgery to correct drooping upper eyelid skin (ptosis) that affects your vision is often covered by insurance, if you have documentation from an oculoplastic surgeon or ophthalmologist that it’s medically necessary. 

Ptosis surgery involves repositioning the underlying muscles to lift the upper lid, so it rests higher on the surface of the eye. It can be performed at the same time as cosmetic eyelid surgery. 

If you’re a good candidate for both ptosis and cosmetic surgery, you’ll pay less to combine the two procedures into a single operation, especially if your insurance coverage offsets some of the cost.

Can you finance your blepharoplasty cost?

Yes, most practices offer payment plans or accept financing options.

The CareCredit credit card is widely accepted by providers across the U.S., for both plastic surgery and nonsurgical procedures.

Eyelid surgery costs in U.S. states

Browse average eyelid surgery costs and ranges by state, according to the 809 most recent RealSelf reviews as of March 2023. (Note: States not included don't have enough recent data to display.)

State

Average Cost

Arizona

$4,004

California

$5,397

Colorado

$5,521

Connecticut

$6,183

Florida

$4,795

Georgia

$4,293

Hawaii

$3,580

Illinois

$5,777

Indiana

$4,400

Kansas

$3,660

Louisiana

$5,882

Maryland

$3,941

Massachusetts

$4,669

Michigan

$4,007

Missouri

$6,000

Nevada

$4,136

New Jersey

$4,778

New York

$5,789

North Carolina

$4,500

Ohio

$5,004

Oklahoma

$4,066

Oregon

$4,881

Pennsylvania

$4,894

South Carolina

$5,025

Tennessee

$3,880

Texas

$4,985

Utah

$5,157

Virginia

$5,925

Washington State

$5,048

Wisconsin

$4,770

Eyelid surgery costs in major U.S. metros

Metro Area

Average Cost

Atlanta, GA

$5,367

Austin, TX

$6,750

Boston, MA

$5,419

Chicago, IL

$5,200

Columbus, OH

$4,296

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX

$6,140

Denver, CO

$5,190

Detroit, MI

$3,358

Houston, TX

$5,292

Las Vegas, NV

$4,550

Los Angeles, CA

$8,026

Miami, FL

$4,125

New York City

$6,551

North New Jersey

$5,550

Orange County, CA

$5,853

Philadelphia & South New Jersey

$5,755

Phoenix, AZ

$4,175

Salt Lake City, UT

$5,767

San Diego, CA

$5,300

San Francisco, CA

$5,100

Seattle-Tacoma, WA

$6,098

St Louis, MO

$6,150

Tampa, FL

$8,166

Washington, DC

$7,100

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