Beauty Link staff put this eyelid guide together in October 2026, with sources named at the end of each section. No doctor has reviewed it.
What blepharoplasty is
Blepharoplasty is the medical name for eyelid surgery. It removes excess skin or fat from the eyelids.
As we age, eyelid skin stretches and the muscles that hold it up get weaker. Skin and fat can then gather above and below the eyes.
Sources: NHS, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Mayo Clinic, healthdirect Australia
Upper eyelid surgery
The surgeon makes a cut in the natural crease of the upper lid. Through it, they can remove extra skin, tighten muscle, and remove or move fat. The scar usually sits hidden in the fold of the eyelid.
For the upper lids, healthdirect Australia says a local anaesthetic is usually injected into the eyelids themselves.
Sources: American Society of Plastic Surgeons, NHS, healthdirect Australia
Lower eyelid surgery and eye bags
For the lower lid, the cut is made just below the lashes or on the inside of the lid. The surgeon can move or remove the fat that makes eye bags. A cut below the lashes also lets them take some skin, while a cut on the inside of the lid removes no skin. The surgeon may also tighten the lid to help stop it sagging.
healthdirect Australia says lower eyelid surgery is done under a general anaesthetic or sedation.
Sources: NHS, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, healthdirect Australia
Is it your eyelid, your brow or a droopy lid?
A drooping brow and forehead can make the upper lid look like it is sagging. A lid that droops because its muscle has stretched is called ptosis, and it needs a different operation. Eyelid surgery can also be done at the same time as a brow lift or a face lift. Our guide to a face lift in Vietnam covers that surgery.
If you want a new crease in the upper lid, that is double eyelid surgery. It has its own guide: double eyelid surgery in Vietnam.
Sources: American Society of Plastic Surgeons, healthdirect Australia, Mayo Clinic
Who may be a good candidate
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says good candidates are healthy, with no medical problems that slow healing, no serious eye conditions, and realistic goals. Your surgeon will check your eyes and face before deciding if surgery suits you. The NHS suggests talking to your GP first, in case a medical condition is affecting your eyelids.
Sources: American Society of Plastic Surgeons, healthdirect Australia, NHS
How to check a hospital and surgeon in Vietnam
Beauty Link works only with hospitals that are licensed and registered with Vietnam's Ministry of Health. See also our guide to Vietnam plastic surgery hospital checks. Smartraveller suggests you also:
- make sure the hospital is accredited by the local authorities, and never use an unofficial medical facility
- confirm the surgeon holds qualifications and accreditation for eyelid work
- ask whether both surgeon and hospital carry indemnity and malpractice insurance
- be wary if a hospital overseas quotes much lower risks than you hear at home
The NHS says to have a consultation with the surgeon, not only with sales staff, and suggests 2 consultations with the surgeon treating you before any surgery.
Sources: Smartraveller, NHS
Questions to ask in your WhatsApp group
You can ask these in your WhatsApp group with the hospital.
- Is my surgeon trained in plastic surgery, and how many eyelid operations have they done?
- Am I a good candidate for this?
- Which technique do you plan, and will I be awake or asleep?
- What are the risks for someone of my age and health, and how are problems handled?
- When will my stitches come out, and when can I fly home?
- Where are my eyelid check ups, and who answers if my eyes swell or feel dry once I am home?
Sources: American Society of Plastic Surgeons, NHS
Before and after surgery
Before surgery, you may need a lab test or a medical check. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons lists stopping smoking, and avoiding aspirin, anti inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements, as possible steps, because they can raise bleeding and bruising. The same list includes having someone stay with you the first night. Ask your surgeon which of these steps apply to you, and never change a prescribed medicine without asking.
The NHS says eyelid surgery may take around 45 minutes to 2 and a half hours, and most people go home the same day. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says stitches are removed within a week.
At first you may have swelling, bruising, dry or watery eyes, and puffy lids that are hard to close. The NHS lists simple recovery steps, such as rest with your head raised, cold packs and eye drops or ointment. Recovery advice differs from person to person, so follow the instructions your surgeon gives you.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says most people are ready to be seen in public in 10 to 14 days, but full healing can take a few months. Scars along the lid crease may show and feel tight for a few months. Your surgeon will tell you which of this fits your case, and how your own scars are likely to settle.
Sources: American Society of Plastic Surgeons, NHS, Mayo Clinic
Planning your trip and flying home
Eyelid surgery counts as facial cosmetic surgery, and for that the NHS says to wait 7 to 10 days before flying. Its concern is a blood clot, made more likely by both surgery and flights, and a clot can be life threatening. Ask your surgeon to confirm your own date.
Sunny beaches and swollen lids do not mix: the NHS says a holiday right after surgery is not realistic. Its guidance is to rest and to avoid alcohol, lying in the sun, sightseeing and going in the water, though your surgeon sets the plan for you.
Sources: NHS
Risks to talk through with your surgeon
Eyelid surgery has risks. The risks listed by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the NHS and healthdirect Australia include:
- anaesthetic risks, bleeding and infection
- dry eyes, or trouble closing your eyes
- eyes that look uneven, or changes in feeling in the lids
- scars you are not happy with
- the lower lid pulling down or turning out
- needing more surgery to revise the result
- rarely, bleeding into the eye socket or a change in vision; blindness is very rare
The NHS says your surgeon should explain how likely each risk is and how it is treated.
Sources: American Society of Plastic Surgeons, NHS, healthdirect Australia
After you fly home
The NHS says aftercare is an important part of treatment, and that you should know where check ups will happen before you go. If you have severe pain or any unexpected symptoms, contact the hospital that treated you as soon as you can.
Sources: NHS
Where we come in
We are a concierge with no eye surgeons of our own, so questions about your eyes and health go to your surgeon. We help you find a licensed hospital, and it is free for patients, because the hospital pays Beauty Link.
- You tell us your goals in a short quiz.
- We shortlist licensed hospitals that do eyelid surgery.
- A WhatsApp chat brings in the hospital's staff and your advisor, who translates. The hospital sends its eyelid plan and quote there.
- Our driver meets you on arrival, and your advisor follows up as your lids heal, in Vietnam and at home.
Before you choose, ask the hospital how it handles problems after surgery. Andrew Lam, our Co-founder, runs Beauty Link. Two more reads may help: is plastic surgery in Vietnam safe, and how eyelid surgery in Bali compares.
Questions
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says there is usually little pain, but there can be swelling and bruising. It also lists pain that may persist as a risk. Ask your surgeon how your pain will be managed.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says stitches are removed within a week. As a separate guide, the NHS gives a 7 to 10 day wait before a flight following face surgery. Ask your surgeon which dates fit your case.
healthdirect Australia says the results can last 5 to 10 years and sometimes for good. You will keep ageing naturally, and the Mayo Clinic says droopy lids can come back for some people.
It is surgery, so there are risks, and the NHS says results cannot be promised. It also says that, occasionally, people feel the result they wanted was not reached and need another operation.
It depends on the cause. healthdirect Australia names laser skin resurfacing as an alternative, and says anti wrinkle injections can smooth fine wrinkles. If a low brow or a stretched lid muscle is the cause, your surgeon will talk about which procedure fits.
We do not publish prices. The hospital sends you a treatment plan and quote in your WhatsApp group. The NHS says to also allow for any consultations, further surgery or follow up care.
Eyelid surgery abroad is rarely covered by a basic travel policy, says Smartraveller. It suggests a policy that covers your procedure and its complications, and telling the insurer your full plans.
Sources: American Society of Plastic Surgeons, NHS, healthdirect Australia, Mayo Clinic, Smartraveller