Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty??? Help - Cosmetic / Plastic Surgery Message Board

fourtwamp · 12-28-2005, 09:38 PM

Hi all, I am looking into getting upper blepharoplasty for just ONE eye. I wore contacts for about 8 years... I developed a twitch/blink in just one eye for a few years and I think the "wink" in the one eye stretched my levatator muscle so I now have ptosis/droopy eyelid in the one eye. I have had the droopy eyelid for about 4 years now. I don't have any blinking/twitch problems anymore and no longer wear contacts (thanks to lasik) but my one eye really bugs me now. My question is what the total cost would be to have upper blepharoplasty done for just one eye? Basically I just need to have the levetator muscle tightened in my one upper eyelid. Any help would be so appreciated. Thank you all.

AllysHeart · 12-29-2005, 08:27 AM

I believe the cost can vary. A great surgeon will cost more than a mediocre surgeon, and it can depend upon your location. Do some research for cosmetic surgeons in your area and check their references. You can schedule a consultation to get a price quote. My initial consultation was $75. I had upper and lower blepharoplasty with under-eye laser resurfacing. My surgery was performed in the doctor's clinic in Abilene, Texas, but I did have anesthesia. The total cost of my procedure after initial consultation was $3700.

grammaed · 12-29-2005, 12:02 PM

A friend of mine had the same problem and it was covered by her insurance.

AllysHeart · 12-29-2005, 12:48 PM

I'm not so sure that there is any adjustment done to muscles during a blepharoplasty. I'm under the impression that the blepharoplasty is performed to remove excess skin from the eyelids and fat from behind the eyelids and underneath the eyes.

Another comment I have is that I began to wonder if having eyelid surgery on only one eye is recommended. The reason I say this is because of some reading I had done about the procedure. Even when both eyelids are done routinely, there is a possibility that "asymmetry" can occur, meaning both eyes might not look alike afterwards. I don't know how doing only one eye could result in both eyes matching following the surgery.

I also did not think about health insurance covering the cost, so it would be worth your while to check with your insurer about this being paid for. You'd probably need a referral from an eye doctor to qualify. Please ask lots of questions and do your own research. It's best to go into elective surgery with all the knowledge you can acquire.