Treatments / Face / Upper eyelid surgery
Upper Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) in Kent, Surrey, Sussex and London
Brighter, fresher eyes in about an hour
Upper eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) with Mr Siva Kumar removes heavy, hooded skin so your eyes look more open and rested. Often done awake, and home the same day.
At a glance
What is upper eyelid surgery?
Removing the hood, keeping your look
Your eyes are the first thing people notice. With age, the skin of the upper eyelids stretches and folds over the lashes, making the eyes look heavy or tired, and sometimes getting in the way of your vision.
Upper blepharoplasty removes this excess skin, and a little fat where needed. The scar sits in the natural crease of the eyelid, so it is well hidden once healed.
The operation can be done with the eyelids numbed while you are awake, or under general anaesthetic. You go home the same day.
Upper eyelid surgery can help with
- Heavy, hooded upper eyelids
- Skin resting on the lashes or blocking your vision
- Eyes that look tired, especially on video calls
- Eye make-up that smudges or is hard to apply
- Soreness in the fold of the eyelid
What it won’t do
- Lift a low brow (this needs a brow lift)
- Remove dark circles or crow’s feet
- Treat bags under the eyes (lower eyelid surgery)
Options
Surgery or a mini-bleph
Upper blepharoplasty removes excess skin surgically. For earlier changes, a mini-bleph tightens the eyelid skin with CO2 laser, without surgery.
Upper blepharoplasty
Excess skin, and a little fat where needed, is removed through an incision in the natural crease of the eyelid.
- Best for: moderate to marked hooding of the upper eyelids
Mini-bleph (Madonna eyelift)
Fractional CO2 laser tightens and smooths the eyelid skin without any cutting or stitches. It is done under numbing cream with your eyes protected, and you can expect around a week of swelling, redness and peeling.
- Best for: earlier changes in younger people, a more modest change, or maintenance after previous eyelid surgery
- Read about the mini-bleph
Watch & read
Everything you need to know, in one place
Patient guide
Upper eyelid surgery: your patient guide
A detailed booklet written by Mr Kumar. It explains the procedure in depth, how to prepare, every risk and complication, and how to look after yourself afterwards.
Opens as a booklet you can flick through. Your copy is also given to you at consultation.
Your journey
Your step-by-step journey
Your journey starts the moment you get in touch. From your first enquiry to your final check-up, you deal with the same small team, and you will always feel listened to, informed and never rushed.
Get in touch
Call, email or send an enquiry. Our team replies promptly and personally, and finds a time and clinic that suit you.
There is no pressure and no sales script. Tell us a little about what prompted you to get in touch, and we will make sure your consultation is with the right person for you.
Consultation
An unhurried, face-to-face appointment with Mr Kumar himself, who will be your surgeon from start to finish.
He listens to what you would like to change, examines you, explains every option, including non-surgical ones and doing nothing, and gives you an honest view of the likely result.
Time to decide
You receive a written plan, a clear quote and your patient guide, then take as long as you need.
A second consultation is included before surgery, and there is a cooling-off period of at least two weeks. Bring someone with you, ask anything, and change your mind at any point.
Day of treatment
The operation takes about an hour, under local or general anaesthetic. You go home the same day with cold compresses and clear instructions.
He will see you beforehand to go through the plan and answer last-minute questions, and you will have clear instructions and a number to call once you go home.
Aftercare and follow-up
Reviews at each stage of your recovery, with support 24 hours a day whenever you need it.
Follow-up appointments are included in your package price, and continue until you have healed and are happy with how things have settled. Your stitches are removed after seven days.
Recovery
Healing, step by step
Everyone heals at their own pace. This is a typical recovery, and Mr Kumar will give you a personal plan.
Go home the same day. Use cold compresses and rest with your head raised.
Swelling and bruising are at their most noticeable. Keep the wounds clean.
Stitches out. Most bruising has settled and most people return to work and driving.
Return to exercise and make-up. The eyes look increasingly natural.
The scar fades to a fine line in the crease.
Patient results
Before & after
Photographs are shared only with each patient’s written consent. Everyone is different, so individual results vary.
Patient reviews
In their own words
194 verified reviews on Doctify
90 verified reviews on Top Doctors
90 reviews on Top Doctors
From the initial consultation, Dr Kumar could not have been any more reassuring and informative. He gave me every confidence that he was the very best choice of surgeon for my proceedure. I am extremley pleased with the results and would absolutely recommend!
Mr Siva Kumar won my trust from the very first consultation. In each and every meeting I had prior to surgery and post surgery he has talked me through exactly what would be happening both clearly and concisely. There were no questions in my mind and no hesitation in proceeding with my surgery. …
Mr Kumar explained the procedure fully and what I could expect the outcome would be -,he also suggested I went away and thought about what we had discussed so I could be sure I still wanted to go ahead -he put me at ease during the operation even making a little joke -I would not hesitate recommending him
Safety
Risks and staying safe
All surgery carries some risk. Mr Kumar will go through these with you in detail, and the patient guide covers them in full, so you can make an informed decision.
Possible risks
- Bruising and swelling
- Dry, gritty or watery eyes for a while
- Infection or bleeding
- Asymmetry
- Visible scarring (rare in the eyelid crease)
- Difficulty closing the eyes fully (usually temporary)
- Very rarely, problems with vision
Lowering your risk
- Tell us about all medicines and supplements, especially blood thinners
- Stop smoking and vaping well before and after surgery
- Follow your aftercare plan and attend every follow-up
- Call us at any time if something does not feel right
Fees
Guide price from£3,500
Self-pay consultations £250.
One package price. No hidden surprises.
If you go ahead, you receive a single package price covering your whole journey, so you know exactly what you are paying before you commit. It usually includes:
- Your surgeon’s fee
- Anaesthetist’s fee
- Hospital and theatre fees
- Follow-up consultations
- Aftercare, with 24/7 support
- A clear written quote
FAQs
Your questions, answered
Will I be awake?
You can be. Most upper eyelid surgery is done under local anaesthetic, so the eyelids are numb and you feel no pain. General anaesthetic is also available if you prefer.
Is it ever available on insurance or the NHS?
If the skin significantly blocks your vision, it may be considered a medical procedure. This usually requires a formal assessment of your field of vision.
How long do the results last?
Results are long-lasting, often ten years or more, although the skin will continue to age.
When can I wear make-up again?
Usually about two weeks after surgery, once the wounds have healed.
Can it be combined with other procedures?
Yes. It is often combined with lower eyelid surgery or a facelift.
What is a mini-bleph?
A mini-bleph, also called a Madonna eyelift or Madonna lift, uses fractional CO2 laser to tighten and smooth the eyelid skin without surgery. It suits earlier changes in younger people, anyone looking for a more modest change, and maintenance after previous eyelid surgery. It does not remove larger amounts of excess skin or fat, which need an upper blepharoplasty.
Should I have a mini-bleph or an upper blepharoplasty?
It depends on how much excess skin there is. Mild hooding and crepey eyelid skin often respond well to a mini-bleph, while moderate to marked hooding, or heavy upper lids that rest on the lashes, need surgery to remove the skin. Mr Kumar will examine your eyelids and advise which is most likely to give you the result you want.
Upper eyelid surgery: what is the guide price?
The guide price starts from £3,500. Your final fee depends on your treatment plan and choice of hospital, and is confirmed in a written quote after consultation. Self-pay consultations cost £250.
Ask the expert
Questions answered
Longer answers from Mr Kumar to questions patients often ask about this treatment.
Upper eyelid surgery: what to expect
Heavy, hooded eyelids? A consultant plastic surgeon explains upper blepharoplasty: who it suits, the day of surgery, recovery and results.
Read the answer →
Blepharoplasty scars: will people be able to tell?
Where eyelid surgery scars sit, how they heal, and how visible they really are once they have settled.
Read the answer →
Locations
Where to have your upper eyelid surgery in Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Your consultation and follow-up appointments with Mr Siva Kumar are at The Ü Clinic in Sevenoaks, Kent, or The Ü Clinic in Oxted, Surrey. Your surgery takes place at one of his partner hospitals: The McIndoe Centre in East Grinstead, West Sussex, KIMS Hospital in Maidstone, or North Downs Hospital in Caterham. See all of Mr Siva Kumar's clinic and hospital locations.
Both clinics are within easy reach of Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, West Malling, Westerham, Swanley, Dartford, Gravesend, Orpington, Bromley, Redhill, Reigate, Caterham, Coulsdon, Purley and Croydon. KIMS Hospital in Maidstone is close to Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Aylesford and Ashford, and The McIndoe Centre in East Grinstead is close to Crawley, Horley, Haywards Heath and Edenbridge. Patients also travel from across Sussex, including Brighton, Worthing, Horsham, Eastbourne, Hastings and Crowborough.
Upper eyelid surgery cost: guide prices start from £3,500. Your fee is confirmed in a written quote after your consultation. Read the full upper eyelid surgery cost guide.
Thinking about upper eyelid surgery?
Start with an unhurried consultation with Mr Siva Kumar at The Ü Clinic in Sevenoaks or Oxted. Self-pay consultations cost £250.